Water System help

[BenBaron]

Hi Guys,

can somebody confirm/deny that my water system is setup correctly, reason I ask is I was running my engine for a good 10 mins (at tickover) and I couldnt feel warm water going to either the radiator, through the pipes or anything.. (pump is definatly moving...).

All I seem to get is an increase in volume that then makes my expansion tank piss water out the top through the pressure cap...

[bogster]

Hi Ben,

I think your the exit pipe from the engine manifold should go directly to the top radiator connection. Your expansion tank fills the coolant system and should be teed into the lower hose between the pump and the lower radiator connection.

From the looks of your drawing you are actually circulating through the expansion tank which you shouldn't be doing. Unless I am mistaken from your diagram. This would explain why your expansion tank is overflowing as you are forcing a lot of fluid through the tank on its way to the radiator.

Hope this helps. :thumb: :drive:

[BenBaron]

Hi bogster,

I thought that it was ok to plumb it into the expansion tank as it could then act like a swirl pot as well as the expansion tank, Im pretty sure others have done the same thing, but I wasnt sure about the flow from the top of the manifold to the top of the radiator.

Also how long should it take for the thermostat to open whilst at tickover? I am wondering if that is why Im not getting any hot water through? (dont knwo why but my water temperatture isnt working, gunna look at the wiring tonight to figure that one out..)

cheers
Ben

[Cobra power]

Hi Ben,

The cooling system is a pressurized system. Your radiator - and as a consequence also the overflow tube from the radiator - is part of this pressure system. From your drawing I can not determine if you connected this overflow correctly to the expansion tank. In the Dax expansion tank I have used, the small tube sticking out of the radiator neck on top of the tank is not part of the pressure system (it lies above the radiator pressure cap). It's purpose is to drain fluids only when the pressure cap has to relief pressure bu releasing some coolant.

The total cooling system is not complex:
- basis: from waterpump to lower radiator - from top radiator to thermstat housing
- expansion tank: lower tube (below fluid surface in tank) to feed the system (in my set up just after waterpump. Higher tube (above fluid surfac in tank) to highes point in to he system to vent out trapped air. Tank should be highest point of the system (although opinions differ on this).

[BenBaron]

mmm I havent got either the Dax Radiator or the Dax expansion tank.

What I have is an SD1 rad with big lower bottom, big top, and 2 little tops.
the expansion tank has 2 big inlet/outlets and 1 overflow outlet connected with the cap so when pressure builds the outlet will open.

OK so, I have connected the overflow from the expansion tank to the radiator, I presume this is incorrect and I need to allow the overflow from the expansion tank to open to the air to allow excess water out. I will block off both the little outlets on the radiator and assume that the system is then pressurised until it is released from the expansion tank.

[BenBaron]

Ok, so if thats then correct how long should it take for the water to start circulating through the radiator?

[BenBaron]

Im concerned that I have fitted the thermostat thingimibob in the wrong direction, presumably if it was then I wouldnt get any circulation at all as the pressure would stop it opening.....balls, not another refill of the system....


Is there any preoblems with removing the thermostat completely?

[bogster]

I believe on most engines the water pump will pump into and around the cylinder head. Until the engine is at operating temperature the thermostat won't open therefore the coolant will circulate around the engine only. Once engine is up to temperature the thermostat is opened and will allow flow through the radiator. If you have it in the wrong way around then it would provide an answer as to why the coolant hoses/radiator are not getting warm. Is it possible to fit it the wrong way around? I'm not sure if it matters, I thought it was heat that opened it and it wasn't affected by fluid flow.

[TINKA]

I personally cant see to much wrong with how you have plumbed it up, it is very similar to how AK do theirs. The only difference is that instead of the water flowing through the expansion tank on AK's it flows through the top hose which has a pipe 'T' into it which is part of the expansion tank, which will bleed off any air in the system and also allow for water expansion. I have attached a picture so hopefully you can see what I mean. HTH

[BenBaron]

OK,

so now Im looking for information on how long it normally takes to open the thermostat and if it is indeed possible to fit it the wrong way, Im assuming at the moment it is and if no one says different and after say ten minutes I would have assumed that it would have opened (but how would I know...)mmm this is where my water temp guage would have come in handy....so next problem then.....bloody thing.