[neal]

Hi, I have just installed a new Radiator into my 214si as the previous one leaked.

I did not have the correct workshop manual and as I was to lend the car to my brother for his two weeks driving holiday I quickly filled the cooling system by:
* pouring coolant into the top hose of the radiator
* pouring coolant into the overflow bottle near the bulk head.

I used about 4.5 liters of mixed coolant (50% Ethaline Glycol) altogether.

All was checked again after driving the car for some time ... still plenty of fluid in the overflow tank. (I assumes that the thermostat was open by then)

The cooling system now appears perfect. However, I am having sleepless nights over possibilities that the engine may overheat due to airlocks and my head gasket may break.

Did I need to bleed the cooling system in any special way?
I know some Rover models had a cooling bleed screw but I could not see one in my Rover (200 214si Rover engine 1996 hatch).

Can I assume that as the temp guage is OK (under half way) that all is OK?

I read somewhere that the cooling fan should only kick in on hot summer days or in long queues .. but I notice my cooling fan on each time I stop the engine ....

Finally, in does my engine have the "ball bearing" that is in in the inlet manifold and is reached by taking off the pipe to the overflow tank. One of the Rover forums talsk alot about this ball -bearing. It apprently often gets stuck with gunge and blockes coolant from entering and leaving the overflow tank. It serves no real purpose and can lead to over heating. Does this ball bearing exist in my car? Is this an issue on a 200 214si Rover engine 1996 hatch and would is the recommendation re removing it??

In summary,
* Did I need to bleed the cooling system in any special way?
* Should cooling fan really only operate on hot days?
* should I remove the "ball bearing" from the inlet manifold .. (or does it not exist on my rover?)

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for the replies.
PS I have now ordered the correct Haynes manual for my Rover from the publisher.

[C2K]

The workshop method to fill your k series with coolant, is to set heaters to hot before draining - then drain. Thus with heaters still at hot - remove the bleed screw to begin with - located in the metal coolant rail underneath the distributor cap, and about 6 inches towards the car - 8mm socket iirc.

Then with the screw open, lash coolant in the expansion tank until a CONSTANT STREAM of coolant exits your bleed screw. Tighten the bleed screw, and complete the top up until the level settles in the expansion tank.

Run until cooling fan kicks in, then watch level. If cooling fan kicks in each and every time early, then you may well have an airlock. I nudged the cts on the VVC when i changed the radiator, and the fans came in early and all the time. Nudged the switch after a bit of panic thinking and they went off - all has been well since.

It is not necessarily something sinister if your fans come on all the time, but see if you get any air from the bleed screw. (I doubt it).

[E_T_V]

Yup what he said above.

The bleed screw can be a little tricky to get at. it is under the distributor on the metal coolant rail that runs round to the back of the engine.

[j50nde]

^ yes and i usually get a shock off the coil lead everytime i bleed a K-series! :shock:

[neal]

Finally, does my engine have the "ball bearing" that is in in the inlet manifold and is reached by taking off the pipe to the overflow tank. One of the Rover forums talks a lot about this ball-bearing. It apparently often gets stuck with gunge and blocks coolant from entering and leaving the overflow tank. It serves no real purpose (apparently) and can lead to over heating. Does this ball bearing exist in my car (200-214si 1996 K 1.4 petrol)? Is this an issue and what is the recommendation re removing it - Can one spray a degreser down there to ensuer that it moves freely or would this damage the engine internals??

[Gibbo214]

dunnnorrr about that ball bearing but i do know that inside the bleed screw valve can become clogged up with rubbish... so that when blue collar joe saturday morning mechanic has topped up his cooling system and go's to bleed it, no coolant/air bleeds out... thenn thinking there is nothing to bleed, put the screw back in... sh!t happens n ur headgasket more than likely blows. stick a brawdel in the bleed screw hole n wiggle it about.. this loosens the sh!t and allows you to bleed the cooling system properly... i have come across this on god knows how many k series. Also, anyone heard of drilling a hole in the thermostat with an 8th bit.. ensuring theres constantly that bit of pressure relief... my friend did this with 3 of his rovers and swears it prevents head-gasket failure.. and doesnt make the engine run cool