How do you do this exactly? Seen a few cars now, obviously I cant see coolant in the filler neck so how do you check it?
got me baffled....
Also is there a dip stick hiding in these engine bays... stuggle to know what Im looking for when veiwing a car....
nobody ???
Ive always just filled mine to the top. And I can see the water in it when I open the lid too.
strange.. not seen any coolant on any of the cars Ive seen so far
What bit are you looking at.
People often get confused between the filler, the AST and the expansion bottle.
Im pretty sure I can see mine when I open the lid anyway, guess I might be wrong.
Im looking at the little plastic neck that sits to the left hand side at the front hear the light (as you look into the engine bay)
Thats the radiator coolant inlet pipe. There should be a long plastic dipper attached to the underside of the cap. It has markings at the bottom saying max and min, ensure the collant comes to somewhere in between.
The turbo related coolant is at the front left of the engine and takes totally difterent stuff!
:)
Oh, and the oil dip stick is to the right of the engine underneath the strut brace (if your car gas one fitted).
:wave
\'The turbo related coolant is at the front left of the engine and takes totally difterent stuff!\'
tell me more as i thought they used same coolant as the engine
AndyRose
From what I\'ve searched on this forum, the turbo\'s are water and oil cooled.
Normal day to day checking of the coolant is done with the expansion bottle dipstick thingy (drivers side front of engine bay - white plastic cap).
Filling up is done on the radiator cap to the right of the airpump, if this is removed (engine COLD) the level should be an inch or two below the neck.
The AST tank is further to the right (attached behind the intercooler)
to check the coolant level you want to take off the radiator filler cap to get a proper idea. The engine needs to be stone cold though.
It should be somewhere between 1 and 4 inches from the top of the filler neck, you should definitely be able to see it, although not necessarily dop your finger in it.. Every car seems to settle to a slightly different level. I have found the expansion tank to be about as much use as a condom in the vatican when it comes to checking coolant level. Especially as the coolant level sensor is not in the expansion tank but the filler neck.
Thanks for the replies guys,a little later than I needed to know but alls well anyhow... bought 1 tonight, just drove it the 100 miles home, very steadily I might add and not uncovered any probs anyhow so thats a good start :D
Sherlock says " He hope\'s you enjoy Seans car" Always looked a very nice example, did not give him much chance to change his mind did you :)
eyedee, no offence but I find it a bit worrying that you thought there is two cooling systems on the FD3s. Where did that come from? :(
Thanks, Im sure I will enjoy it (apart from any bills ;) ) when something comes up for sale you want youve gotta get it, give him time to change his mind and Id be back to square 1 ;)
I will be looking after it though :)
see ya all at rotastock :)
"People often get confused between the filler, the AST and the expansion bottle."
Looks like one of those people is me! :rollin Sorry if I added any confusion. Looks like I either missheard advice being given to me in the past or listened to the wrong people.
"eyedee, no offence but I find it a bit worrying that you thought there is two cooling systems on the FD3s. Where did that come from?"
To be completely honest, I don\'t, but didnt have time to write in more detail - though by the looks of the responses to my efforts, it wouldnt have made any difference! :rollin I was talking about the radiator filler inlet and the coolant. I don\'t care if I look stupid asking this (we are not born with the knowledge of car maintanance and my life doesnt allow me the luxury of free time to learn as much as Id like), but what DOES go in the expansion tank then??? If it is not the inlet for the radiator then I\'m just glad I have never filled it up! :eek: :confused:
Well, Im trying to get the time off to get to Rotorstock, so I can learn loads off you guys then! ;)
:wave