Bleeding an RV8 cooling system

[alastaid]

Guys,

I know there are loads of posts on the problems of air locks in RV8, (I have read them all) I was wondering if anyone has found a solution of fitting a bleed valve into the main top hose? Something that has been tapped into the hose rather than a bleed valve into a metal pipe solution?

Cheers

Alastair

[maxGD059]

Alastair

In a word 'no'. Have been there, thought long & hard about it, & found no practical solution. The closest I got was a trip down to the Renault gararge as I believe some of the R17's or is it R19's have a large diameter hose with a valve set in them, but it was too much hassle with the stores guy trying to sort it all out! I ended up with a header tank in the top hose (which gives a good accessible filler point aswell)

Cheers

Richard
(hillclimb convert)

[JOHN C]

HI ALASTAIR, I USED THE TOP HOSE FROM A SIERRA WHICH HAS A BLEED VALVE INSERT MOULDED INTO THE HOSE. WORKS OK TO.

JOHN C.

[STEVE G]

Lads Oh Lads
Why all this talk of bleed valves and air locks???
Did Rover put one in the SD1? Do Range Rovers have them?
Did TR8's,TVR or MGBV8's?
I think the answer is an emphatic NO!!!!!
Design you cooling system with an expansion tank above the thermostat housing,run a small pipe from the top of the Rad to the air space in the expansion tank and you should bleed all the air out of the system automatically.
I also fitted a swirl pot in the top hose that acts as filler from the tank and also bleeds any air back to the tank.
My temp runs between 80 and 95oC even in traffic and hot weather.
Steve G {-}
GE427-Rover 281ci.(300+BHP)

[Brian]

Steve From your photo I cant quite make out which is the highest point in your system. On mine and I suspect some others the top hose loops over from the thermostat housing to the rad. Any air would collect at this highest point. My expansion tank is level with the top of the rad, ( i.e.lower than the top hose ) - hence the worries.An inline bleed valve would seem to be useful at the highest point? Any comments?

[STEVE G]

Brian
The bleed back into the expansion tank(top left with yellow cap)is the highest point.The top hose is about level with half way up the same tank and just below the normal full point.System self bleeds and beside spillages has not needed refilling due to unknown leakage.
Steve G {-}
GE427-Rover 281ci.(300+BHP)