Coolant Flushing

[rosemary]

Following a loss of coolant, and subsequent absolutely fantastic repair at a Renault garage in France, the wrong coolant was put in to the car. I now want to flush this out and re-introduce the correct spec coolant. Any advice on suitable drain point and air release would be appreciated. The car is a S-Type 2.7d 05 reg. The French repair is staying, the cost quoted by my local main dealer to replace the bit of steel pipe that failed is to put it mildly, ridiculous. The steel pipe that failed is located beneath the radiator and connects the oil fired pre-heated on the nearside with the heater bye-pass valve on the offside beneath the screen washer tank. It is of astonishing low quality.

[J44EAG]

I seem to remember, David, that this pipe problem was at one time covered in a magazine issue. The propensity for that pipe to fail is quite well known. Maybe a handmade stainless replacement would be worth while investigating.

Sorry to say I`m not well versed on diesels but I would have thought removing of pipes at the lowest points would allow you to flush and remove old coolant.

Blue antifreeze for mixed metal engines. Orange for aluminium.

Mike

[rosemary]

Thanks Mike,the Renault Garage put Blue in, mine is supposed to be Orange. It's the bleeding of air out that puzzles me, I can't see an appropriate place high on the engine.

[J44EAG]

My Jaguar publication on the diesel engine doesn`t give any indication of burp points.

Systematic slow filling via the header tank may be an option, allowing the thermostat and various heat sensed valves to open as the engine warms. Burping of air perhaps using the time served method of hose squeezing and topping up may suffice.

One thing is certain. This engine is massively complicated and very tightly fitted. Needing so many special tools and specialist knowledge makes home maintenance a stiff proposition.

Best advice i can give, David. Perhaps others frequenting this board can help with more detailed advice.

Mike

[andypryce]

I am pretty sure it does not require any air bleeding, just fill slowly and allow it to settle, once header tank is full to mark run engine till warm, this allows air to bleed, let it cool again and top up, should be fine. I had this done on my S Type diesel and I am sure that was the procedure.

andy

[rosemary]

Thanks Mike, thanks Andy, slow filling and idling the engine until it became warm and flow was felt through the radiator was the way the Frenchman did it. So the consensus seems to be:- this is the way. I must say Green Flag and the Renault garage at Phelan Le Grande were without any doubt brilliant. Breaking down like we did, towing a caravan, in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere, believe it or not became an enjoyable experience.

[jeff1954]

The drain off tap is on the bottom of the radiator on the right hand side as you look at the car from the front. Open this tap when the engine system is warm not hot! Remove the filler cap on the header tank to allow the system to drain off.

Refill with plain water and and run the engine with the filler cap off, topping up as you go along till the system is full again. Again when the engine is warm drain the system again (this process will flush the system) you can do this more than once if when draining you can still see blue antifreeze coming out of the drain tap.

Once you are happy with the colour of the water you can then refill with the correct antifreeze mix. There is a bleed screw on the top of the header tank on the left hand side as you look at it if you need it. When the engine has gone cold top up with antifreeze mix. I would advise you check the water level the next day when the engine is cold again and top up if necessary.

Jeff

[oldtimer]

David, A man after my own heart, a Caravaner with an S type , can't beat it, apart from the interruption was it a good holiday?
Oldtimer

[rosemary]

Thanks everyone and Oldtimerit was a good holiday with other members of the JEC and our venerable leader Simon Cronin and Ann of course.