Radiator cap

[eoptio]

Hi all

following on from earlier query on coolant bleeding (thanks for quick replies all) quick question on radiator caps and airlocks: I checked coolant level by removing radiator cap the other day (habit, we used to have a Townace), would this introduce air in the system? Was going to change coolant this weekend but might have to postpone this. Is it ok to drive or does it need bleeding first?

thanks

[haydn callow]

Assuming you do mean the rad cap and not the expansion tank...if you removed the rad cap and the ex tank cap was on...not much would have happened and the rad should have bee brim full......if the ex tank cap was off as well then the rad would overflow and start to empty the ex tank......as lond as the ex tank level didn't drop below the level of the outlet/inlet pipes before you replaced the rad cap ...again no harm should have been done....check the level in the tank and top it up to the full line.
If you think you lost a lot of coolant then take no chances and bleed it according to the instructions.
If you lost less than a pint then you should be o.k. assumimg the tank was up to the full line before you started.

[eoptio]

thanks for quick reply, as far as I remember the expansion bottle cap was still on, radiator was full, only a little coolant came out so assume it's ok

thanks

K

[haydn callow]

I suggest you ..
1.. remove expansion tank cap
2.. "release" (rather than remove) the radiator cap
3.. allow the coolant to overflow out of the rad cap.
4.. as soon as it does..tighten the rad cap.
5.. top up the ex tank to the full.

Note...this will have "bled" the pipe from the tank to the rad.

DO NOT ALLOW THE TANK LEVEL DROP BELOW THE "LOW" LINE whilst doing the above.