Topping up Coolant

[johndickinson]

Good Afternoon

I recently bought a mark 1 Stag and have joined the SOC.

I want to top up the Coolant with the correct percentage of antifreeze, I intent to purchase BlueCol U top up fluid.

At the moment the filler pipe has a plug in which I cannot remove and thus cannot top up the radiator. Has anyone had an issue like this and are able to suggest the best way of removing. I've tried a screwdriver and a ratchet but the slot in the plug was too wide.

Is there a way of measuring the existing mix of antifreeze in the system? The header tank is slightly under half full.

One other thing, what is the best oil to top up the power steering unit?

Thanks in advance for any help offered, I look forward to tinkering over the winter months.

John

[LAMBRETTLAD]

Hi Anti freeze tester, power steering fluid, and a spanner with a hammer to break the seal ,good luck

[JeffW]

Hi

But be careful - I twisted off the neck of my radiator (where it connects to the core) by using a bit too much effort!

Jeff

[Guest]

Hi, most of us use 30% anti freeze mix with distilled water, maybe worth a coolant change and flush? Sounds like you need to break the seal on the filler neck, I don’t advise a hammer because the neck welds aren’t that strong, maybe a socket (I think 21mm) with a good extension on the ratchet handle for extra leverage, just be careful of the neck.

power steering fluid is the same as auto box fluid

[Guest]

Maybe hold the neck with some pipe grips??

[Guest]

In the words of James May, a hammer is a tool of the pikey!!!

[sujitroy]

You mention plug. Do you have a MK2 radiator in your Mk1 Stag? The Mk1 Stag's radiator has a cap, which you twist off. I recall the Mk2 has a plug which you remove with a screw driver or large spanner / wrench


Sujit

[Lingen]

John. Unless you can get a garage to test the concentration of antifreeze presently in there, it might be better to drain off what you can, and refill with your own pre-mixed 1/3 neat ethylene glycol antifreeze and 2/3 water. Always use one that has an anti corrosion inhibitor for aluminium protection.
There is usually either an ordinary radiator cap, or a plastic (or brass) screw-in plug with a hexagonal top to take a spanner, as well as the slot. If there is no hex, then you need to find a piece of metal bar as near as possible the same size as the slot to turn the plug out. If it is very tight, support the filler neck as you are turning. The header tank is filled to the correct level at just under half full.
The PAS pump takes the same oil as the Stag automatic gearbox, called TQF or ATF.
Mike.

[DJT]

Spark plug socket fits the brass plug.

[mole42]

Spark plug socket fits the brass plug.

Top Tip! I didn’t know that.

[Phil S]

think the point is being missed ...you say the header tank is half full...if this is the case your rad should be full.???
Phil

[Guest]

think the point is being missed ...you say the header tank is half full...if this is the case your rad should be full.???
Phil

perhaps he means expansion tank not HT? Not all stags have HTs

when my car just had the ET the top hose could be found half full!

[Lingen]

Stagstan
Stan. Possibly! If a header tank is using the original pipe to the overflow bottle for the return, it is unlikely that the radiator will stay full. The metal pipe goes some way down into the off side radiator tank, so air can get trapped in the radiator down to the level of the bottom of it.. This can only be released by removing the filler cap on the radiator. In order to be fully self bleeding, the return pipe to a header tank needs to come from the highest point in the system. I have one fitted in to the filler tube just below the bung.
Mike.

[Guest]

Stagstan
Stan. Possibly! If a header tank is using the original pipe to the overflow bottle for the return, it is unlikely that the radiator will stay full. The metal pipe goes some way down into the off side radiator tank, so air can get trapped in the radiator down to the level of the bottom of it.. This can only be released by removing the filler cap on the radiator. In order to be fully self bleeding, the return pipe to a header tank needs to come from the highest point in the system. I have one fitted in to the filler tube just below the bung.
Mike.

My header tank was plumbed into the small rad pipe with a bleed off on the filler neck, no issues. However I have now had an extra connection 2/3 of the way down for the header tank connection and the small bore pipe is blanked off.

when I had the standard set up my expansion bottle would be half full but top pipe half full also, this is why I fitted a HT.

as we know any lose connections in the standard set up will prevent coolant being sucked back into the rad, this maybe what the OP is experiencing?

Anyhoo, if the plug is still being stubborn maybe a little heat from a small blow torch could help rather than using brute force and ignorance??? These radiators aren’t exactly strong and sturdy!!

[LAMBRETTLAD]

I was not suggesting brute force and ignorance , a tap might do it ,and hopefully the chap has some kopon !