17 replies to this topic

[Yoda74]

The title says a lot. 

I have my MG turbo engined clubman estate for four years know. 
Since I have it the coolant has not been replaced. 
When I look into the expansion tank I see a bit of brownish liquid, the original colour is not recognizable. 
So the question is which colour should I use and what is the best way to renew it?

Cheers

 

[Aly-g]

Hi , the best way to drain the cooling system that I find anyway is to remove the bottom hose from the radiator, then flush the rad out until you get clean water running out, I also remove one of the heater hoses in the engine compartment and flush through with a hose pipe if possible.

when the system is cleaned out I mix 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water , I use blue antifreeze ( ethanol I think ) normally takes me a couple hours but worth it for the cooling of the engine, good luck.

 

Allan 

[croc7]

To flush the cooling system, here's how I do it;
-drain the radiator (easy for me, I had a drain plug installed)
-remove the thermostat housing and thermostat
-re-install the t-stat housing and gasket
-attach a three foot length of garden hose to the t-stat housing and place the end in a large suitable container (I use the plastic gallon jugs from distilled water).
-open the heater valve
-fill radiator with distilled water and start engine
-continue to fill rad with distilled water as it is pumped out until it runs clear
-add antifreeze as necessary to reach desired mixture, I use 30/70 antifreeze to water ratio.

Edited by croc7, 06 June 2022 - 04:47 AM.

[Spider]

Just be sure to use a coolant that's suitable for all the components in the cooling system. If you're running a copper / brass radiator, it's fairly straight forward, but if an alloy unit, then do a search, there's been a few discussions on the subject.

[Yoda74]

I think my radiator comes from a Metro, are they from aluminium?

 

 

 

 

[Spider]

I think my radiator comes from a Metro, are they from aluminium?

 

The Early ones were but yours appears copper.

[Ethel]

I think that is an early one, as well as copper. The later ones had the pipes on opposite corners.

 

Not 100%, but I think the Turbo had a thicker core.

[Yoda74]

The pipes are all on one side.

like this one:

 

https://www.onlineca...is-1719466.html

 

so what colour of coolant should I use to keep the radiator and other parts okay?

 

I found this article, 

https://www.valvolin...engine-coolant/

 

and this topic on this forum:

https://www.theminif...reeze-do-i-use/

 

the more you read, the tougher it gets….

 

 

[gazza82]

so what colour of coolant should I use to keep the radiator and other parts okay?

It's not the colour that's important .. it's the main ingredients!

You have two main types: Glycol or OAT (organic).

You want Glycol, which is usually blue (but not always!).

Buy it in concentrated form and a 5l bottle of de-ionised/distilled water and make up your own mix - 30% Anti-freeze/70% water is usually OK to pretty low temps but you can adjust it for your climate - it also works out cheaper and you usually have spare for those top-ups.

Edited by gazza82, 06 June 2022 - 05:34 PM.

[Yoda74]

To flush the cooling system, here's how I do it;
-drain the radiator (easy for me, I had a drain plug installed)
-remove the thermostat housing and thermostat
-re-install the t-stat housing and gasket
-attach a three foot length of garden hose to the t-stat housing and place the end in a large suitable container (I use the plastic gallon jugs from distilled water).
-open the heater valve
-fill radiator with distilled water and start engine
-continue to fill rad with distilled water as it is pumped out until it runs clear
-add antifreeze as necessary to reach desired mixture, I use 30/70 antifreeze to water ratio.

 

 

As my radiator comes from a Metro  it doesn’t have a filling-plug. I must fill the cooling system through the expansion tank.

Do you mean keep filling the system while the engine is running (without thermostat) and is pumping out water through the thermostat housing until it is clear?

 

 

 

 

[Spider]

 

As my radiator comes from a Metro  it doesn’t have a filling-plug. I must fill the cooling system through the expansion tank.

 

 

You'd save yourself a LOT of agony if you fitted an In Line Filler Neck, the type that fits a hose. Try and get it as high as you can in the cooling system to assist with bleeding the air from the system.

 

Have a look at Car Builder Solutions for one for these fillers.
 

[nicklouse]

Or just use the metro/allegro thermostat housing with the screw plug on the top.

[croc7]

To flush the cooling system, here's how I do it;
-drain the radiator (easy for me, I had a drain plug installed)
-remove the thermostat housing and thermostat
-re-install the t-stat housing and gasket
-attach a three foot length of garden hose to the t-stat housing and place the end in a large suitable container (I use the plastic gallon jugs from distilled water).
-open the heater valve
-fill radiator with distilled water and start engine
-continue to fill rad with distilled water as it is pumped out until it runs clear
-add antifreeze as necessary to reach desired mixture, I use 30/70 antifreeze to water ratio.

As my radiator comes from a Metro it doesn’t have a filling-plug. I must fill the cooling system through the expansion tank.
Do you mean keep filling the system while the engine is running (without thermostat) and is pumping out water through the thermostat housing until it is clear?

Yes and I use the same method on the MG1100 which has an expansion tank. Works great and flushes the complete system including the heater.

[Yoda74]

plan of attack;

 

I first open the heater valve, drain the radiator, the lower hose is the lowest point of the cooling system, there will be hardly any water left in the system.

I than put the hose back on the lower radiatorpipe, remove the thermostat (or do this first), connect a hose to the thermostat housing (which connection?) fill up the system completely with distilled water,  start the engine and keep on filling the extension tank untill clear water comes out. Than drain the system again and fill it with coolant.

 

will the entire system be flushed this way?

I want to clean the inside of the expansion tank too, any tips? Soaking it in warm water with dishwash tablet? Or cleaning vinegar?

cant reach in there with a brush.

isnt the waterpump pushing ou water faster than I can fill?

[cal844]

I'd use CLR on the coolant system if you can.

Get the expansion tank ultrasonic cleaned, or just buy a new one

Edited by cal844, 08 June 2022 - 07:02 PM.