Easy to drain but, How much coolant in a 33 1.7iE?

[Thevak]

Easiest job ever to drain a cooling system on the 33. However I was only able to refill with 3.5 litres of new coolant? What is its capacity and if greater how to purge air?

[colcol]

Stupid question, but you did drain the both banks didn't you? and you had your heater tap, [if fitted], open, Colin.

[Thevak]

Yes and yes. My research says it should take 7.2 litres. If so what could be the problem?

[colcol]

The 2 drain bolts are the lowest part of the car, so all the coolant should have come out, it may have been low on coolant, and thats all there was.
Go around and loosen off the hoses and see if there is any coolant in them and make sure the heater is drained.
Take off the thermostat and see if there is any water around there, and check that the thermostat is working, you will need a new thermostat gasket, Repco or an Auto parts store should have universal type that will fit, Colin.

[VeeSix]

Drain, refill, bleed air, run, the engine will sort it and you can top up at the reservoir once settled, do not expect to always get the maximum capacity out, there're will always be some still in there somewhere 

[colcol]

When you put the new coolant in, if the capacity is say 7 litres and you want to run 50% coolant and 50% water, pour in 3.5 litres of coolant in and fill the rest with water.
You will have water here and there and filling it up with water, to its full will work out.
As you pour the remaining water in, have some of the lower hoses undone and when coolant dribbles out, tighten that hose and do the same for the next highest hose, this will help get rid of airlocks.
Fill it up through the coolant tank.
For best results use distilled water.
33's and Suds must be one of the easiest cars to do a coolant change, Colin.

[Thevak]

Thanks for the advice Col. Drainedit a second time and caught just under 7litres so removing top hose was an assistance. Ready for Sandown!

[colcol]

Remember for motorsport, you must have motorsport approved coolant that contains no slippery oil type contents and if it does spill on the track, it dries quickly, i didn't know all this, but read it on a coolant bottle.
I noticed on on of the coolant bottles, that the coolant is good for 3 years when mixed with tap water, but when mixed with distilled water, will last for 5 years, if i remember rightly it was the red HOAT coolants, Colin.