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Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:08 pm
by JoeC
With regards to The Cain Alternative way of doing a coolant flush in the attached members only fact sheet (
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... oolant.pdf ).
Does removing the radiator drain plug do the same thing as undoing the drain pipe under the passenger seat? Thought it would be easier and less messy for the inside of the vaehicle if the raditor plug could be used.
Cheers
Joe
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:37 pm
by scanner
Why is using the bleed tube messy?
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:30 pm
by Simon Jones
Ultimately, to empty the system you either need to suck the coolant out, or drain it from the bottom. The drain plug on the bottom of the radiator is about the lowest place you can get. The bleed pipe under the passenger seat is at the top of system so not suited for coolant removal.
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:17 am
by JoeC
scanner wrote:Why is using the bleed tube messy?
You'll be putting the bleed tube plug back in with the system pumping the water out of it (engine running) so water will be spraying everywhere.
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:43 am
by scanner
JoeC wrote:scanner wrote:Why is using the bleed tube messy?
You'll be putting the bleed tube plug back in with the system pumping the water out of it (engine running) so water will be spraying everywhere.
Strange, mine doesn't do that.
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:46 am
by mikeonb4c
JoeC wrote:With regards to The Cain Alternative way of doing a coolant flush in the attached members only fact sheet (
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... oolant.pdf ).
Does removing the radiator drain plug do the same thing as undoing the drain pipe under the passenger seat? Thought it would be easier and less messy for the inside of the vaehicle if the raditor plug could be used.
Cheers
Joe
I don't know the Cain Alternative but with normal procedure you're trying to bleed air out of the system and air will rise in the system and not fall in the system, so you need to use the bleed pipe which connects to the top of the system rather than the drain pipe which is at the bottom of the system (so coolant can be drained). Unless I've misunderstood something (not unheard of with me!)
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:29 am
by scanner
mikeonb4c wrote:JoeC wrote:With regards to The Cain Alternative way of doing a coolant flush in the attached members only fact sheet (
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... oolant.pdf ).
Does removing the radiator drain plug do the same thing as undoing the drain pipe under the passenger seat? Thought it would be easier and less messy for the inside of the vaehicle if the raditor plug could be used.
Cheers
Joe
I don't know the Cain Alternative but with normal procedure you're trying to bleed air out of the system and air will rise in the system and not fall in the system, so you need to use the bleed pipe which connects to the top of the system rather than the drain pipe which is at the bottom of the system (so coolant can be drained). Unless I've misunderstood something (not unheard of with me!)
I just don't understand this "water spraying everywhere" either.
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 1:46 pm
by Simon Jones
When bleeding I fit a valve to the end of the bleed pipe to make it turn-on-and-off-able. When finished, clamp the pipe & re-fit the bung.

Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:29 pm
by JoeC
JoeC wrote:scanner wrote:Why is using the bleed tube messy?
You'll be putting the bleed tube plug back in with the system pumping the water out of it (engine running) so water will be spraying everywhere.
I'm interpreting what is in the instructions the person who puts the bleed plug back in won't thank you as being water spraying all over them. I may be wrong but if the engine is running and this bleed pipe is open then the pumped water has to go somewhere.
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:51 pm
by scanner
JoeC wrote: I may be wrong but if the engine is running and this bleed pipe is open then the pumped water has to go somewhere.
You are - you are reading too much into that.
Coolant only comes out of the pipe if you drop the open end below the level of water in the header tank.
To get the plug back in all you have to do is drop the pipe down until water dribbles out of the open end, quickly push the bung back in and pull the clip over it to hold it.
No spraying anywhere.
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:37 pm
by JoeC
scanner wrote:JoeC wrote: I may be wrong but if the engine is running and this bleed pipe is open then the pumped water has to go somewhere.
You are - you are reading too much into that.
Coolant only comes out of the pipe if you drop the open end below the level of water in the header tank.
To get the plug back in all you have to do is drop the pipe down until water dribbles out of the open end, quickly push the bung back in and pull the clip over it to hold it.
No spraying anywhere.
That's good for me to hear as the wife is gonna be putting th bung back in.
Re: Coolant Flush - 'The Cain Alternative'
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:52 pm
by Simon Jones
It's best to wear something like rubber gloves to avoid getting scalded. Mrs C will probably have a nice pair of Marigolds which will do the job nicely

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