LocostBuilders - powered by XMB

Zetec water cooling circuit

budha - 12/8/24 at 05:08 PM

My cooling water circuit is driving me crazy. I have a 2l Zetec with Raceline Waterrail and expansion tank.
So far everything has been fine. On a trackday the timing belt for the water pump flew off and the engine overheated.
After a few test drives where the car overheated again bring the car home on the trailer.
At home, I bled the system properly again - or so I thought.
It was nice and hot here yesterday and everything looked great on the test drive. Then I parked the car briefly and drove on - the car overheated again.
Now I'm unfortunately on a business trip and am wondering what the problem could be? I suspect there is still air in the system or what do you think?

Setup:
Raceline Waterrail with pressure cap
Expansion tank with pressure cap
Expansion tank sits under the waterrail, which makes bleeding a little more difficult.
Drilled Thermostat

I have seen some posts here in regards to problems with the waterrail. Should I perhaps eliminate it completely?

HowardB - 12/8/24 at 07:34 PM

have you got any pictures of the set up?

cliftyhanger - 12/8/24 at 08:01 PM

I think you need to replae teh water rail pressure cap with a seal cap, and the overflow from the neck connects to the expansion tank upper connection. The expansion tank bottom connection needs to connect to the rad bottom hose.

budha - 13/8/24 at 03:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
I think you need to replae teh water rail pressure cap with a seal cap, and the overflow from the neck connects to the expansion tank upper connection. The expansion tank bottom connection needs to connect to the rad bottom hose.

I also have an overflow connection from the Radiator which is also connected to the expansion tank / overflow from waterrail.
Will replace the pressure cap to a selaed one, hopefully that will do the trick.

HowardB - 13/8/24 at 03:26 PM

have you had a read of this thread?

https://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=210817

budha - 14/8/24 at 07:27 PM

Water Cooling System

- Overflow from Radiator and Waterrail lead into expansion tank.
- Compared to the picture from the linked thread I am missing the bypass hose (substituted by the hole in the thermostat) and the hose from the bottom hose to the expansion bottle to.

I ordered a sealed cap for the waterrail now, that will be my next try.

HowardB - 14/8/24 at 07:38 PM

this is mine - Dunnell thermostat housing - but otherwise the same principle

zetec_plumbing

the arrows mark the theory - not sure that the water has read the instructions, but it all seems to work ok

tims31 - 19/8/24 at 06:24 PM

This is how mine is, no real overheating problems except when stationary but has improved since I went from a push fan to pull fan and put a shroud around my rad. Runs around 90-91 degrees and about 95 if I put my fan overide on when stationary

Description

[Edited on 19/8/24 by tims31]

[Edited on 19/8/24 by tims31]

[Edited on 19/8/24 by tims31]

tims31 - 19/8/24 at 06:36 PM

I also have a bleed valve at the top of the system for one of the hoses that goes to the heater which is at the very top of the whole system so easy to bleed out any air.

Zetec Plumbing Fury

budha - 22/8/24 at 01:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tims31
I also have a bleed valve at the top of the system for one of the hoses that goes to the heater which is at the very top of the whole system so easy to bleed out any air.

Zetec Plumbing Fury

That engine bay looks tidy!

It seems like I could sort it out. Bleeded again and changed the pressure cap. Last test drive looked good. Fingers crossed.

Thanks guys!

Bruster - 16/10/24 at 03:59 AM

Hi all,

just keeping it within topic.

I purchased a second hand Raceline Water Rail and there are some bits missing.

on the side of the rail, the large hole.. doe any one know what thread size and type that is?

i want to install 90degree Elbow but unsure what size to purchase.

Many thanks
Bru