Coolant Vacuum Fillers Article - March car mechnics magazine

[smac02]

Steve
Hi all,
Yes this topic was discussed a while back after a bought one of the Sealy devices. Especially the power required from the compressor. If anyone is considering buying one of the coolant filling devices then it would pay to refer to the old thread as opinions are varied.

I can only say that in my case I found it to be a really useful item that has saved time and effort with guaranteed results that removes any doubt about airlocks. Also identifies any leaks in the cooling system.

I found the Sealey tool operates easily on a small compressor that is less than 10cfm.

If anyone is in the South Yorkshire area and wishes to use my kit to change their coolant then as long as it fits in with my free time they are welcome to come along. (Bring your own coolant)

Steve

[mikeonb4c]

Hi
Mike...a communal compressor is a stupendous idea...until you've got one, youv'e no idea as to the uses they can be put to. A good second hand one is worth looking at, or punt round the dealers. Around 14 CFM delivery is the least you want to aim for if using saws, grinders, or anything using CONSTANT air, whereas nailers , air ratchets, grease guns can run on less as they are a "one shot" dose of air. You can also look at HVLP type spray equipment if you have a guaranteed 14 CFM delivery...you get a lot more paint on the vehicle , and less in the air with these . Should someone in the Co-operative move away, then another person can opt-in , or existing members buy them out...It's a good plan for people who get along together!
Cheers
Helen

Couldn't agree more Hellen. I bought mine so I could repray my rear bumper following a crunch (logic - I'll spend on stuff to DIY instead of getting it done by someone, and I might learn something). Well it did a 1st class spray repair (good as new or better) and has since been used to blast clean PC cases, spray other stuff, degunk bits of my engine (using paraffin gun) etc. But the single most useful thing is I can now easily and quickly pump up tyres at home. Sounds daft but its true. I got a good make, in brand new condition, off ebay for £50. Game on

[mikeonb4c]

Steve
Hi all,
Yes this topic was discussed a while back after a bought one of the Sealy devices. Especially the power required from the compressor. If anyone is considering buying one of the coolant filling devices then it would pay to refer to the old thread as opinions are varied.

I can only say that in my case I found it to be a really useful item that has saved time and effort with guaranteed results that removes any doubt about airlocks. Also identifies any leaks in the cooling system.

I found the Sealey tool operates easily on a small compressor that is less than 10cfm.

If anyone is in the South Yorkshire area and wishes to use my kit to change their coolant then as long as it fits in with my free time they are welcome to come along. (Bring your own coolant)

Steve

Excellent Steve - thats really useful to know. Scratch out my earlier remarks then, as we now know better. It certainly sounds a v. convenient device and having used a Pela pump for oil changes becuase it makes the job so much more pleasant, it is true that you can't always judge the value of these things by cost alone. If you were nearer I'd be over like a shot as I'm due to change mine and I'd love to see how this thing works. Ronhud is also due to change his and was coming over to me, but Huddersfield (his home address) is as near to you as to me. If I were him (if he's reading this) I'd snap up your offer!

Mike

[nfn]

The instructions with the Sealey cooling system filler clearly state what the gauge on the filler should reach before you switch the filler over from sucking air out using the compressor to sucking coolant in from your bucket of premixed coolant. If the compressor is not up to the task, I assume it will never get the vacuum gauge up high enough, and you would know that it's not going to work properly. I guess I'll find out whether my cheap 10.5cfm compressor is good enough when I try my filler!

[The Great Pretender]

When the mobile air con guy comes to refill your system what does he use to evacuate it and provide the refill vacuum?

[tricky]

How do these things work and how does a compressor create a vacuum with what's shown in the photo?

It'll probably be based round a venturi which is a restriction in a flow system rather like a chicane on a race track. A take off pipe is let into the waist of the venturi where a pressure drop occurs. The pressure drop creates a vacuum in the take-off and thus can draw air or fluid up the pipe. A similar effect occurs in chimneys where the wind blowing over the chimney pot edge creates a pressure drop and thus, a draw to pull the smoke up the chimney and oxygen through the fire and air brushes work in a similar way.

