Bleeding Radiators

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

I did some work on my mums 205 auto Tuesday to fix a gradually worsening water leak from the metal pipe in the inner wing with a nice freshly hammerited one & when I went to drain the coolant the drain plug sheared off the rad but the fins of it were getting pretty scarce so it was certainly due & I think the rad might've been leaking more than the pipe but anyway, thats a different matter.

 

I have an XS rad which at first glance appeared the same so i wasn't to bothered, thinking it'd be a quick fix. Unfortunately the 205 auto has a specific rad just likethe TD (& almost as expensive) so because I needed it fixed asap I fitted one of the GTi rad's I had spare as a stop gap.

 

The cooling system ion the suto is a real mixed up affair, XS / base model expansion tank with a side filled rad but with just the two normal bleed points for an XU engine. The GTi rad fitted in easily enough but when it came to filling it up I realised what fun it could be getting all the air out.

 

I removed the top hose from the thermostat housing until frsh coolant started to spill out as I filled it & then relied on the usual bleed points.

 

When it was filled up I ran the engine up to temp with the expansion tank held at the highest piint & the cap off until the fan had cut in & out three times, occasionaly revving the engine a little during this process.

 

By this time I was hardly getting any air bubles throught eh expansion tank so i switched off & let it cool for 30 mins while i had a brew before running it once more until the fan had cut in & out three times. I was still getting occasional bubbles out at frst during the seciond session but these had all but stopped by teh end so I was happy to call that it.

 

Heater was warm so no apparent airlocks.

 

After pricing up a rad on GSF's website (£90+vat ) I'm now wondering if its worth the hassle of swapping back to a standard auto rad or just leaving it as is with maybe another one or two attempts at getting any air ut by the method above. For the use the car seems, although the car is in good nick I'm undecided on replacing, I know my mum would rather have the £90+ left in her purse but i don't want an airlock causing any head gasket or other problems if she gets stuck intraffic even though the cooling fans work fine.

 

What do you think, have I done enough to ensure all possible air is out of the system?

 

Graham.

[steve@cornwall 100]

I did some work on my mums 205 auto Tuesday to fix a gradually worsening water leak from the metal pipe in the inner wing with a nice freshly hammerited one & when I went to drain the coolant the drain plug sheared off the rad but the fins of it were getting pretty scarce so it was certainly due & I think the rad might've been leaking more than the pipe but anyway, thats a different matter.

 

I have an XS rad which at first glance appeared the same so i wasn't to bothered, thinking it'd be a quick fix. Unfortunately the 205 auto has a specific rad just likethe TD (& almost as expensive) so because I needed it fixed asap I fitted one of the GTi rad's I had spare as a stop gap.

 

The cooling system ion the suto is a real mixed up affair, XS / base model expansion tank with a side filled rad but with just the two normal bleed points for an XU engine. The GTi rad fitted in easily enough but when it came to filling it up I realised what fun it could be getting all the air out.

 

I removed the top hose from the thermostat housing until frsh coolant started to spill out as I filled it & then relied on the usual bleed points.

 

When it was filled up I ran the engine up to temp with the expansion tank held at the highest piint & the cap off until the fan had cut in & out three times, occasionaly revving the engine a little during this process.

 

By this time I was hardly getting any air bubles throught eh expansion tank so i switched off & let it cool for 30 mins while i had a brew before running it once more until the fan had cut in & out three times. I was still getting occasional bubbles out at frst during the seciond session but these had all but stopped by teh end so I was happy to call that it.

 

Heater was warm so no apparent airlocks.

 

After pricing up a rad on GSF's website (£90+vat ) I'm now wondering if its worth the hassle of swapping back to a standard auto rad or just leaving it as is with maybe another one or two attempts at getting any air ut by the method above. For the use the car seems, although the car is in good nick I'm undecided on replacing, I know my mum would rather have the £90+ left in her purse but i don't want an airlock causing any head gasket or other problems if she gets stuck intraffic even though the cooling fans work fine.

 

What do you think, have I done enough to ensure all possible air is out of the system?

 

Graham.

 

 

 

 

If it doesn't work I'll have a nearly new auto rad spare soon

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

TBH its not that much different to the coling system fitted to the XS & lower spec petrol engine 205's & it seems ok for now but you have a pm.

 

Graham.

[jackherer 543]

Petrol XUs (with one exception, the GTI6) are pretty good at sorting out any airlocks in my experience, if it was a TU or particularly a diesel I would be concerned.

[Alastairh 47]

Petrol XUs (with one exception, the GTI6) are pretty good at sorting out any airlocks in my experience, if it was a TU or particularly a diesel I would be concerned.

 

Agreed. You've reminded me of the days of my old 106 XSI's. Man they were a mare.

 

Quite a common problem with cooling systems is people over filling them. But it sounds like it should be ok...

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to leave it as it is for now but if my mum reports any sudden loss of fluid (although I'm not sure how it could escape from the system) I'll look into it & might even fit the almost new alloy XS rad & fan cowl I have downstairs.

 

Steve & I have discussed sorting the proper radiator for the car again towards the end of the month.

 

Graham.

[MrG 3]

I'd leave alone if it works OK.