radiator

heatherpetch · Post by **heatherpetch** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:19 pm

i have got the bonnet up at the moment having a clean and a check,the radiator knob that is screwed on to the platic tub that says engine coolant only appears to be pretty empty do i add just water please or something else.Thanks in advance

Post by **westonwarrior** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:57 pm

should be a antifreeze water mix but for now water will do fine.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:09 pm

You should add 50/50 antifreeze/water up to the full line marked on the expansion tank "tub" !!
If you have a dirty brown "tub" and cannot see the level make up a small "dipstick"
How low is the level and where has it gone??
Dare I suggest fitting a coolant loss alarm??

heatherpetch · Post by **heatherpetch** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:27 pm

erm i will do that and yes where has it gone does it evaporate or have i got a leak

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:32 pm

If all is well then the coolant level should not drop. Make sure the cap is a good fit. Sounds as though you may have a slight leak.
Top it up when the engine is cold to the FULL line exactly. Then keep a eye on it each morning when it is cold and if the level drops you have a problem.

heatherpetch · Post by **heatherpetch** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:48 pm

ok will do thank you.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:52 am

Surely if it's topped up to the FULL line when cold you aren't leaving enough room for expansion and it willcause the expansion tank to be too full/overflow.
Aren't you better to fill it to the lower mark when cold??

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:00 am

Please keep an eye on the level heatherpetch, i reckon my bongo has needed maybe a couple of cupfulls of water during the year, so they dont use much!

And dont make the same mistake i made last year, and forget to replace the cap

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:15 am

Have always filled to the full line when cold. Never been a problem and I think that is what is intended.
We put the probe/sensor for the loss alarm about 1cm below the full line so at least 120 other bongos also fill to that line.
When hot the level goes up about 1 to 1.5cm so there is plenty of room for expansion.
Hope that explains.