Some info venturi on wiki

[The Great Pretender]

How do these things work and how does a compressor create a vacuum with what's shown in the photo?

It'll probably be based round a venturi which is a restriction in a flow system rather like a chicane on a race track. A take off pipe is let into the waist of the venturi where a pressure drop occurs. The pressure drop creates a vacuum in the take-off and thus can draw air or fluid up the pipe. A similar effect occurs in chimneys where the wind blowing over the chimney pot edge creates a pressure drop and thus, a draw to pull the smoke up the chimney and oxygen through the fire and air brushes work in a similar way.

Some info venturi on wiki

So if I light a fire under my class 1 flue and no wind blows over my chimney pot what happens?

[Trouble at t'Mill]

So that's what my local garage was talking about when I questioned him about Bongo coolant and airlocks! He mentioned they had a vacuum device for really stubborn airlocks, but reckoned the Bongo didn't usually need it - they just used the bleed hose in the usual manner.

So, how does this thing work?! Does it apply a vacuum to the whole coolant system? Wouldn't this cause the hoses to collapse - or is that part of the idea?! Or is it a way of expanding the air bubbles in the coolant making them more likely to come out?

C'mon - how does it work? Dead curious. Ta much.

[phedders]

I think I'm going to buy one. Far as I can tell, it basically sucks as much air out of the (empty) system as possible... and then uses that vaccuum to suck coolant out of a bucket, backfilling the whole system... and potentially leaving no air in it.

If it works...

[mikeonb4c]

How do these things work and how does a compressor create a vacuum with what's shown in the photo?

It'll probably be based round a venturi which is a restriction in a flow system rather like a chicane on a race track. A take off pipe is let into the waist of the venturi where a pressure drop occurs. The pressure drop creates a vacuum in the take-off and thus can draw air or fluid up the pipe. A similar effect occurs in chimneys where the wind blowing over the chimney pot edge creates a pressure drop and thus, a draw to pull the smoke up the chimney and oxygen through the fire and air brushes work in a similar way.

Some info venturi on wiki

So if I light a fire under my class 1 flue and no wind blows over my chimney pot what happens?

I'd give you the answer to that TGP but I suspect you know it already

[phedders]

Of course it can potentially find - or least demonstrate leaks too.

[scanner]

So that's what my local garage was talking about when I questioned him about Bongo coolant and airlocks! He mentioned they had a vacuum device for really stubborn airlocks, but reckoned the Bongo didn't usually need it - they just used the bleed hose in the usual manner.

So, how does this thing work?! Does it apply a vacuum to the whole coolant system? Wouldn't this cause the hoses to collapse - or is that part of the idea?! Or is it a way of expanding the air bubbles in the coolant making them more likely to come out?

C'mon - how does it work? Dead curious. Ta much.

So with the Bongo would it be better to draw the new coolant in through the bleed tube?

Just create a vacuum in the header tank to then draw in the fresh coolant?

[nfn]

Scanner, that's an interesting idea -- refilling the system using the bleed tube instead of via the header tank (using the switch on the vacuum device). I don't see why it wouldn't work, and might be a better way to use a vacuum device on the bongo: when the process is done you should see the coolant rise up the header tank, and you can be more confident that there are no air bubbles.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Interesting stuff - but I still don't understand the actual process involved.

If the 'empty' engine is evacuated using this device, there simply won't be any way I can think of that you'll get anything like a 100% vacuum in there, so there will still be potential air pockets. Also, if you vacate via the header tank and draw the fluid in through the bleed tube, what's to stop the coolant being drawn out the header tank after having only half-filled the engine jacket? How would this ensure that all the spaces have been filled?

I don't understand...

[francophile1947]

I don't understand...

You're not alone there I can't get my head around how it can fill the rear heater etc. without some air being in the system