Low coolant on second hand puchased...

[BongoBongo123]

today I had a moment to check the expansion tank ona Freda I got yesterday.
To my horror the expansion tank for coolant appears lower than the low marking.

I shined a torch in and saw the tank bottom, that does not bode well. Could just be
someone who does not have a clue about what to check or obviously an actual problem.

I am waiting 5L Bluecol 2 year anti freeze as I read that was ok

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluecol-Antif ... 1e83b3da89

Does it seem ok to just top this up with 1 part water 2 part AF and then go for a drive and then see what occurs and keep an eye on it.

I note the temp gauge was solidly at about 1/4 the way up the dial so did not seem excessively problematic during a combined 40mile urban motor way drive.

I am not going to panic yet. I think I will mainly be at my front door taking Bongo related deliveries over the next few days, !

[Driver+Passengers]

The hoses out of the header tank are ever so slightly lower down than the bottom of the tank that you can see through the hole - if you get a bright torch and shine it through the tank, you should see the level ok. If it drops down to the hoses, then when circulating, air from the header tank will get sucked into the system and settle somewhere else - bad news.

One to watch... little can't be remedied, with patience (and money ).

You'll be fine with pure water for now - it's summer. You're not going to be adding more than a litre or so to bring the tank level back up.

Buy a Low Coolant Alarm! If it is an actual problem, the LCA might save your head. The temperature gauge needle (unmodified) will not move until "it's too late". You can solder a fat resistor onto the back of the gauge to make it behave a little more reliably.

[BongoBongo123]

The hoses out of the header tank are ever so slightly lower down than the bottom of the tank that you can see through the hole - if you get a bright torch and shine it through the tank, you should see the level ok. If it drops down to the hoses, then when circulating, air from the header tank will get sucked into the system and settle somewhere else - bad news.

One to watch... little can't be remedied, with patience (and money ).

You'll be fine with pure water for now - it's summer. You're not going to be adding more than a litre or so to bring the tank level back up.

Buy a Low Coolant Alarm! If it is an actual problem, the LCA might save your head. The temperature gauge needle (unmodified) will not move until "it's too late". You can solder a fat resistor onto the back of the gauge to make it behave a little more reliably.

Many thanks, so many helpful people here and I know a tiny bit about cars but not much.. one day I hope to be able to help others. The LCA has defintely got to be on the cards...

Hmm.. as I say not sure this is long term neglect or a leak as yet. I do not want to put pure water in so will await the antifreeze and do 50/50. I will have to look again when it's dark I think.
I have no idea how little coolant is in the system, though the temp gauge seemed fine/stable on a 40mile drive.

Pretty sure I saw the bottom of the tank clearly, with brown stuff in the bottom.

Will proceed with caution.

[Driver+Passengers]

Will proceed with caution.

Sensible.

The shape of the tank and its internal baffles mean that seeing the bottom of the tank through the neck doesn't necessarily mean you're seeing the very bottom of the tank - unless you're looking down left between the baffles.

[BongoBongo123]

Also... bloomin small hole !

[wonkanoby]

thing is you dont know what anti freeze is in there now

and some dont mix well with others

i would use watyer for now

later drain and flush it and use the new stuff

[BongoBongo123]

Well interestingly I bought a couple of 1L bottles of Bluecol "u" universal and popped it in the tank. Says it will mix ok with all anti freeze. 1L did the job and filled it to full... I have yet to drive it so time will tell. Ethylene Glycol mixes with De-ionized water.

I have no wheel brace (Did not come with one oddly enough) so I have been put off driving it for the moment till I get that.

[wonkanoby]

you sure its not in the step pocket

it clips up out of site in mine

[BongoBongo123]

you sure its not in the step pocket

it clips up out of site in mine

Gonna check now. good call...... been for 10 mile run and will check coolant as well.

[BongoBongo123]

Had a good poke around the step box but no wheel brace so glad I ordered one. Coolant level still up to full and it has mixed (from being completely clear) as it has dis-coloured so seems like that 1L done the trick. Temperature was stable all through the run. Will defo be planning a low coolant alarm still.

Engine seems really strong, plenty of power and I stuck 1 treatment of Millers Eco performance max or whatever it is called in diesel injector cleaner. So far so good !