Engine coolant bleeding

[Chris Mc]

Hi Folks Chris here new to the group I recently purchased 3.0  2007  Alphard, which I'm having problems with  one of the heater pipes  blew so got to the nearest garage for repair  however  2 mile from garage car started to over heat brought it back they said it needed a Thermostat  got the thermostat  and they returned the car but I think she is still running hot the car gets up to operating temperature in about 5 minutes tops and the  needle  sits just below the halfway mark, I am not 1005 this is the correct position for it  but I thought it usually sat much lower also   once I have taken the car out for a drive and I stop  she smells hot  especially from the passenger side  wheel arch  where a lot of the pipework is placed I believe.  could any of you good folk  confirm the position of the needle and  should I be smelling the heat.  is there any way to tell if  she has not been bled properly.

 

many thanks in advance 

 

Chris

[Rojie]

3 hours ago, Chris Mc said:

Hi Folks Chris here new to the group I recently purchased 3.0  2007  Alphard, which I'm having problems with  one of the heater pipes  blew so got to the nearest garage for repair  however  2 mile from garage car started to over heat brought it back they said it needed a Thermostat  got the thermostat  and they returned the car but I think she is still running hot the car gets up to operating temperature in about 5 minutes tops and the  needle  sits just below the halfway mark, I am not 1005 this is the correct position for it  but I thought it usually sat much lower also   once I have taken the car out for a drive and I stop  she smells hot  especially from the passenger side  wheel arch  where a lot of the pipework is placed I believe.  could any of you good folk  confirm the position of the needle and  should I be smelling the heat.  is there any way to tell if  she has not been bled properly.

 

many thanks in advance 

 

Chris

 

Hi Chris,

 

Welcome to the Forum

 

I have a 2006 V6, and the temperature needle does sit just below the mid point.

 

This time of year I would not be surprised with such a quick warm up, the water temp is probably already 15 degrees before you start the engine.

 

Until you become confident I would check the water level every day, engine cold of course.

 

I cannot comment on the 'hot smell'

[Chris Mc]

Rojie many thanks for the confirmation on the  position of the needle,  and the quick warm up time,  I guess you are right I just need to get my confidence back in the vehicle, I  don't know if the smell I stew result of  coolant residue when the original pipe gave way,  I'm thinking of stripping her down myself just to double check the work carried out, now I have managed to find some  schematics re the  cooling system.  I will keep an eye on it like you said and follow up this post in a couple of days I guess a good  100 mile run  should confirm  the stability of the coolant system.

 

Many thanks

 

Chris    

[dezufo]

Chris , for peace of mind you may want to consider fitting a digital temp gauge that way you can see what the actual temp is, I did it to my forester when the head gasket went awol and have now done it to my mnh15

[Chris Mc]

Hi Dezufo,  got back late last night from a trip and I'm hoping that I now have the problem solved  I bought new coolant pipe and replace both lines removing the  silly joints made from plastic which failed me in the first place. so I have done about 500 with no issues so far.

 

I would be very interested  in fitting a digital temp gauge never done that before so any tips and advice would be much appreciated.

 

Chris  

[Rojie]

12 minutes ago, Chris Mc said:

Hi Dezufo,  got back late last night from a trip and I'm hoping that I now have the problem solved  I bought new coolant pipe and replace both lines removing the  silly joints made from plastic which failed me in the first place. so I have done about 500 with no issues so far.

 

I would be very interested  in fitting a digital temp gauge never done that before so any tips and advice would be much appreciated.

 

Chris  

 

Hi Chris

 

Glad to hear you think you have it fixed.

 

Thanks should go to Picasso for the detailed process he provided.

 

 

[Picasso]

1 hour ago, Chris Mc said:

Hi Dezufo,  got back late last night from a trip and I'm hoping that I now have the problem solved  I bought new coolant pipe and replace both lines removing the  silly joints made from plastic which failed me in the first place. so I have done about 500 with no issues so far.

 

I would be very interested  in fitting a digital temp gauge never done that before so any tips and advice would be much appreciated.

 

Chris  

chris have a low coolant alarm fitted thats what i had done so next time water drops to a certain level a led light shows on the dash or if you dont see it a buzzer goes off

[Chris.ac]

your previous 'cool' reading was probably down to the thermostat already being faulty, mine sits at just under the halfway mark, even on a several hundred mile commute.

[Chris Mc]

On 7/26/2022 at 1:22 PM, Chris Mc said:

Hi Dezufo,  got back late last night from a trip and I'm hoping that I now have the problem solved  I bought new coolant pipe and replace both lines removing the  silly joints made from plastic which failed me in the first place. so I have done about 500 with no issues so far.

 

I would be very interested  in fitting a digital temp gauge never done that before so any tips and advice would be much appreciated.

 

Chris  

 

[Chris Mc]

Guys many thanks for all the helpful suggestions  Chris .ac  you are probably right re the initial low reading.

 

Picasso I'm looking at options for either fitting the low coolant level or an  Aussie device  re engine temp that can connect direct to the block  or rocker cover head.

 

Chris