Hi, yesterday in the cold snap while stuck in heavy traffic (surrounded by less capable cars that don't "work" in snow ) i noticed my temp gauge climbing and i shut the car down when it hit 106.
Checked the coolant and it was empty!!!
Let the car sit and cool (was a 2 mile walk to nearest garage to buy water) then refilled with 3 litres of water.
Once i got the car home i tracked the leak down to the radiator.
I've ordered a Mishimoto to replace the standard one with and got the pink pre-mixed OAT coolant from Halfords to refill it with.
Anything else i should be doing when replacing/refilling the system?
Thanks in adavnce

 

On a car that old, I might think about replacing the top-hose. I didn't when mine went, the top hose sprang a leak a week later Once removed, the inside looked as if it had been slashed with a razorblade, all over

Then read my "how to" on here to avoid airlocking.

https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...-question.html

Finally, if the new coolant is different in format to the old, DO flush out all the old before refilling. They two types don't mix

 

Thanks for the advice on the top hose - have a new one already in place when i had my water temp take off put in when the engine was built in the summer

Already have your how to printed off lol (can use the search )

Will be flushing as much as is possible - my drive is on a slope and the car is sitting nose up - hoping that won't hinder the process.

Just need to source a decent funnel . . . . . . . .

Thanks again for the top shelf advice alcazar

 

It needs to sit level, or nose down, to drain properly.

 

that's a pain in the **** lol
I'll load it back up with water and switch it around then Unfortunately i've nowhere level to work upon it :/

 

Top shout Alcazar with your filling technique via the turbo pipe, radiator swap went without a hitch other than it bloody snowing from start until finish lol
Shiny new mishimoto radiator in my engine bay making the rest of it look decidedly under par now . . . . . .

 

LOL, join the club. I once replaced the starter on an Escort MkI Mexico, in snow, on the floor under the car, which WASN'T jacked up, at my dad's. The oil pump had to come off too.

Two weeks later I did it all again, when the "new" refurbished one went faulty. THAT time it was so cold my duffle coat froze to the floor, and, on coming inside and washing my very cold hands, I found that I'd taken every knuckle off!

Oh...and both times, in the dark, mostly by feel.