Got to refill the collant system tomorrow........
 

.........can anyone point me in the direction of a "how to" guide for a classic? Thanks.

That's "coolant" btw, why can't we edit titles?

I've NEVER had a problem doing it this way
1. Pre-mix the coolant / water into containers
2. Fill expansion tank (near battery)
3. With the engine cold, fill the header tank (it will take a few goes and the coolant will slowly drop.
4. Set the heaters to hot and start the engine and fill up header tank as it drops. Just keep on filling it till the fans come on.
5. One final top up of the header tank, then put the cap on, walk away and leave it overnight.
6. Just before you start it again in the morning, check the levels on the header tank and the expansion tank.

Easy job really :)

So you can run the engine with the cap OFF the header tank OK?

Thanks, btw.......:)

sure can, no problem

Cheers.

Fill SLOWLY. Give the rad hoses a squeeze whilst filling helps shift some air. Leaving the cap off with the engine runing is essential in purging air out the cooling system. Also whilst warming up ensure the heater blows/hot warm air (a/c= off, heat on max, fan set to low). If it blows cold at any point, switch off and investigate, as there maybe an airlock.

You will probably find half way through warming up the header tank will overflow. So don't keep it topped up to the brim, but around 3/4 full. If it overflows just switch off the engine and put the cap back on. Let it cool down then recheck and top it up to the brim and then take it for a drive. Recheck it again after the car has been driven and allowed to cool back down to ambient temperature (2to 3 hours minimum).

Here's an earlier post that shows how I did it.
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...stem-help.html

you should do the following -

Full refill takes 7.2litres for classic

premix 50/50 antifreeze and water in a separate container - I use 2ltr pop bottles

Now the important bit.....
undo the header cap and remove the straight pipe that goes from header tank to rear of engine (just to the side of the turbo)

Very slowly fill via this pipe until coolant mix is seen rising in the header tank (about 5-6 litres worth depending on how much water you drained out in the first place.

refit pipe & jubilee clip but NOT the header tank cap

Start engine, interior heater switched on, fans on and set to hot.

Allow engine to warm up, squeezing the bottom radiator hose gently as you go - you will see air bubbles appear in the header tank coolant.

Add more coolant mix as the header tank empties.

once it will take no more, fill the expansion tank (by n/s headlight) to the correct level.

fit caps to header tank and expansion tank.

At this point I wait until the cooling fans have kicked in and then gone off again.

take car for a steady drive. not too far from home incase of leaks or problems

return home and let engine coolant cool down.

once cool enough, undo header tank cap and fill up to the top if required)

cap on and jobs a gud 'un

Cheers
Rob

book mark

Thanks, guys.

7.2 litres? Either there's still a lot left in mine, or I lost more than I thought, :confused: since I only have 5 litres in my container when I drained the coolant into the wife's best stainless mixing bowl:D

Is all anti-freeze good so long as it contains corrosion inhibitor? Can different types of anti-freeze be mixed?.

Nope, not all anti-freeze are the same - my local factors says that the green stuff is the right stuff for these engines

Green stuff? Mine is pink and I trust the guy who filled it...........

On mine, this is not straight, it has a few S bends, but seems to go down beside the turbo via a metal pipe, to which the rubber one affixes?

I assume I fill this with a funnel and lots of patience?

I was fitting a new rad when I did mine, I just filled the rad where the top pipe attached (slowly to avoid trapping air). Then filled the header tank in the same way, to he brim. ran the car till it was warm then topped up the expansion tank behind the left headlight.
that was six months ago, I've not had to top it up since?!
As for the type of coolant to use, just make sure it is suitable for aluminium heads.
wardy.

Done it this morning, so far it seems to have done the trick.

I went with removal of that pipe off the header tank and filling slowly via that.

I then did all the other things, running until hot, squeezing bottom hose:norty:, watching bubbles, refilling etc until it didn't seem to want any more. It then went round the block and is cooling now so I can do a final fill.

Thanks to all who advised.

mine is pink to, i was told if you mix the wrong colours it can cause damage?

I don't think it's mixing the colours, so much as using stuff with no corrosion inhibitors, which our engines NEED, being alloy.
However, I mentioned this to the factor where mine was bought and he said ALL anti-freeze has those additives now, being to some EC standard, and it did say as much on the container I bought.

mines blue

Really? Seen a doctor?:D

Honestly, the COLOUR has no bearing on it, it's what's IN it that matters.

You can! Go to "Edit", then "Go Advanced", and you'll be able re-edit the title. :)

Weirdly though, it only shows the corrected title in the thread itself (1st post obviously), but NOT in the forum's list of threads?!?! :freak3: I think it's just a SN glitch - but I wish the mods would address it...! :(

The pinkish red colour is long life 5 year if mixed 50/50 mix
Dont mix colours can not remeber certain ones if mixed thicken up and block water ways
There is a
new antifreeze out which clear in some new cars now and can not be mixed with others.
ant

Thanks, that's worth knowing.

Is this the same process for a newage 2002 sti ??? Ta - tim.