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Expansion and air cavitation observation
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:22 pm
by Chris Taylor
This idea keeps bugging me;
Would it be any help to add another expansion vessel in line on the bleed pipe?
If it was sealed throughout and located at the high point under the seat and the overflow pipe onto the plugged dead end as usual, you could still bleed it as normal but you could also later see at a glance in the
tank (assuming it was translucent) whether more air had bubbled back via the head?
I have this bmw mini one that looks like it would fit just so, and the cap is higher rated and non-return so little chance of leak back.
Just a thought primed by the paranoia.
Re: Expansion and air cavitation observation
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:40 pm
by bigdaddycain
Chris Taylor wrote:This idea keeps bugging me;
Would it be any help to add another expansion vessel in line on the bleed pipe?
If it was sealed throughout and located at the high point under the seat and the overflow pipe onto the plugged dead end as usual, you could still bleed it as normal but you could also later see at a glance in the
tank (assuming it was translucent) whether more air had bubbled back via the head?
I have this bmw mini one that looks like it would fit just so, and the cap is higher rated and non-return so little chance of leak back.
Just a thought primed by the paranoia.

I think i'd be more concerned about the paranoia Chris!

The expansion tank de-gasses the system Chris, no real need for any extra precautions

Re: Expansion and air cavitation observation
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:55 pm
by Chris Taylor
I'm sure you are right. I just had this notion that you could have a topped up header, no alarm sounding yet with nothing in the head except bubbles.
Taking it further, I'd even be tempted to stick a high-low alarm on it too, just to be doubly extra super sure I didn't get an air head thing developing.
Re: Expansion and air cavitation observation
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:01 pm
by bigdaddycain
Let's say a full header equates to 60% full... If you were running a 45% full header when the head took on bubbles, a high coolant alarm wouldn't trigger, neither would a low coolant alarm at those parameters. The head isn't likely to take on bubbles that the sytem couldn't already cope with anyhow Chris unless one of those leaks that takes in air as it discards coolant occurs. The de-gassing sytem is extremely competent and can cope with most eventualities... Some might even suggest, given a 100% healthy system that the de-gassing capabilities could even bleed the bongo itself without any outside assistance

Imagine that! No alarms would be required if that was the case!

Re: Expansion and air cavitation observation
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:07 pm
by mikexgough
bigdaddycain wrote:. The de-gassing sytem is extremely competent and can cope with most eventualities... Some might even suggest, given a 100% healthy system that the de-gassing capabilities could even bleed the bongo itself without any outside assistance

I know this has been done and the Bongo was flat on the floor and not raised in anyway... you will have no chance of me passing on who has done it..... but it wasn't me....
Re: Expansion and air cavitation observation
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:13 pm
by bigdaddycain
I know of a few that have done it that way too Mike... Like you, i know better than reveal who they are unless they want to reveal themselves! (saucy!)
I play it safe with a follow up bleed though, peace of mind and all that... Though in reality one could probably just keep the bongo ticking over for an hour and 9 times out of 10 it would be bled by the time you come back out to it.