Hi all.
I am changing Belladonna's coolant today. All part of my learning experience!
I have flushed the radiator out and it all seemed remarkably clean, which is encouraging!
I am now re-filling it. I removed the bleed screws, but coolant started coming out before I had put in the amount that I was expecting. Is that normal? I have filled it to just below the top of the expansion tank neck but I have not managed to get the full amount in. Doe te amount go down once the engine is started?
The instructions of what to do next differ in the owner's manual and the Haynes manual.
The owners manual says start the engine and unscrew the plug from the heater hose until coolant comes out.
In Haynes it says replace both bleed plugs and run the engine until the fan cuts in, then allow it to cool. Then re-fill as necessary.
Which do I do? I don't want to trap air in and blow an HG!

You won't ever trap air and blow a head gasket. Run the engine to get it warm (water expands as it heats).
When it it warm (not hot) open bleed valves until water comes out.
Did you put anti-freeze in. The aluminium parts of the engine require the inhibitor in anti-freeze all year round.

Drive normally. check the coolant level a couple of times over the next few days. Top up as necessary. Don't panic if it spits a little water out, it's finding it's own level.

Isn't there something about putting the heater on hot after a coolant change or did I just make that up in the bottomless pit of my mind

Yes I put anti freeze in and water, in a roughly 50/50 mixture. I have checked the mixture and it seems spot on. But the handbook says it shoukd take 5.2 L (999cc engine) but I am sure I have not got more than about 4L .

yes I've got the heater set on hot

Didge3 said:

Isn't there something about putting the heater on hot after a coolant change or did I just make that up in the bottomless pit of my mind

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Nope, your spot on with that

I had a lot of coolant left over in my 999cc too. Probably could have got away with buying 2.5 ltrs instead of 5

And do use distilled water, no tap water, that will contain chalk and other debris that will get stuck inside the coolant passages over time.

cheekylittlescamp said:

I had a lot of coolant left over in my 999cc too. Probably could have got away with buying 2.5 ltrs instead of 5

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So why is that? How come the capacity is given as 5.2L but you can't get 5.2L in?

Peter Pick-Up said:

And do use distilled water, no tap water, that will contain chalk and other debris that will get stuck inside the coolant passages over time.

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Shouldn't do in the UK if in a reasonable area.

We used to live in Essex, where the water was hard and everything got furred up.
Up here in the North West now the water is very soft .

5.2L will be a completely dry system, so you will never get that much in as you can never get all of the old stuff out.

Open the bleed screws as you are filling until you get coolant coming out of them, then run it up to temperature until the fan kicks in, make the sure the heater is hot, turn it off and then check the level when it has cooled down.

Not sure, maybe a bit gets trapped somewhere in the system?

I used distilled water, only a couple of quid as the water is hard around here.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Shouldn't do in the UK if in a reasonable area.

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It's advised on the Paraflu bottle, and distiled water is very inexpensive, so use it, where ever you live.

panda1408 said:

5.2L will be a completely dry system, so you will never get that much in as you can never get all of the old stuff out.

Open the bleed screws as you are filling until you get coolant coming out of them, then run it up to temperature until the fan kicks in, make the sure the heater is hot, turn it off and then check the level when it has cooled down.

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So - ignore the handbook which says "Start the engine , unscrew heater hose plug C, and then screw it back in when coolant starts to flow out of the hole"?

pooroldcodger said:

So - ignore the handbook which says "Start the engine , unscrew heater hose plug C, and then screw it back in when coolant starts to flow out of the hole"?

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Both should work.

Peter Pick-Up said:

It's advised on the Paraflu bottle, and distiled water is very inexpensive, so use it, where ever you live.

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I don't use paraflu so wouldn't know. Never had an issue with all the engines I've used tap water, in the coolant mix, in

pooroldcodger said:

So - ignore the handbook which says "Start the engine , unscrew heater hose plug C, and then screw it back in when coolant starts to flow out of the hole"?

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Unscrew it yes but not all the way out, it has a slot up the threads which allows the air/coolant to escape after undoing it three or four turns. Do this when you first fill up then close when you see coolant coming out, run engine with heater set to hot until fan kicks in, let it cool then top up if necessary. You could then open the bleed screws again and run the engine until coolant runs out etc etc. Eventually coolant will immediately come out of the bleed screws, then you're full .

Expansion tank should only be about half full when done. The lowest place to drain the cooling system is to take the bottom hose off the radiator, this does tend to leave some coolant in the lower part of the block and in the heater, which is why you can't get get all 5.2 litres in, keep this in mind when you mix your coolant ratio.

Sorry most of this is repeating what's already been said.

thank you for the explanation. I don't mind any repeating - I need all the help I can get!
When you say there will be coolant left in the block and in the heater, so bear that in mind when you mix the coolant -
As that should be a 50/50 mix as well, what do you mean?

Sorry - one more thing - pink antifreeze preferable to blue, or does it matter?