Hi all,
I set out this morning to flush the radiator, top up with some decent anti freeze and detail the engine bay.
Opened the radiator drain valve and emptied the contents. After that was done, I plumbed the garden hose into the overflow bottle and let it run through the system to the drain valve, until the water came out clean. Once that was ok, I closed the drain valve.
I then added about 4 litres of coolant to the overflow bottle, and it really wasn't in the mood for taking any more. My aim was to get the recommended 4.5l in there, then top up with water. I was a little concerned that it only took that much, but figured that there would still be water in the engine, pump, etc.
After detailing the engine bay, I went to start the car and it sounded sick, sick, sick. I gathered that it was water related and disconnected the HT leads for inspection of the plugs. Found water in spark plug 3, and I managed to get that out ok. After that it ran ok about about 1500-2000 rpm, but idled poorly.
After a few minutes of the engine being generally cranky, it started to run ok - so I took it for a spin in a disused freight road near home. I accelerated a lot (and hard) to get everything back into shape. It behaved beautifully and everything was ok - until I got home.
I noticed that coolant was pouring out of the bottom of the car onto the driveway!!!! I couldn't see where it was coming from, but it appeared to be coming from what I perceived to be the back of the water pump, which just happens to be completely out of view because of the damn air cleaner assembly.
If you take the overflow bottle cap off, the water flows out very quickly. If you replace the cap, the flow is very small.
A thoughts:
Did I screw up and not evacuate the cooling system of air, potentially killing the water pump or a hose somehow?
I am p*55d off now, as I can't drive the car and there are no Merc places nearby that I trust, apart from the Canary Wharf dealer's service centre which is $$$$$++++.
I set out this morning to flush the radiator, top up with some decent anti freeze and detail the engine bay.
Opened the radiator drain valve and emptied the contents. After that was done, I plumbed the garden hose into the overflow bottle and let it run through the system to the drain valve, until the water came out clean. Once that was ok, I closed the drain valve.
I then added about 4 litres of coolant to the overflow bottle, and it really wasn't in the mood for taking any more. My aim was to get the recommended 4.5l in there, then top up with water. I was a little concerned that it only took that much, but figured that there would still be water in the engine, pump, etc.
After detailing the engine bay, I went to start the car and it sounded sick, sick, sick. I gathered that it was water related and disconnected the HT leads for inspection of the plugs. Found water in spark plug 3, and I managed to get that out ok. After that it ran ok about about 1500-2000 rpm, but idled poorly.
After a few minutes of the engine being generally cranky, it started to run ok - so I took it for a spin in a disused freight road near home. I accelerated a lot (and hard) to get everything back into shape. It behaved beautifully and everything was ok - until I got home.
I noticed that coolant was pouring out of the bottom of the car onto the driveway!!!! I couldn't see where it was coming from, but it appeared to be coming from what I perceived to be the back of the water pump, which just happens to be completely out of view because of the damn air cleaner assembly.
If you take the overflow bottle cap off, the water flows out very quickly. If you replace the cap, the flow is very small.
A thoughts:
Did I screw up and not evacuate the cooling system of air, potentially killing the water pump or a hose somehow?
I am p*55d off now, as I can't drive the car and there are no Merc places nearby that I trust, apart from the Canary Wharf dealer's service centre which is $$$$$++++.