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        General >> Problems >> header bottle?
        
(Message started by: rich1 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 12:15pm)

Title: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 12:15pm

oh no got another problem(i blame highlander , he said this would happen ;D ;D)
every morning i have to top my header bottle , if i fill it up of a night and dont use the car , its still full in the morning . but if i use it the water goes very quickly . so is it a leak from the bottle or from a pipe?? i cant see where its leaking from . doesnt seem to be causing any problems ,just a pain in the backside filling it up every day
cheers

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Jonnycab on Nov 25^th, 2008, 1:00pm

The header tanks can be known to split underneath (I've had 2 split ::)). Check for coolant or white residue left by evaporating coolant running from underneath the tank towards the screen wash filler tube :)

Hope this helps ;)

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 25^th, 2008, 1:22pm

hi there

also check the cap. it might not be holding pressure and the 'lost' water is flowing down the overflow pipe. :-/

hth

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 1:48pm

[quote author=scorpio_man link=board=Problems;num=
also check the cap. it might not be holding pressure and the 'lost' water is flowing down the overflow pipe. :-/

hth[/quote]

think your right about the cap , just checked it and the water seems to be dripping out of the overflow pipe
so i take it that means a new cap?told you i was a dummy with any thing like this :-[

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Highlander on Nov 25^th, 2008, 2:09pm

I meant to post this a while ago, mine did the same, the rubber seal inside the cap was dirty and not closing properly doing the same as yours,
you can open them up and clean them though, I turned my seal round the other way and it sorted it.

The base part just prises off but be aware it has a VERY strong spring which caught me by surprise, it went off like a gun! :)

Or you could just buy a new one :)

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 2:23pm

highlander , opened up cap(i see what you mean about the spring!!!) , are you saying there is a seal inside where the spring is?

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 2:50pm

ok , been outside again and let the engine run . it aint the cap , i think its coming from the left handside of the radiator as you look at it . and bizzarly when you press the accelarator water sprays out from the top of the engine , it seems like from under the cover or from the two thin pipes that run across the top , i really aint got a clue now.

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Highlander on Nov 25^th, 2008, 2:52pm

yep the spring pushes the valve shut, if the pressure gets too much it pushes the brass part up away from the rubber seal and lets the water escape through the overflow

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Highlander on Nov 25^th, 2008, 2:53pm

find out where its coming from if you can, doesnt sound too bad ;D

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 3:02pm

i will try ,it seems like a constant but slow drip from rad. and it only sprays out of top when you put your foot down , could be something aint been tightened up properly ???

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Highlander on Nov 25^th, 2008, 3:06pm

is it coming out the side between the black plastic end and the radiator fins?

Thats where they usually go, yours was a 24v wasnt it?

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 3:11pm

i had another look ,it looks like the big bulk thing to the left of the rad ......i will take some photos and try and stick em on here . dont no the terminolgy of these things!!

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Highlander on Nov 25^th, 2008, 3:24pm

sounds like its gone at the seal :(

Thats where they go, its a fault i think..

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by martin_rowe on Nov 25^th, 2008, 4:06pm

oops 24v, w/pump or the elbow hose as well as rad me thinks.

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Dave2302 on Nov 25^th, 2008, 4:14pm

Or by pass hose thru the N/S head !! :'(

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 25^th, 2008, 4:30pm

:o

all of the above!!! :( :'(

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 25^th, 2008, 4:32pm

mind you, all the pipework would've been pulled around by the garage fixing your water pump??? ;)

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 26^th, 2008, 6:33pm

it turns out to be the pipe that runs behind the engine , i put my foot down hard and water sprayed out everywhere :o, ive been told that to get to the pipe you have to pretty much dismantle the engine , is this right??
it doesnt seem to be affecting the drive , its still running lovely .but ive got to go to peterborough on sat ,do you think i should or not ? ive missed driving my scorpio so much and am really looking forward to it???

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Highlander on Nov 26^th, 2008, 11:48pm

one of the heater pipes?

