Coolant capacity

[greg palmer]

Hi everyone, I’ve just drained, flushed and refilled my sl320 (97) and after a short drive I’ve got warm air........ question is...... books tell me capacity is 11 litre of coolant, I’ve only managed to get about 6.5 litres into the system...... do I have to top up each day or is there a bleed valve somewhere to speed it up.... I’m assuming I’ve got air in domewhere

 

[Jockcl500]

Run the engine until the heater is hot, check all the hoses are hot (if they are not hot then air is still in the system) continue to let the engine run until all the hoses are hot, and the electric fan switches on and off.
turn it off and check the level is ok, check again when engine is cold.
also I think the 320 is the same as the 500 which has an additional overflow reservoir.

 

[Bellow]

Hi everyone, I’ve just drained, flushed and refilled my sl320 (97) and after a short drive I’ve got warm air........ question is...... books tell me capacity is 11 litre of coolant, I’ve only managed to get about 6.5 litres into the system...... do I have to top up each day or is there a bleed valve somewhere to speed it up.... I’m assuming I’ve got air in domewhere

How much came out?

 

[greg palmer]

Thanks, I’m just confused about the amount of coolant still to go in..... is it likely that air will keep approx 4.5 litres out !

 

[greg palmer]

How much came out?

Hi, don’t really know as I just let it out onto driveway..... last test had shown little or no antifreeze in system.

 

[Bellow]

I've been doing similar - but it doesn't look like the whole 20l came out. Suspect some is still lurking in the heater matrices (yes, plural).

If yours is the same, your AF level may not be what it is supposed to be if diluted by residual water. Or, you have air!

 

[Jockcl500]

Hi, don’t really know as I just let it out onto driveway..... last test had shown little or no antifreeze in system.

Don't worry about the amount you have put in, assume that you didn't get it all out, as long as all the hoses are hot then there isn't air in the system.

 

[Bellow]

If yours is the same, your AF level may not be what it is supposed to be if diluted by residual water. Or, you have air!

That is probably a useful test for air or water.

 

[greg palmer]

Thanks all, I have plenty of new ready mixed ( Mannol G12+) so will flush again, using the drain tap ! Not just bottom hose !........ suspect this will help, thanks again all.

 

[ivan1983]

I would assume that you didn't get the full lot out, as suggested there is likely to be some left in the matrices. Also did you use the drain bolts on the engine block or just the radiator?

 

[greg palmer]

Hi all just radiator, I’ve worked out that I’ve only changed half, so will flush again AND top up with neat antifreeze...... that will do it.

 

[Jockcl500]

Hi all just radiator, I’ve worked out that I’ve only changed half, so will flush again AND top up with neat antifreeze...... that will do it.

You know you are supposed to mix the antifreeze and water to the correct ratio and then add it to the cooling system?

 

[markjay]

You know you are supposed to mix the antifreeze and water to the correct ratio and then add it to the cooling system?

The OP said he used ready-mixed coolant.

 

[Jockcl500]

The OP said he used ready-mixed coolant.

The OP said top up with neat antifreeze... neat is not mixed

 

[markjay]

The OP said top up with neat antifreeze... neat is not mixed

See below:

Thanks all, I have plenty of new ready mixed ( Mannol G12+)...

 

[Jockcl500]

yes that was post 9 then I replied to post 11 NEAT, if someone was to offer me a nice NEAT whiskey I would not expect it to be ready mixed with water, it would be neat/concentrate.
Maybe the OP was meaning ready mixed but then why say "AND top up with neat antifreeze"