Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 10:26:08 +0000 (UTC) From: Craig's Saab C900 Site <c900nospam.apana.org.au> Subject: Re: c900 cooling system issue on 1983 8VT
Craig's Saab C900 Site <c900nospam.apana.org.au> writes: >True, but I figured that since I need to flush the oil system as well, >running the engine to do that can also be used to flush the cooling system >and then if the radiator remains blocked it's not a totally lost cause since >I will have flushed and replaced the engine oil regardless. Well I've done both tonight, and the problem with the cooling system was not a blocked radiator at all - it was the port where the small hose goes from the expansion tank to the top of the left side of the radiator that was blocked up. Once I ran the engine to heat it up and let the cooling system and oil system cleanout products do their respective jobs, I changed the coolant tank after draining the system and found the blockage, as well as being able to look at how badly decayed the steel sleeves in each of the hose ports on the old tank were. ewww. 8-) I ran a *lot* of fresh water into the system via the large hose that joins to the expansion tank and proved the small-hose port of the radiator wasn't blocked because coolant and eventually clear water came out when I kept the flow into the large hose up to completely fill the radiator with water. As for the oil system, I ended up getting the old oil filter to loosen using a flat screwdriver and hammer by making the blade bite into the filter's base flange and using that as a force point to make it turn. It's only took two 'bite' points to get it turned enough so it could be loosened by hand, but whoever put it on must have really forced it tight. I was careful not to damage the oil filter mount. Now the car has a flushed and refilled oil system and the same with the coolant system. Tommorow I'll check the clamps are all tightened properly and also the oil drain plug is torqued to the right setting, and run the engine to circulate the new oil (Shell Helix Ultra is what I use) and fully bleed out any remaining air pockets in the coolant system. I've still got about 2 litres of the 8 litres of coolant mixture left after bleeding using the port on the thermostat housing, so it's probably the heater valve circuit that is still full of air. Craig. -- Craig's Saab C900 Page at | Craig's Classic Saab Workshop - Sydney .au http://nospam/~c900 | http://www.classicsaab.net and other URL's Email: c900nospam.apana.org.au | For Saab 99/C900/9000 Enthusiasts World-Wide! Alternate: saabonautnospaml.com | Web-forums, galleries, library, links, etc.
