Coolant change...is it easy enough to do yourself

[metalhead172]

Hi all

Coolant change...is it easy enough to do yourself

any tips on carrying out the coolant change


should i stick with renault coolant

 

[MicKPM]

Hi all

Coolant change...is it easy enough to do yourself

any tips on carrying out the coolant change


should i stick with renault coolant

Yes, its fairly easy... I'm sure there's a guide to this in the members area so might be worth you joining up as it's only £12 a year and there's loads of usefull DIY stuff in there.

Deffo keep with Renault Type-D coolants. Simple to use, its at the right mix strength and did I mention its easy?

Mick

 

[Tigger]

Yeah stick with the Renault stuff.

When mine was done I was replacing the hoses with Samco's anyway.
We got something to catch it, undone the bottom hose on the bottle. (Clips are a ballache!)

Let it drain out

Tighten up the hose again

Undo the bleed screw (top/front of the thermostat but need to check)

Replace fluid until it starts coming out at the bleed screw

Tighten up, replace cap

Start engine for a few minutes, check level again


PS - I could have missed something but that's what I remember lol hope it helps
If i'm wrong I'll be corrected lol

 

[Munson]

Surely you need to drain from the bottom rad hose?

IIRC you also have to remove the thermostat?

 

[adam172]

Yea that's what he said lol I should be doing this soon iv read a few how-to's and it's seems an easy enough job

 

[john182rs]

Ok dare i ask why tho?

 

[adam172]

Why what? Why is it easy?

 

[john182rs]

why are you changing the coolant?

 

[adam172]

Not sure why the op is changing but I'm changing mine because 1. The car is on 102k and I don't think it's been done and 2. Iv bought a new coolant bottle to tidy the engine bay up a bit. :rasp:

 

[MicKPM]

Also it won't be long before its bloody freezing outside!

Always better to make sure your anti-freeze is at the correct strength now rather than later as siezed water pumps aren't funny. Okay, its not so much of an issue on the Clio II with the F4R fitted because the water pump isn't timing belt driven but on the other 16v engines and Megane II, Clio III its a big issue and can destroy your top end!

 

[Craigus]

When I did mine on the Saab, I just wipped off the lowest hose I could find so it all drained out and topped it up through the header tank. Lol.

 

[adam172]

Well that is basically what you do lol.

How many litres does the system hold btw?

 

[MicKPM]

A single 5l bottle is normally enough for a good flush and refill on a Clio II.

Flush the Rad, Flush the Head and Flush the heater matrix before refilling or else your nice green coolant will go brown after a few miles.

 

[Tigger]

7 litres from memory

 

[adam172]

Whats the best way to flush it, just pour water through each part until its clean ?

 

[MicKPM]

Disconnect them from the over all system then yep, water in each system "In" until it runs clear then reverse flush it via the "out"

Discconect Rad from the cylinder head and the same with the matrix flow and returns

 

[adam172]

cheers mate, not doing this yet but will be handy for when I finally get round to doing it !!

Sorry to have slightly stole this thread but I'm sure this helped the op lol.

 

[Rob669]

It isn't easy, but it's do-able. You won't need 7l as it doesn't all come out - unless you dismantle the engine. Taking off the bottom hose clip is the biggest pain in the a*se ever (unless you have the right pliers, but I use mole grips). Take the clip off and throw it away, and replace it with nice jubilee type clip. You need to take the pressure off the hose clip and run it far away up the pipe (well away from your hands), twist the bottom hose a little to get it started (use mole grips with some towel to protect the hose) and then pull it off. The old coolant will go everywhere and it will stink. Refill as said ^. The bleed screw is 10mm and it's on the thermostat housing, put rag under to stop it going towards the clutch.

 

[MicKPM]

Just be sure its bled up correctly... failure to do so can have varying results which include no hot air from the heater, annoying/bouncing temp gauge or even, in worst cases, head gasket failure.

 

[john182rs]

How much would you charge for this sort of service then Mick?

 

[MicKPM]

Check out my trader section matey, its in the "Servicing" sticky.

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