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[The Cambelt Kid]

Hi Guys,

Had a problem while installing heater T pieces for my LPG install today.  One of the rubber pipes i was working on to the rear of the engine, the lower tube from the HBV, was a right pain in aht as*.  I ended up cutting it too short and left myself no other option but to use 1.5" of copper pipe to bail myself out.

Does anyone know if using a small piece of copper pipe in the cooling system would cause any problems at all?  I'm sure i remember reading that modern engines use multiple metals and require a special grade of coolant - I'm just not too sure if copper is ok?

Thanks in advance.

[Marks DTM Calib]

It should be fine.

The secret with any cooling system is to use a 50:50 mix of anti freeze changed at the correct intervals to keep the corrosion inhibitors working well.

[Martin_1962]

Hi Guys,

Had a problem while installing heater T pieces for my LPG install today.  One of the rubber pipes i was working on to the rear of the engine, the lower tube from the HBV, was a right pain in aht as*.  I ended up cutting it too short and left myself no other option but to use 1.5" of copper pipe to bail myself out.

Does anyone know if using a small piece of copper pipe in the cooling system would cause any problems at all?  I'm sure i remember reading that modern engines use multiple metals and require a special grade of coolant - I'm just not too sure if copper is ok?

Thanks in advance.

Are you following my picture?

[Markjay]

I don't think the copper by itself should be a problem, after all it is used for central heating so should be up for the job.

The point about using copper and brass etc in a cooling systems relate mostly to where these are in contact with a different type of metal, i.e. alloy or iron. When two different metals are in contact you are very likley to get corrosion, which is why brass bleeding nipples sometimes sheer-off from alloy heads... but if the copper pipe is suspended between two rubber hoses, then this should not be a problem.

Even so, as said above proper use of 50:50 coolant will keep corrosion at bay.

[The Cambelt Kid]

Hi Guys,

Had a problem while installing heater T pieces for my LPG install today.  One of the rubber pipes i was working on to the rear of the engine, the lower tube from the HBV, was a right pain in aht as*.  I ended up cutting it too short and left myself no other option but to use 1.5" of copper pipe to bail myself out.

Does anyone know if using a small piece of copper pipe in the cooling system would cause any problems at all?  I'm sure i remember reading that modern engines use multiple metals and require a special grade of coolant - I'm just not too sure if copper is ok?

Thanks in advance.

Are you following my picture?

Martin - Yup i did follow ya pic.  It was a great help as i printed it out and used it while feeling my way around the back of the engine.  So thanks - that pic saved me some pratting around!

Also one other thing about the work i did at the weekend; i noticed yesterday that my aircon isn't working now and i wonder if i buggered somthing up while wrestling with the rubber pipes at the back?? When switched on i hear a click and the fans start up at the front but all i get is fresh air blowing in my face.   So i am stumped as to what it could be.

Also I have not connected the LPG evaporator yet as it's not mounted inside the engine bay, so for now i have x2 rubber pipes coming from the 'T' pieces and have them connected together in a loop and tie-wrapped to one side while i plan the evaporator install.  Would this cause any issues with the aircon?

Thanks very much for your help on this chaps, much appreciated!  

[Martin_1962]

Mine ran like that for two weeks with no issues.

Did you dislodge the HBV vacuum pipe?

Aircon pipes are independant of heating circuit - have you turned CC right down?

[The Cambelt Kid]

Hi Martin,

How come yours ran ok for 2 weeks?

I just checked the vacuum pipe at the top of the HBV and it seems ok and i think it runs into the bulkhead, maybe?  I can't see too well while i'm at work.

I did the CC reset trick a while back as i though it'd be a good thing to try, but there was nothing wrong with it them and i'm sure it's been ok since, well until yesterday.  

Looking at your pic i can only see one vacuum pipe at the top of the HBV, are there any more i need to check?

Cheers
M

[Martin_1962]

This bypasses the heater so should have no effect.

This is not a problem with your pipework but something else.

How long is the new pipe?

Any airlocks?

[The Cambelt Kid]

From the 1st 'T' piece the pipe runs over the left (drivers) bank and just about reaches the rad and then loops back to the other 'T' piece.  I'm not too sure if there are any air locks, although i did start her up with no coolant for 30 seconds or so, i then filler her up witht the original coolant and all seemed ok. (schoolboy error!)

Running temp of the car seem normal.  Takes a few miles to get upto temp and generally runs about 80, slightly higher in traffic, no more than 92.

Cheers
M

[Martin_1962]

Try a new thread with the aircon problem