sorry, prob a dumb question re water/coolant top up

[purplecrocs]

I feel a bit stupid asking.... but where do you top it up? Had a look in the engine bay, the water tank seems to have a blue cap with a pipe running of to another tank with no visible cap (expansion?)... to take the blue cap of would mean undoing the pipe as well so it can turn so I assumed that wasn't the way to do it.. so where does it go?! Didnt look anything like the pic in the Haynes manual...

[Gadders]

Pull down the number-plate (at the rear) and all will be reveiled...

[purplecrocs]

ahh... a secret trap door....

[Gadders]

ahh... a secret trap door....

SSSSSSHHHHH,dont tell everyone..



P.s And the brake res. is under the the dash pod behind the speedo.

[ermie571]

behind which is also the OIL filler for petrol engines!


....and have you found the windscreen washer filler yet??!!


clue - passenger footwell

hehehe


Em

[Steve T]

purplecrocs
The tank on the left (standing looking at engine bay at the rear) is the EXPANSION tank, the tank to the right of that connected via a pipe is the OVERFLOW / TOP-UP tank (remove conecting pipe off blue cap for removal of cap). The expansion tank should be filled to the brim, bleeding air from the system is key, wiki gives good advice how to do this. Assuming your expansion tank is full and system is purged of all air and you have no leaks, the overflow / top up tank should be filled too mid way between the Max & Min lines. The overflow tank is vented and not under pressure. This allows for the water system expansion when hot to flow into this and when cooler too be drawn back into the main system via the "blue" cap which is controled with internal mechanism to allow this to happen, blue caps not expensive, any doubt on its performance replace. Remember cooling system when hot is pressurized, IF.....IF you remove the blue cap under these conditions (after a normal run) it will sudenly expand / boil and send scalding boiling water everywhere. Bleeding the system may require removing the blue cap when warming up, to top up, you will know when it gets too hot to remove. Use a rag to cover cap and prevent water spraying at you, remove slowly so you can screw it back on if it starts to erupt.
Steve

[purplecrocs]

thanks steve...just to clarify for me, the one on the left (which has the blue cap) is the expansion tank and should be full. I can't see the water in it so its either full or empty! And the other tank should be half full (I dont think it is but theres a drop in there) and is accessed via the secret door...?

[purplecrocs]

no havent found the washer bottle... found the brake fluid though ...like an easter egg hunt this...

[Steve T]

Correct, Take the cap off and have a look, top up if needed, remember HOT under PRESSURE = BURNS. Also don't forget winter is coming you will need to use anti-freeze mix of correct proportions, wiki your best friend. Get system toped up running no leaks and then do your anti-freeze you know you won't have to buy it again. Not just anti-freeze it is anti corrosion also

Steve