Joe. Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 Hi guys just topping up engine levels, checked the coolant and could not work out where the coolant stick should be, need some help ASAP!! Should it be above the top of the tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kib Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 if you pull it up it will stop and that's where it should be when its topped up right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LV426 Posted March 8, 2014 Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 I've been looking into this and I have been told by my mechanic it should 'float' I might a have over filled a bit as it seems rammed against the stopper and having drain off some its still hitting the stop when cold. I'll keep draining until lit 'bobs' a little under. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted March 8, 2014 Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 Don't overfill it or there will be no room in the expansion tank for the water to expand and it will find the weakest point in the system and leak out. I couldn't understand why I kept loosing coolant till I figured out I was overfilling it causing the system to over pressure and leak out some of the pipe joints as steam. Since I filled it to the correct level this has not happened again and I haven't lost any coolant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LV426 Posted March 8, 2014 Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 Indeed, I checked again today and need to drain more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 It tells you on the side of the expansion bottle The little float has a marker on it, this should sit level with the top IIRC and the top inch (maybe little less) should stick out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe. Posted March 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 Thanks guys, the diagram isn't overly clear! Wanted some help from the experts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim27 Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 I find this a little confusing. The float stick is supposed to be at its highest position when the correct level of cold coolant is in the system, yet when you're refilling/bleeding the system you open the plastic bleed valve (behind the expansion cap) and add coolant until it comes out of the valve, then close it up and replace the rad cap. Problem is, you've added enough coolant for the float stick to hit its highest position LONG before coolant comes out of the bleed valve. My understanding is that the rad cap is actually a pressure relief valve that's supposed to vent excess pressure over and above the "correct" system pressure (when at full temp). If your system gets hot and vents/leaks coolant from any other part of the system instead then one of two things must surely be happening - either {1} you have weak/compromised parts in your cooling system that are brittle and are going to fail anyway (so should be replaced PDQ); or {2} your rad cap is knackered and isn't venting at the correct pressure, meaning it needs replacing. On that basis if you have a healthy, reliable cooling system and a correctly functioning rad cap then you SHOULD be able to overfill the coolant and the excess will be vented by the rad cap until the correct pressure at operating temperature is achieved (which by default leaves you with the correct amount of coolant in the system). Or am I missing something...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 You're meant to bleed it when its running, and as water expands, it'll come out the bleed screw, getting rid of all water. The coolant level is for when it's cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cos01 Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 i always thought it was supposed to be like this but then i saw this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 That coolant level is way too high if thats cold Kicksmithy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kicksmithy Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 The float level is in the right place i.e. Level with the top of the cap, but the coolant doesn't need to be anywhere near that level for it to hit max. Last time I checked mine you can see the coolant level on full but it's a good few inches from being anywhere near the top like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim27 Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 You're meant to bleed it when its running, and as water expands, it'll come out the bleed screw, getting rid of all water. The coolant level is for when it's cold. So check float stick is at "high", rad cap back on, fire up with the bleed screw open then let idle until pure coolant (no bubbles) comes out the bleed screw then nip up, engine off, job done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Streek Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) ^^^^^^^ you got it You can leave the rad cap off while bleeding through the bleed screw with the engine running if you are doing a refill after an engine flush, you can run the engine as you top up to help bleed the air out. Obviously don't run the engine till you have at least over half filled the rad! Edited March 12, 2014 by Silver Streek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
