How to empty expansion bottle??

[Jim_rx7]

I have a weird coolant issue I\'m trying to figure out.

I\'m 99% sure it\'s not the water seals, but I\'m trying to figure out where the coolant is going.

Is there a way to empty the expansion bottle completely? Then if I see it filling up, I at least have a starting point as to what\'s going on.


cheers

[dthebuk]

can you not take it out to empty it?

sorry if that seems daft, im an fc man

[Jim_rx7]

Probably... I\'ve not had a good look at it. Just wondering if there was an easy way! lol

[David Nock (RIP)]

On the FB there is a 2 way flow of coolant; into the bottle if the radiator cap opens whilst driving along with the engine hot and back into the engine as it cools down again. I assume your car does something similar. In which case if you take the bottle away you\'ll pull air into the engine as it cools down - no can do.
So the real check for coolant loss on the FB is \'does the expansion bottle level always come back to the same place when cold?\' If it\'s falling day to day it\'s a sure sign of coolant loss somewhere on the engine or heater. But the FB is a simple old thing - check out what yours is supposed to do.

[Jim_rx7]

As far as I\'m aware it should dump coolant into the bottle when hot, then suck it back in when cold.

I\'m using some coolant, but trying to see if it\'s getting into the bottle, but possible not back.. or something else.

So looking to empty the bottle first, then keep an aye on the level.

[David Nock (RIP)]

Sorry Jim, I don\'t know enough about your car to offer any sensible advice, but can\'t you watch the level or fit an indicator stick? If it\'s not sucking back then isn\'t the radcap  or the feedback hose dicky??

[Jim_rx7]

Yeah... I\'ve replace the rad cap.. possibly a hose issue, or leak somewhere!

[Ricco_04]

I emptied the expansion tank with a piece of pipe!  Siphoning is where it\'s at!

Just dont taste the stuff!!!