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Cooling system plumbing
speedyxjs - 24/9/09 at 07:16 AM

I want to start getting the cooling system plumbed in today but have a few questions.

I want to use the old power steering reservior but the inlet/outlets, both go to the bottom of the reservior. Would this be a problem?

Also, as the tank doesnt have a pressure release cap, could i one of these that i have spare, placed at the highest point in the system?

britishtrident - 24/9/09 at 07:41 AM

No you need a proper header tank with a pressure cap .

The coolant needs to be under pressure or the coolant will boil --- these days cooling systems run at about 1 to 1.5 bar gives a boiling point of about 120+ C

speedyxjs - 24/9/09 at 07:44 AM

Ok, thanks

ETA - does it need to be the highest point in the system?

[Edited on 24-9-09 by speedyxjs]

richardlee237 - 24/9/09 at 07:50 AM

Judging by a few posts on here, there is some confusiopn as to how cooling systems work. Particularly with regard to expansion tanks and header tanks.

The link below may shed some light on the subject.

Cooling System linky

Bluemoon - 24/9/09 at 09:53 AM

^^ dito there always is! No idea why, it's not rocket science..

Dan

MikeRJ - 24/9/09 at 10:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
Ok, thanks

ETA - does it need to be the highest point in the system?


If you have a header tank with a pressure relief cap then yes, otherwise you won't be able to fill the system up with coolant, and the system will be prone to air locks.

It's possible to have a cooling system without a header tank but with an overflow bottle which can be mounted below the top of the cooling system. Rather than coolant circulating through this tank, it just catches the excess coolant as it heats up and expands, and is then sucked back into the engine when it cools. You need the proper pressure relief cap with the two way valve to use this system.

miikae - 24/9/09 at 10:21 AM

Idealy the header tank being at the highest point is easier to top up the system, but having said that i could'nt do mine that way, so my header is on the side rail with air bleed point on the highest heater hose, it does present problems topping the system up though.

Edited to add this from another thread- I am running what i call a sealed system , as the pressure cap blow off outlet is connected direct to my expansion tank(off a corsa) which is just over half full with coolant , even after a good rally type thrashing the cooling fan comes on but up to now no problems with the system.


Mike

[Edited on 24-9-2009 by miikae]