Hi,

im about to change the coolant as its coming up to winter and the previous owner only had it done once in 10 years, i have been looking at. 523770482 on euro car parts site

is this suitable? it is red antifreeze / coolant but i cant see a reference to OAT anywhere, has anyone used this before?

also just to confirm (if someone has more detailed info, preferably pictures as i don't know what the bleed nipples look like then please let me know), the process is undo the hose clip at the bottom of the rad, open expansion bottle to help with flow and the 2 bleed nippes (more info on this please) re-connect the hose, top up with water and close nipples. run engine till upto operating temperature with heater on full. drain system again. add a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water unless i buy pre-diluted and fill (does anyone know the capacity? it doesnt say in the handbook...) upto the max mark then open the nipples to let any trapped air out, (can someone confirm which nipple to open when?) top system back up to full. close cap on expansion bottle, run engine till temperature is reached again with heater on full. check level and top up as necessary. run for a few days and open nipples again to let any final bits of trapped air out.

apologies for the messy post its all coming straight from memory of other guides i have read.

(technical level: beginner going on intermediate, i have fully stripped, cleaned and rebuilt a motorbike including the engine carb gearbox etc and maintained it for 2 years, but i am a novice with cars. i have done the rocker cover seal and an oil and filter change since i got my little panda 2 months ago)

cheers

newbie fiat said:

Hi,

im about to change the coolant as its coming up to winter and the previous owner only had it done once in 10 years, i have been looking at. 523770482 on euro car parts site

is this suitable? it is red antifreeze / coolant but i cant see a reference to OAT anywhere, has anyone used this before?

also just to confirm (if someone has more detailed info, preferably pictures as i don't know what the bleed nipples look like then please let me know), the process is undo the hose clip at the bottom of the rad, open expansion bottle to help with flow and the 2 bleed nippes (more info on this please) re-connect the hose, top up with water and close nipples. run engine till upto operating temperature with heater on full. drain system again. add a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water unless i buy pre-diluted and fill (does anyone know the capacity? it doesnt say in the handbook...) upto the max mark then open the nipples to let any trapped air out, (can someone confirm which nipple to open when?) top system back up to full. close cap on expansion bottle, run engine till temperature is reached again with heater on full. check level and top up as necessary. run for a few days and open nipples again to let any final bits of trapped air out.


cheers

Click to expand...

Hi,
it's not TOO involved.. but a little time consuming..

basics are here;https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/442413-fully-draining-panda-coolant-system.html

incl . europarts ad. - https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/355156-how-change-radiator-liquid-2.html

I've got a couple of other guides..I'll see if I can find good pics of the bleed screws,
mine is a 2004 , 1.1 Active - so no aircon..,

OK - pic in post#10 , https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/340612-blocked-water-drains.html
on the back wall , see a black plastic over with a "GRID" on it , to the right is a BLACK HOSE - held with a BROWN Bracket, that hose has the bleed screw in the short section between 2 x shiny metal hose clips.

Charlie - Oxford

cheers for that, i thought that was it and took a photo before you replied. have a look at the photo below just double checking it is the one in the red circle. as in the link you sent one of the posters says there is a fuel valve right next to it.

the only one i cant see yet is the one next to the expansion bottle but it is covered by a plastic trim (is it easier to remove this?)

i bought a 5L premix from euro car parts a new oil filter, disks, pads, break cleaner and carb cleaner all for £40. not bad! there my little projects over the next few weeks (if we get any nice weather)

Premix coolant sounds like a good move, but...
It's difficult to 100% drain the system and the old stuff really should be flushed.

Drain the old muck.

Refill with distilled water, bleed air away in the usual way and run the engine until fully hot.

Drain the system again. If its reasonably clean you can go to adding proper coolant. If not repeat with distilled water.

Pour in the amount of concentrate you need for the system capacity. Top up with distilled water. This makes sure any water trapped in the system wont dilute your new coolant.

just started and found this balanced on top of the bottom rad hose, any idea where it comes from?

newbie fiat said:

just started and found this balanced on top of the bottom rad hose, any idea where it comes from?

Click to expand...

Spring clip from front edge of airbox..to alloy rod sticking out from head..over exh manifold

Done! And yeah I realised that was where the spring went I remembered removing it when I did the air filter last month. Went very easy and smoothly actually,Few tips for anyone reading this to get those last bits out when draining pull the flexi hose down lower than the engine then Jack the left side of the car up to help push any last bits of fluid over to that side and again pull the hose down this helped me get about another 500ml out another tip, without the car jacked up gently rock the front right side of the car up and down the very last bits will slosh out. All in all I got about 4.2L out and the system only holds 4.6. Heaters get red hot and engine temp stays around 2 marks below the half way line so that coolant does seem to perform well!

Next task fix all the scratches! Think someone didn't like the last lady that owned it loads of key marks down each side of the car I can't complain really it's a small price to pay for a car that only has 45k miles is mechanically very sound, not a sign of rust anywhere and the rest of the body work is very good.

Anyone have any 734/a touch up paint or know a good supplier?

Cheers

If its badly marked you may be better off with a cosmetic paint repairer. e.g. ChipsAway or an independent.

Check the back axle for rust. They all do it. Treat with ACF-50 followed by WaxOyl warmed in hot water to make it sprayable.