Filling Coolant System

[imebgo]

In my continuing effort to learn all the little maintenance procedures I now come to filling up the coolant, this is what I have been told:

Should be using distilled water (?)

1) Open both coolant header tanks
2) Fill via the rear filler cap until the level in the front tank is just before overflowing
3) Replace front cap
4) Continue filling rear tank until nearly full
5) Replace rear cap.

Sound about right?  

J

[dandan]

When you say both header caps i assume you mean the filler neck and the AST cap.
I have never heard of taking off the AST cap, I was told to disconnect the water pipe going into the top back of the UIM (plenum) as it is the highest part of the system, then fill from the filler neck and burp it through by squeezing one of the rubber pipes. When it comes out of the top pipe by the UIM, reconnect it, then loosen the hose that goes onto the left side of the rad and put a screwdriver in and wiggle to release any remaining air, then top up.
Also use normal coolant, not distilled water, but DONT use the red stuff from halfords cos it is not friendly to some rotary engine seals or gaskets apparently.

[AshRX]

Take pipe of from the throttle body. Its a black rubber hose about 3" from the map sensor at the back of the engine bay.

Take AST cap of and fill to the top. Once filled put cap back on. Then start filling from the filler cap that is to the left of the alternator. Squeeze the top rad hose occasionally to push water through rad.

Once coolant starts coming out of the pipe by the throttle body, replace pipe and continue filling up from the filler cap.

It will get to a point where it wont take no more.

Drive the car for a little while then check and add coolant. It takes some time for all the air bubbles to get out of the system. The RX coolant stsyem takes 8.5 litres of coolant. Yes use distilled water and split 50/50 with a good coolant.

[AshRX]

When you say both header caps i assume you mean the filler neck and the AST cap.
I have never heard of taking off the AST cap, I was told to disconnect the water pipe going into the top back of the UIM (plenum) as it is the highest part of the system, then fill from the filler neck and burp it through by squeezing one of the rubber pipes. When it comes out of the top pipe by the UIM, reconnect it, then loosen the hose that goes onto the left side of the rad and put a screwdriver in and wiggle to release any remaining air, then top up.
Also use normal coolant, not distilled water, but DONT use the red stuff from halfords cos it is not friendly to some rotary engine seals or gaskets apparently.

oops i have been using the red one, but think its mixed 50 % with green coolant from Reworx :Hammer