coolant factsheet

[Hippotastic]

Just finished reading the coolant factsheet, and no where is it stated the full capacity of the radiator system. If I drained the system before bleeding, how much will it hold? It sez to use a 50/50 mix, which I remember as being too much for blighty, a 30% is probably better, but more importantly it does not state the total capacity so you know what to buy to have on hand to acheive your desired result. I did a search and it seems to be 13.5Lts but should this information not be in the fact sheet everyone is referred to?

Ta

[miker]

I would buy 2 lots of 5 liters. Then at 50/50 you have 20 liters. I used the see saw method with the bleed pipe sat in a tub of mix.

My easy 4 step method was...
1. removed and refitted the pipes and theremostat I was changing
2. Top up the rad and re-secure cap,
3. Top up the expansion tank and leave cap off (so you can top up some more durring step 4 if required)
4. Put bleed pipe in mixture in tub and (after starting the engine) alternately raise and lower the container (keeping bleed pipe in the fluid filled container!) allowing the fluid to feed in and out of the system

Once the top of the rad was hot and no more bubbles from bleed pipe, I put the cap back on the expansion tank and see sawed a bit more till no bubbles and went for a test run.

My coolant alarmed gauge is now about 1 cm off the H, when before the thermostat change it was 1 mm off the H!!

If the above is too confusing follow the excellent fact sheet in the members area

[mister munkey]

According to my NZ Bongo manual the coolant capacity is 13 litres & yes, it really is worth a mention on the factsheet.

[Ian]

Noted.

[missfixit70]

& now updated, well done Ian

[Simon Jones]

I'd like to add one caveat to that: yes - the capacity may be 13.5 litres, but you will probably never be able to get that amount in.

The reason is that it's impossible to drain all the coolant out as the rear pipework & heater matrix cannot be fully emptied by simply removing the bottom hose on the radiator.

The only practical solution to this would be to use a compressor & air line to blow all the coolant out. So far, I have come across one owner (Freewheeler AKA Bob) who has managed to get the full quota of coolant in & this was the technique he used.

Alternatively, park it facing downwards on a very very steep hill

[missfixit70]

Got to agree with you on that Simon, even taking off pipes left right & centre, doesn't empty it all out. Flush, flush 7 flush again to be sure (preferrably with the stat out).

[Simon Jones]

...same also applies when changing the gearbox oil - you can never get the stated 6 or so litres in. Some of the old ATF remains in all the pipes, valves & chambers of the gearbox & another litre or so is the the pipework that goes to the heat exchanger in the bottom of the coolant radiator.

[missfixit70]

I managed to get just over 7 litres out of the last gearbox I did, blowing the oil out of the cooler & out of the top part of the 'box http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 6&start=15