Hi

Daft question but that's all I seem to ask
I'm about to fill up the cooalnt system on an Indy. A lot of the pipe runs are done in copper to make things neater though it means I can't squeeze them to remove air etc.

Should I just keep pouring in coolant until it gets to the max mark on the expansion bottle or is there a more technical method for ensuring you have the correct amount of coolant in the system before starting the engine for the first time.
Just concerned as there is no definative amount as each car is plumbed in differently.

Any help much appreciated.

In general, I've found that most cars I've been involved with take about 5 litres of coolant and it will never all go in first time. If you have an air vent at the top of the rad keep it open when filling until liquid emerges. Fill the expansion tank to the mark and run the engine watching the level in the tank. It will almost certainly disappear. Switch off, refill and re bleed the rad and hopefully this time the system will be free of air and the level remain constant. A good check on whether circulation is taking place is to feel the temperature of both the flow and return pipes. If they are both hot you should be in business. I've just carried out this exercise on the trials car so it is still very fresh in my mind. Anyway, hope this helps.

atb

John

When i built mine up and fired for first time i just made sure i had a good amount in and then kept checking and topping up till full. If you have good temp gauge keep an eye on it.

Id guess most cars take different amounts so there wont be a definitive guide. You can of course start a car with none as long as its not for long. i drove mine onto the back of a transporter after a core plug failed with no adverse affects.



Beware of spillages - nasty stuff. Antifreeze can kill.

The secret of filling is having bleed off pipes to the top of the expansion bottle.
I have one from the head of my engine and one from the top of my rad.
My K-series engine also has a small bleed off screw on one of the longer engine pipes for a manual bleed when filling.
You have to think about where you are likely to get trapped air and create a bleed off pipe or a manual type.

Might also be worth taking the coolant temperature sender out while filling to bleed air out.