13 replies to this topic

[Kawh1]

Hello - can any anyone help me with the following. I have just recently brought the above Mini Cooper and I noticed that there is no radiator overflow hose fitted just below the radiator cap. Is the hose a clear plastic PVC hose or a rubber hose? How long is the hose and what route does it follow when fitted to the radiator overflow pipe. Any help would be greatly appreciated, cheers

[MikeRotherham]

Should this car have an expansion tank located under the passenger side (nearside) wing?

 

 

If so the overflow pipe would have been black

Edited by MikeRotherham, 01 May 2022 - 04:34 PM.

[Kawh1]

Thanks for the info, however it doesn't have a small tank. I found the attached photo of the 96 Mini Cooper 35 engine and it seems to show a black rubber overflow hose going through the engine bay wall to waste - seems simple enough if this is the case? Cheers

 

Attached Files

•  14063489.jpg   100.69K   5 downloads

[Quinlan minor]

Thanks for the info, however it doesn't have a small tank. I found the attached photo of the 96 Mini Cooper 35 engine and it seems to show a black rubber overflow hose going through the engine bay wall to waste - seems simple enough if this is the case? Cheers

Looks like a JDM.

[Kawh1]

Hello - Sorry but what does JDM mean? This is all new a bit to me as I haven't owed a Mini for 30+ years

[Quinlan minor]

Japanese Domestic Market

 

Attached Files

•  Japanese Domestic Market Mini.jpg   38.31K   5 downloads

[Kawh1]

Ok and yes you are correct. So, am I correct in thinking the radiator overflow simply goes through the engine bay wall to waste in the LH side wheel bay?

[Quinlan minor]

Not my speciality subject but, as above (#2), I believe there should be an expansion tank.

[MikeRotherham]

Should have said the end of the black rubber pipe visible in my picture of the expansion tank fits on the connection under the radiator cap.

 

If there was originally an expansion tank I'd ask why was it removed and when they removed it did they also fit the correct radiator cap? The expansion tank needs the correct radiator cap to allow for water to 'expand' and enter and leave the tank.

 

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Edited by MikeRotherham, 02 May 2022 - 07:22 AM.

[Pops_Guild]

Ok and yes you are correct. So, am I correct in thinking the radiator overflow simply goes through the engine bay wall to waste in the LH side wheel bay?

 

Your SPi Cooper should not just have a radiator overflow pipe, it should have the expansion tank as shown above. If it only has a pipe that empties onto the road then that isn't correct. ALL SPi's, not just Japanese/JDM ones had the expansion tank fitted from the factory. It helps with the overall good running and condition of the coolant.

 

The are often removed because folks don't understand how important they are (and they start to leak) but they are important.

 

If you want to have a read of why etc then feel free to read a post I did on it on my FB page ....Classic Mini SPi | (Info) SPi Expansion tank replacement & why you shouldn’t remove it, it is important | Facebook

[Kawh1]

Thanks for all the information - I'll check all this out when I'm over in my mancave today

[Aria Aradhea]

Just to make it clearer as well, the aforementioned expansion tank is installed in the wheel well near the shock absorber, hence why the hose from the radiator goes into the wheel well.

[Kawh1]

All sorted now. I found the overflow hose tucked in behind the rubber flap between the radiator and the engine bay. The previous owner had just had the engine out for some repair work to the gearbox, fitted a new water pump and clutch plate and the mechanic forgot to refit the hose correctly. I noticed the radiator water was a bit rusty, therefore my thoughts are to now look at flushing the radiator and engine cooling system out. Does anyone have any tricks of the trade on how to do this simply?

[masslaw]

As above, you should have an expansion tank under the front wing.  Mine was leaking and I had terrible problems with overheating. Installed a new one from Classic Mini Japan and everything is running fine.  Running without one or having a leaky one will give you headaches.