Radiator filler

[Phil S]

Hi All,
the current system of removing the filler bolt from the top of the rad every time you want to check on the water level (this for me is each time I use the stag) is long winded and always has the terror of ripping the elbow out of the rad.
I am looking at weld on type filler necks with a sealed cap, I have been toying with making one of these with a 1/2" bsp thread to fit in place of the current filler bolt.
this would make checking the coolant level a simple task.
I would value suggestions and input prior to going for it.
Thanks Phil

[new to this]

If you fit a header tank,then you don't need to touch the radiator top bolt for filling the radiator,you would top it up via the header tank

Dave

[mike@thenook]

Hi Phil,

Rather than fitting a header tank (and without wanting to start an argument here) I raised the expansion bottle to the point where the filler cap sits just level with the top of the rad so half filled this means your rad is filled to the brim - works for me and you can see where the level is, unlike every aftermarket header tank made for the Stag which rather daftly to me are made of ally which you cannot see through.

Cheers,

Mike

[Phil S]

great idea Mike as my new shiney ally rad has a new shiney overflow bottle with it (the not to be mentioned tank) was removed when the rad was fitted, but had not thought of lifting the expansion bottle.
worth putting my thoughts out for suggestion and improvement.

[garyf]

Hi Phil,

Rather than fitting a header tank (and without wanting to start an argument here) I raised the expansion bottle to the point where the filler cap sits just level with the top of the rad so half filled this means your rad is filled to the brim - works for me and you can see where the level is, unlike every aftermarket header tank made for the Stag which rather daftly to me are made of ally which you cannot see through.

Cheers,

Mike

Can you post a pic please

[mike@thenook]

[RobinLegin]

Is this the standard Stag water bottle ?
I have a non standard bottle that’s see through. It’s fitted in the « traditional » Stag position. Moving it up level with the top of the radiator neck would make sense.

[stag8manod]

When I made my header tank i incorporated a sight glass to check the water level and an electronic low level alarm. The sight glass is toughened glass in the style of a boiler gauge glass.
Cheers Ian A

[Alanfp]

Hi
I'm coming up to this from a point of limited knowledge but I seem to remember previously reading that the height of the expansion bottle doesn't make much difference. As the pressure in the cooling system rises and Falls, ithe PRESSURE will push coolant into the bottle or draw it back as required. So the level of thr bottle doesn't need to be raised..
I agree that being able to view the level at a glance is advantageous.
Alan