Expansion bottle leak after doing K-series coolant modification

[glasgow]

Noticed today after driving the car hard on the TT course there was some coolant leak from the bottle cap. Cap looks well tightened but there is evidence of leak from around it. I checked the hoses and it doesn't "feel" view are extra pressurised! I'm going to buy a new cap but before placing the order, just want to double check with the people who have done the coolant modification circuit for K series they don't have a similar problem as the bottle is now part of the circuit and therefore is subjected to higher pressure...

 

Thank you in advance

 

Ahmed

[mav]

Quoting Glasgow: 

as the bottle is now part of the circuit and therefore is subjected to higher pressure...

 

Thank you in advance

 

Ahmed

 

Red herring. The expansion bottle has always been part of 'the circuit' and has always been subjected to the same pressure.

 

Order the new cap, I replaced mine recently on an unmodified set up as it showed similar signs.

 

Have a better search there have also been a couple of threads recently on the modified solution in tech talk.

 

Edited by - mav on 16 Jun 2013 19:58:04

[glasgow]

Mav,

 

Yes I have been following this issue on blatchat with interest... here is a quote of the recent thread:

 

here

 

The new layout takes the coolant in a different path where the header tank becomes part of the coolant flow so perhaps the traditional view of the header tank filling when the engine suffers a HGF may not be applicable with this layout

 

and

 

The other point is that following the mod the expansion tank is under direct pressure, i.e much closer to the water pump, where with the original flow the expansion tank was at the furthest point from the water pump.

 

 

[glasgow]

and any suggestions for a good cap - is it just the one from CC is ok?

[Eugene]

Cheaper from any good Rover specialist...

 

I had the same failure on our Elise.

 

[mav]

What Steve says .

 

[Paul Richards]

Ahmed

I've had to replace my cap a few times - they seem to be very poor. I now carry a spare.I suspect it's the hard driving that has shown up a dodgy cap rather than the modification.

I've modified my cooling system and it's seems to work fine with no problems.

[Graham D]

Glasgow,

 

The expansion tank has always been part of the coolant circuit once the thermostat has opened. Also, the amount of flow, with or without the modification, is minimal.

 

As Mav said above, it’s a red herring.

 

If you continue to have this problem what you may like to consider is reducing the level in the expansion tank a little. My car has the rectangular/flat tank and I only fill it to the level of the seam which is 5-10mm below the level arrow. Doing this will reduce the static pressure slightly when the engine gets very hot. In 15 years of ownership I’ve had no problems with leaks and I’m still using the original pressure cap.

 

My car is also running with the modified cooling circuit. BTW.

 

Graham

 

[glasgow]

Quoting Eugene: 

Cheaper from any good Rover specialist...

 

I had the same failure on our Elise.

 

 

Last year I tried a Rover specialist for wipers blades for the seven (supposed to be the same as the old land rover wipers). They didn't have a clue about it and asked for the part number... Anyone knows the part number for expansion bottle cap please here

 

(And for update, I drove the car from Liverpool to Glasgow last night normal cruising - RPM less than 4, no leak from the cap, so I hope this problem disappear after I replace the cap, and the problem is not an overpressurised coolant.)

 

Edited by - Glasgow on 18 Jun 2013 08:05:28

[jingars]

The Caterham part number is the Rover part number: ebay example

[glasgow]

 

never thought of that, thank you