6 replies to this topic

[JP Detailing]

Radiator:

I'm embarassed to ask this but even after reading the Haynes manual, I couldnt find what was described :|

*note: Im new to mechanics and such*

I want to drain the system and flush some water through to clean it out (following the Haynes guides) as the water thats in there is brown and smells of rat urine :\

I cant find the drain plug? Also, it says on later models that I should remove the bottom hose....I can only see a top one lol. I know Im being stupid but can anyone post up a pic of what I'm supposed to be undoing? :S

93 Rover Mayfair - 998c.


Thanks guys.

[Doz1971]

Drain plugs had long since vanished by '93.

The bottom hose goes from the water pump, to the bottom of the rad. It has a take off for the heater matrix, so if you follow the pipe that comes from your baulkhead, you'll find it .

You will need the standard 6 inch long fingers on 6 foot arms to undo it easily, but we've all got those eh?

[Skortchio]

I had a similar problem when I first got my '94 Mini, I opted for pulling the sender out the bottom of the rad at the front with a bucket beneath.
Didn't have any arm attachments at the time

Then refilled with rad flush solution (the 2 part stuff), did that and refilled / ran / emptied the rad a couple of times. Only time the temp gauge went about 1/2 way since was when the fan belt snapped

[JP Detailing]

Well my temp gauge doesnt seem to work at the moment so when I change the water I'll be doing the thermo test in water.

Thanks for all the advice.

[jaydee]

Start the engine up and let it run for a minute, dont let it warm up too much, Its easier to remove the hoses once they're a little warm.
Place a container under the engine so your drive wont be covered in the stinking stuff..
Remove rad cap, open heater valve, remove rad bottom hose and coolant will drain out of it..
Detaching the heater hose from the cylinder head will make the draining process faster and helps to fill up without creating nasty airlock in the system.
You can stick a garden hose into the system to flush out the residues, or remove the rad if you want to clean it thoroughly.
Use a 50/50 mixture of water and glycol ethilene based coolant to fill up, i think the whole system should be around 3.5/4 lt IIRC.
Coolant should be replaced at two years intervals.

Edited by jaydee, 25 May 2012 - 02:52 PM.

[JP Detailing]

Thanks Jaydee :)

[Dope]

Reviving an old post - I couldn't get the clip undone at the bottom hose where it joins the radiator. So I undid it at the other end where it joins the block and the heater, then poked it down below the radiator to drain.

 

Means you only have to undo the clips that are easy to reach. Handy if you were born without six foot long fingers!!