Draining?

Level 5 User Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 119

Is it possible to flush the coolant system by letting the engine run hot whilst leaving the bottom radiator hose unattached and then putting a fresh supply of water into the coolant expansion chamber?
I predict no, but can you tell me why? Thanx

Also, where the hell on the block is the coolant drain plug? Is it accessable with the engine still in the bay? Spent ages looking for it from the crap Haynes picture. Pics may help
Ta

Site Subscriber Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 1141

BenLewisMav wrote:

Is it possible ruin my engine by run hot whilst leaving the bottom radiator hose unattached and then putting a fresh supply of cold water into the coolant expansion chamber?

You can't be serious? Laughing

Your wanting to flush the coolant system, right?

First squeeze all your coolant pipes (they might be a bit crispy!) to free up all the crap, then pull off the top/bottom rad hoses and the two hoses on the expansion bottle. Stick a hose pipe in them all and flush / reverse flush until they all run clear.

If you want you can then reassemble, add some flushing agent into the system run and repeat. When your refilling the expansion tank open the bleed screw on the radiator to let the air out, when water starts running out of it tighten it up.

Don't forget to add anti-freeze.

Level 5 User Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 119

Addie wrote:

You can't be serious? Laughing

Haha sadly yes, I am that inexperienced/stupid Very Happy

Ok we'll i've done the radiator, now just to do the rest leading from the expansion chamber. Couldnt believe how much crap from the radiator.. bright orange too Sad

However I have to go to work now so i'll have to leave it til tomorrow, is it ok to leave it without anti-freeze in for a night or two? Bearing in mind its pretty cold here -2 ish I think.
-I will be flushing it all out again tomorrow though.

Many Thanks

Site Subscriber Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 1141

BenLewisMav wrote:

However I have to go to work now so i'll have to leave it til tomorrow, is it ok to leave it without anti-freeze in for a night or two? Bearing in mind its pretty cold here -2 ish I think.
-I will be flushing it all out again tomorrow though.

Given that water freezes at 0c and that when water freezes it expands, I think it would probably be a good idea NOT to leave it over night. You could well get away with it, but for the sake of Â£4.38 for 4L of Antifreeze from Asda - is it worth the risk?

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

how did you drain the rad and not the rest of the system...or why didnt you do it all at once?

Level 5 User Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 119

Just to say addie it had nothing to do with cost, I'd happily pay way in excess of that to make sure i dont completely mess up the engine. It was a matter of time(or lack of it)!

Started this afternoon around 1, spend the next few hours removing those damn renault crimp clips from the bottom rad hose and flushed from the coolant exp. tank to end of the hose (more of a test really.. and it was v.dirty), then had to rush to the local parts store to get some jubilee clips before rushing to work....

Anyway heres the update, got back from work 9, spent from then til now reconnecting the bottom rad hose and filling the system back up with coolant again but I could already feel some slush ice in the hoses ( Sad

). So to mix it properly and get the new coolant around the system I ran the engine until warm. The coolant level went right up high over time and the pipes in and out the matrix didnt get hot so i guess theres a blockage Confused

anyway turned it off and all the coolant had dissapeared so I topped it up and let it run for a while.
After I turned it off the first time that pump thing (what is that? -edit. Anti percolation system -water pump) ran for a while and was accompanied by the ice expanding crunching sound (for 5 min or so) and a tiiiiny little puddle appeared below the oil sump. However on filling up the coolant and running it a second time no more liquid/water has appeared so I'm guessing (and praying) that it was just some surface water on the outside of the manifold/head that had frozen (some of the water that splashed down in the engine whilst flushing earlier) and remelted when the manifold/head got hot....

Most likely it should be the replacment of hose(s) if there is a leak?
Just wondering if there is an opening that or seal above the oil sump that would be prone to damage?

Level 1 User Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

top tip, get rid of the bloody stupid standard renault clip on the bottom rad hose!!! jubilee it up all the way!! gained lots extra of my life to this one already!!

Retroholic Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 3315

or ask me im only round the road and garanteed i've f!?ked it up before so no not what to do lol Wink