coolant system?
Turbo Mini Forums

changing to a front mounted rad when i put my engine back in, just wondered where to run all the coolant hoses.

i've never used the outlet for the old style heater tap before, although i did drill it out just incase when i got my new head.

which way does the coolant flow? is it down the bottom hose, into the pump, into the engine, then round and back out through the top hose into the top of the rad?

I've done a quick blue peter sketch anyway in paint of how i reckon it should be plumbed in. much appreciated if someone could tell me how wrong it is.

Cheers, Nick.

That's how miglias are plumbed in - albeit with a swirl pot and air bleed from the top of the 'stat housing...

You using the Metro expansion/header tank? Plumb this into the bottom hose, and the breather into the highest point on the engine outlets - say from the top hose (or just use the metro 'stat housing, but you may need to mod your 'ultimate engine steady' bracket slightly).

d'oh forgot about the header tank, yeah i'll be using the metro one though. the ultimate steady is already modded to fit the sandwich type stat housing as its what i had as standard on me cooper.

I'm gonna sound really dumb now but why does it need a breather?

i was planning on running a normal old style stat housing this time. if i need to T piece any pipes it wont be a problem cos i'm going to be using some chrome plated copper plumbing pipe for it all. (cant beat a bit of bling...lol)

The breather makes sure that air bubbles can escape into the expansion tank - ABOVE the water, where they are of little concern. Bubbles under the water level are what causes problems!

cool, forgot about that. so it just needs a small pipe teeing off the top hose then. the same kinda deal as the overflow pipe on a normal side rad yeah?

I'm running a blanking sleeve in my stat housing at the minute aswell and the temp hardly ever reaches half way so i should be okay to just stick a normal stat in it now then?

just look at a metro header tank and you'll see the pipe size - it's around 1/4" ID. Unlike the overflow, it's high pressure (well as high as your cooling system cap anyway) so use decent hose - not overflow stuff!!!

cool, cheers for the info dude