help please in how to bleed the system,

its a zetec se engine, polo rad, rover 25 header tank, now its not getting water round the system ive checked everthing, water pump, all hoses, rad, block, all clear, but it keep going straight into the red temp wise, the rad dosnt get hot at all, so im wanting to know the best way to bleed the system, ill get some pics of the system so you can give me some pointers, thanks al

On top of the thermostate housing is a smaller pipe, 10mm that leads to the expansion tank, take the end off the tank and suck the air out through the thermostate, until the water comes through, Not the most pleasant jobs, but it works.

Scooby

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Originally posted by Scoobythedog
On top of the thermostate housing is a smaller pipe, 10mm that leads to the expansion tank, take the end off the tank and suck the air out through the thermostate, until the water comes through, Not the most pleasant jobs, but it works.

Scooby

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right here we go pics,

header tank, feeds into what would be be the heater return on a normal setup in a road car,


the return is on top of the head, and you can see the feed from the engine of hot water to the top of the rad,


then down a metal pipe to the rad,


there is a bleed ontop of the rad,


through the rad, then out the bottom to thermo thermostat which is next to the water pump,


abit of a bad pic to see that as th bodies are in the way,


im running standard water pump setup with standard belt route with ford tensioners as pictured

The water pump is definately turning the right way? Is it a 2 litre?

Are the shock absorbers upside down?

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Originally posted by multanen
Are the shock absorbers upside down?

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Originally posted by scotlad
The water pump is definately turning the right way? Is it a 2 litre?

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Looks like lack of by-pass

Where does the the pipe drom the bottom of theb header tank go ? it looks like is going back to the head.--- it should go into the bottom hose/bottom of rad or any water pump inlet

Also drill a vent hole or two in the thermostat.



[Edited on 2/5/09 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 2/5/09 by britishtrident]

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Originally posted by britishtrident
Where does the the pipe drom the bottom of theb header tank go --- it should go into the bottom hose/bottom of rad or any water pump inlet.

Also drill a vent hole or two in the thermostat.

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Originally posted by beaver34

quote:

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Originally posted by britishtrident
Where does the the pipe drom the bottom of theb header tank go --- it should go into the bottom hose/bottom of rad or any water pump inlet.

Also drill a vent hole or two in the thermostat.

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it goes into the feed for the top rad pipe in theory, this is how all these cars have been ran and plumbed in, this is why i carnt understand why im still running mega hot and the water isnt getting round

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Originally posted by britishtrident

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Originally posted by beaver34

quote:

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Originally posted by britishtrident
Where does the the pipe drom the bottom of theb header tank go --- it should go into the bottom hose/bottom of rad or any water pump inlet.

Also drill a vent hole or two in the thermostat.

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it goes into the feed for the top rad pipe in theory, this is how all these cars have been ran and plumbed in, this is why i carnt understand why im still running mega hot and the water isnt getting round

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No that's the wrong way to do it the thermostat will never open --- because you don't get any hot by-pass flow around the wax capsule of the thermostat, the only heat that will get to the thermostat is by conduction --- water isn't good at conducting heat.

Just tee into the connection between the bottom of the thermostat and the header tank and lead it back to the water pump inlet

[Edited on 2/5/09 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 2/5/09 by britishtrident]

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beaver34:
I'm having very similar problems with my MK/Pinto/Polo setup. See my posts in Eng & Trans.
Have you bled the rad via the screw at nearside top? Get the air out of there and replace the screw. Fire it up and get it warm/hot.
Then, using extreme care and holding the screw lightly with pliers as you undo it so you avoid cooking your fingers, (how do I know that, you may ask! ) bleed it again. If you get gas/air rather than water fairly immediately then welcome to the same problem. I have deduced that my head gasket is shot or the block's cracked.
John.

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Originally posted by MautoK
beaver34:
I'm having very similar problems with my MK/Pinto/Polo setup. See my posts in Eng & Trans.
Have you bled the rad via the screw at nearside top? Get the air out of there and replace the screw. Fire it up and get it warm/hot.
Then, using extreme care and holding the screw lightly with pliers as you undo it so you avoid cooking your fingers, (how do I know that, you may ask! ) bleed it again. If you get gas/air rather than water fairly immediately then welcome to the same problem. I have deduced that my head gasket is shot or the block's cracked.
John.

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There's a few pics of my setup in my photo archive under 'New Radiator'

Front without nosecone
Not sure I understand what you mean by 'dosnt get hot coming out of it, as the warm water is so far away from the bleed screw'
Does that mean you get nothing or air or cold water?
John.

My thread is here


[Edited on 2/5/09 by MautoK]

I would consider taking out the thermostat a) to make sure it works & not sticking close b) To run system without it to find if that makes a difference.

Other thing is the small pipe going to the header tank, try pushing under the heater tank rather than it going above, you would be surprised how little air you might be looking for.

Alan...

[Edited on 3-5-0909 by FEZ1025]

going to remove thermostat today or tomorrow will report back with my findings then

right cooling system is in bit at the moment, ive relocating the header tank feed into the bottom rad hose to the thermostat, but my next question is heater hoses,

i dont have a heater and as it is the outlet is blanked off, and the heater return where the old header tank feed was will be blanked off, is it fine to just leave it like this, or is it best to just join them together? thanks al

My method has been to run the engine, listen carefully and squeeze the pipes fast, shoving the air and water through. Usually if it's bad you'll see air going through the tank (I always did anyway)

Maybe not the best method but it's a quick 2 minute job and might just sort it out

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Originally posted by beaver34
i dont have a heater and as it is the outlet is blanked off, and the heater return where the old header tank feed was will be blanked off, is it fine to just leave it like this, or is it best to just join them together? thanks al

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Originally posted by FEZ1025

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Originally posted by beaver34
i dont have a heater and as it is the outlet is blanked off, and the heater return where the old header tank feed was will be blanked off, is it fine to just leave it like this, or is it best to just join them together? thanks al

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This 'might' be your issue, some systems use the heater matrix as the bypass around the thermostat. Hot water is fed round these pipes until the thermostat opens, which could explain why yours gets up to temperature very quickly. Is it feasible to link these pipes together again as an experiment to see if it cures your problem, it could also be holding air in.

Alan...

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