Bleeding question

[Shinnster]

hi
i have a 1988 1.9 water cooled and need to replace the header tank as its leaking. This is straight forward enough but I guess i will need to re bleed the system when its done.
i think when i originally bled the system i just got lucky as i didnt follow the steps thats posted on the brick yard site by Baxter, but seemed to be fine.

my question is, reading the step by step posted by baxter it says to keep checking water level and refill when necessary, but isnt the main tank pressurized? so when its warm if i remove the cap to check level i'll get covered in hot coolant?
i dont really want to scold myself if possible lol

[nicktennear]

You have to keep the revs up if you take the dalek cap off to top up, unless it's cold that is. I had the help of a teenage boy pouring while I revved it. That said could you clamp the two pipes when you change the header tank? Or have you lost loads of coolant already?

[R0B]

When I changed my tank I drained it with a hand pump/siphon and just filled the tank back up when I fitted the new one. No bleeding was necessary. 

[Mocki]

Yeah no need to bleed as long as you dont empty the pipes below the water pump level

[Shinnster]

thanks for the info guys, much appreciated!

ive yet to find the leak with 100% confidence, but i keep getting a pool of water on top of the sensor, which ive now replaced 3 times so i guess it the cap or tank itself. the header tank is always full when i check it, but the expansion does go down.
 

[R0B]

I had a barely noticeable crack in my tank. it was only noticeable when the tank was pressurised. Once removed the crack was invisible.

[Oldiebut goodie]

I had a sensor that leaked between the metal and the plastic and it came out of the top.