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 27^th, 2008, 5:28pm

on 11/26/08 at 23:48:01, Highlander wrote:

one of the heater pipes?

not sure , it only happens if i floor the accelarator , so im assuming its a tiny hole . been driving it all day today , stuck in a lot of traffic and had no problems at all, (i love my scorpio ;D ;D)

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by gozz on Nov 27^th, 2008, 7:32pm

Rich.
If yours is a 24valve there is a steel water pipe running between the heads underneath all the intake and injector gear,there is a rubber hose connected to it behind the engine.If your leak is there it is a bit of a strip down to get at it,eg inlet manifolds off,not difficult but time consuming and annoying >:(
GOZZ

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 27^th, 2008, 8:51pm

gozz
your bang on the button , saw my mechanic today , and he said excacly what you juct said . he said its , its a time consuming job when if it had been designed better would be a 5 minute job!!!. he said just keep a bottle of water in the motor if using while waiting to be done
yes mine is the 24v

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 27^th, 2008, 8:52pm

............but is it possible it could go big time if i keep using it?????

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by gozz on Nov 27^th, 2008, 8:55pm

Rich.
Keep yer mincies on the temp,and watch for steam 8)
GOZZ.

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 27^th, 2008, 9:07pm

sometimes get a bit of steam , i take it that is water dripping onto a hot engine, i took into london today to see how it behaved in traffic and the temp gauge didnt move an inch, before i had water pump replaced the temp gauge useed to shoot up like a rocket

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by gozz on Nov 27^th, 2008, 9:31pm

Rich.
You could tip a Barrs Leak in it to try,it could seal the metal pipe,but doubt it would help rubber because of flexing ! I use it in all mine as it conditions the system and prevents little seepages.Definitely wont do any harm ;)
GOZZ

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 27^th, 2008, 9:41pm

barrs leak ?? ok will give that a try ......now stooopid question time ..were do i pour it ? into the header bottle??

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by gozz on Nov 27^th, 2008, 10:28pm

That's right,then it will circulate,give it a good shake,then swill the bottle out with a drop of water,the solid part tends to settle out.
GOZZ.

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 28^th, 2008, 8:32pm

cheers gozz , will try that

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 29^th, 2008, 9:11pm

gozz , put the barr leak in , drove home from peterborough , no problems at all :)
didnt even get any steam , and temp gauge stayed put , many thanks for bringing that in today , really appreciate it , i owe you one
by the way , loved your old cab :)
your a top man cheers

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by gozz on Nov 30^th, 2008, 9:15pm

Rich1.
Very pleased the jollop got you home ;D best get it looked at though !
All the best
GOZZ.

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Nov 30^th, 2008, 11:44pm

having it looked at tommorrow , played up again tonight :(

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 1^st, 2008, 12:11am

Sorry to be a party pooper, but the 'bars' won't last forever & will eventually clog up parts of the cooling system, especially the heater matrix which has very thin veins ;)

You might have been better off using 'Kalimex K-seal' which is designed to permanently seal any leak in any metal part of the cooling system.....apparently :-/......they make 'Quiksteel' as well, which is pretty good stuff, so they can't be to bad a company :)

http://www.kalimex.co.uk/section.html?secpath=01.04.&pgid=17

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by gozz on Dec 1^st, 2008, 8:09pm

JC.
I have used Bars in all my vehicles for the past 20 years,I have never had a blocked matrix caused by it,and whenever I commission a vehicle new to me the
thermostat and heater hoses are removed along with the rad hoses,the system is thoroughly flushed and 50% antifreeze along with a bottle of Bars is installed.The main cause of cooling system breakdown is neglect causing hard rust particles to wedge in vital places.Here endeth the lesson ;)
GOZZ.

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by rich1 on Dec 1^st, 2008, 10:45pm

im back again ;D, ive noticed it only loses water if i turn the heater on , when i came home from peterbouorgh on saturday i didnt put heater on , and when i checked water on sunday morning it was still full up , yet when i used heater sunday afternoon it seemed to be gone in no time ::)
explain that one ???? im confused as hell and its really starting to drive me up the wall . and to top it all off my mechanic cant fit me in till near christmas time . does anyone know of a trustworthy mechanic ? im in loughton essex , or for a while peterborough on a saturday . please help peeps ;D

Title: Re: header bottle?
Post by Jonnycab on Dec 2^nd, 2008, 9:39am

Gozz, I'll agree that the Bars may not necassarily cause a blockage if flushing the system first like you do, but alot of people don't realise the condition of their antifreeze & whether the system may be restricted with sludge, rust or scale & adding Bars to a cooling system that may be in this kind of condition is just asking for trouble I reckon ;)