what is the cap for in centre of engine?

[welshrx-7]

hi this might be a stupid question but in the centre of the engine there is a cap and the sticker has half of it missing. it is just behind the intercooler and has a yellow sticker on it. if anyone can help me out that would be a great help. i just worried that i may put the wrong stuff in it and blow the engine.

[Kevin]

Engine coolant filling point if you mean the one on the engine block.

Or the coolant air separation tank if you mean the little bottle type item behind the intercooler.

[Joeh]

its most likely the AST, or the water filler cap, water goes in both... Please take a pic?

[welshrx-7]

i just had a look there is a small tank on the back of the intercooler. there is a pipe then linking this to the other part that has a  cap witch looks to be part of the engine. both of these look low. is there a special coolent to go in these or is it just water.
thanks
gareth

[welshrx-7]

my car is also standard if this helps.

[welshrx-7]

when you look at the engine the left intercooler pipe runs just to the right hand side of the cap.

[GaseJo]

Use distilled water to top up but only the one on the engine block not from the ast

Cheers Garith.

[welshrx-7]

Use distilled water to top up but only the one on the engine block not from the ast

Cheers Garith.

thats great thanks do i fill it to the top, will the collent then fill up the ast tank though the pipe that joins the 2.

[GaseJo]

From my limited knowledge,

When the engine warms up the coolent expands at this stage the water flows to the ast, Which seperates any air from the coolent. One pipe returns the water to the rad the other goes to the overflow. When the engine cools down the water from the overflow gets drawn back into the engine. So the AST will be and different levels through the temperature range. The filler on the engine i think if you fill it to just below the neck part then squeeze the rad pipe abit to expel any air bubbles keep doing this until there are no more bubbles then top it up to just below the neck again. Hope this helps.

Cheers Garith.

[welshrx-7]

i have heard like a bubbling noice when i turn the engine off. that is the water from the overflow drawing back into the engine is it? when the engine is cold should the ast be completly empty?

[SmbFD3S]

bubbling noise is likely to be localised boiling, which is unavoidable as heat soak will set in, as long as the system remains pressurised this is normal i\'m guessing...
 
And no the AST will be full all the time i think

[welshrx-7]

thanks im paranoid about every noise i here ive only had the car 2 weeks and keep thinking the worst when hearing these noises.
thanks again everyone
gareth

[SmbFD3S]

lol we\'re all exactly the same mate, but you will get to know the noises your car makes normally and then eventually distinguish between them
 
If you have the standard bonnet and engine setup then it\'s a good idea to open the bonnet for 5 or 10 mins when you\'ve parked up if you can after a run to let the heat out

[welshrx-7]

thats what i been doing but with my head 6 inches from the intercooler with a look of panic on my face lol

[welshrx-7]

just been to tescos to try and buy some distilled water and the only one they have have got a fragrance with it? i cant use this could i? its the water that they use in ironing so will all of them have a fragrance in them.