Making Bleedin' easier.

Abott10 · 30th December 2018, 21:39

If you, like me do NOT relish bleeding some of our Rover engines' cooling systems. This may be of interest.

That very difficult to access Bleed Bolt in the Coolant Pipe which runs above the Bell Housing? That is the problem. Not easy to remove and even more difficult to replace after bleeding.

How about modifying a Bleed Bolt or its location so that the air can be released without removing the bolt completely. First idea was to drill and tap the original spec 8mm but that would not be the answer. Then decided a slot cut down the 8mm Bolts threaded end say halfway down the threads would provided and answer. Air/Coolant could be bled by only undoing the bolt a little more than halfway. So the images below show how I modified the Bolt using a Junior Hacksaw and Nut as a depth gauge and to protect the threads. I used some emery tape to clean up the rougher edges of the cut and threads after cutting the slot.

Fitted one of these to my daily driver MG ZT-T 1.8T today and it works a treat. Will do a few more for the rest of the K-Series in the family. We have a lot...

zedhed · 31st December 2018, 20:18

I have never actually had to bleed the cooling system on my 1.8t.all i did was trickle it in expansion tank and never had a problem believe it or not.

Sent from my LG-M160 using Tapatalk

T-Cut · 31st December 2018, 20:43

Same here. The 1.8 seems to 'self-bleed' when run for a few miles after a refill. However, I wonder whether a simple self-bleeding valve fitment like they use in domestic central heating systems would help keep engines air-free? Lots on eBay for around a tenner. Would need a simple hose adapter, but anyone with such interests could suss that easily enough.

TC

macafee2 · 1st January 2019, 08:27

Always good when someone comes up with an idea.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

macafee2

zedhed · 1st January 2019, 12:06

I always ran the engine for 15 mins or when fan kicks in,but thats about it.never had to open the bleed screw.

Sent from my LG-M160 using Tapatalk

T-Cut · 1st January 2019, 12:17

As above. Refilling a completely empty system I've never had to use the 'official' procedure, just a simple refill and run, refill and run. The bleed screw's never been slackened from new. I originally used the vacuum refilling method, which is absolutely guaranteed air-free, but it's a bit cumbersome and I couldn't be bothered cleaning out my oily Pella pump to do it.

TC

COLVERT · 1st January 2019, 18:34

ALSO---MGJohns bleed screw is a good device for cleaning out threaded holes that might have corrosion in them.

Also the slot can be opened up very slightly to give the clogged threaded hole a good clean out.

The muck collects in the sawn slot.

Blind holes for threaded studs can be easily cleaned this way.

30th December 2018, 21:39	#1
Abott10 * Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 227 Thanks: 1,275 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,328 Posts	Making Bleedin' easier. If you, like me do NOT relish bleeding some of our Rover engines' cooling systems. This may be of interest. That very difficult to access Bleed Bolt in the Coolant Pipe which runs above the Bell Housing? That is the problem. Not easy to remove and even more difficult to replace after bleeding. How about modifying a Bleed Bolt or its location so that the air can be released without removing the bolt completely. First idea was to drill and tap the original spec 8mm but that would not be the answer. Then decided a slot cut down the 8mm Bolts threaded end say halfway down the threads would provided and answer. Air/Coolant could be bled by only undoing the bolt a little more than halfway. So the images below show how I modified the Bolt using a Junior Hacksaw and Nut as a depth gauge and to protect the threads. I used some emery tape to clean up the rougher edges of the cut and threads after cutting the slot. Fitted one of these to my daily driver MG ZT-T 1.8T today and it works a treat. Will do a few more for the rest of the K-Series in the family. We have a lot...

31st December 2018, 20:18	#2
zedhed Posted a thing or two zt saloon turbo Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Tipton Posts: 1,461 Thanks: 1 Thanked 167 Times in 132 Posts	I have never actually had to bleed the cooling system on my 1.8t.all i did was trickle it in expansion tank and never had a problem believe it or not. Sent from my LG-M160 using Tapatalk

31st December 2018, 20:43	#3
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Same here. The 1.8 seems to 'self-bleed' when run for a few miles after a refill. However, I wonder whether a simple self-bleeding valve fitment like they use in domestic central heating systems would help keep engines air-free? Lots on eBay for around a tenner. Would need a simple hose adapter, but anyone with such interests could suss that easily enough. TC

1st January 2019, 08:27	#4
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,912 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	Always good when someone comes up with an idea. Necessity is the mother of invention. macafee2

1st January 2019, 12:06	#5
zedhed Posted a thing or two zt saloon turbo Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Tipton Posts: 1,461 Thanks: 1 Thanked 167 Times in 132 Posts	I always ran the engine for 15 mins or when fan kicks in,but thats about it.never had to open the bleed screw. Sent from my LG-M160 using Tapatalk

1st January 2019, 12:17	#6
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	As above. Refilling a completely empty system I've never had to use the 'official' procedure, just a simple refill and run, refill and run. The bleed screw's never been slackened from new. I originally used the vacuum refilling method, which is absolutely guaranteed air-free, but it's a bit cumbersome and I couldn't be bothered cleaning out my oily Pella pump to do it. TC

1st January 2019, 18:34	#7
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	ALSO---MGJohns bleed screw is a good device for cleaning out threaded holes that might have corrosion in them. Also the slot can be opened up very slightly to give the clogged threaded hole a good clean out. The muck collects in the sawn slot. Blind holes for threaded studs can be easily cleaned this way.