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Author Topic: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003  (Read 4578 times)

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ChocolateMonster

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Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« on: 22 September 2007, 12:22:27 »
Not sure if I need to start a new thread....

Is it even POSSIBLE to change the coolant on a 2003 Omega 2.2DTi?  :o

I have no real mecahnical experience to speak of I'm afraid... :'(

The owner manual says it is a "sealed system", and there is no radiator drain plug on my car (i.e. under the passenger side front bumper).

I am just being spectacularly thick, unobservant, or both?

If a coolant change IS possible on this vehicle, could anyone give a "Noddy's Guide"?

Any help/advice/general abuse gratefully received...
« Last Edit: 22 September 2007, 12:55:21 by hotel21 »
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hotel21

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #1 on: 22 September 2007, 13:01:07 »
Howdoo.  I split this from the other thread to save a confusion....

The general principle of flushing remains the same whether there is a drain plug or not.  It just gets a bot messier.....

Al you require to do is undo a botton radiator hoseclip when engine is cool and no pressure in the system (saves getting scalded!) to allow water to drain out.  Refill from the header tank, bleed out the air with cap off and heater on full, then drain/repeat a few times until water is clear.  Thereafter drain again and refill with neat antifreeze untill you get the correct %age mix.  Someone who knows what this is will no doubt be along later to advise!

Straightforward to do, just take care not to get scalded.   :y
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ChocolateMonster

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #2 on: 23 September 2007, 11:09:06 »
OK - thanks for the advice. I thought I was going mad. Spent bleedin' ages hunting for the mythical drain plug!!

I'll have a hunt around the bottom of the radiator this evening. From what I saw last time, it doesn't look too easy to do.

From memory, all the hoses/pipework/radiator are stuck behind some fairly comprehensive metal/bulkheads.....

Anyways, at least I know what I am looking for now. Once I have had a look, and wrapped my tiny mind around it, I'll endeavour to make a "guide" to help anyone else in with a similar car....

Thanks once again!!
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davlad22

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #3 on: 23 September 2007, 14:08:17 »
Quote
Once I have had a look, and wrapped my tiny mind around it, I'll endeavour to make a "guide" to help anyone else in with a similar car....
That would be great  :y

The recommended coolant of choice is the genuine Vauxhall/GM 'Red' stuff which has a longer life and is very cheap on Trade Club  :y
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TheBoy

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #4 on: 23 September 2007, 14:25:32 »
Quote
Quote
Once I have had a look, and wrapped my tiny mind around it, I'll endeavour to make a "guide" to help anyone else in with a similar car....
That would be great  :y

The recommended coolant of choice is the genuine Vauxhall/GM 'Red' stuff which has a longer life and is very cheap on Trade Club  :y
its actually very, very reasonable retail as well...
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ChocolateMonster

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #5 on: 24 September 2007, 09:22:46 »
Yep - bought a 5L tub for 11.90 (inc VAT) from Vauxhall in Taunton....

Dealing with  the coolant flush and creating a guide will probably have to wait until next weekend - but thanks for all the help and advice. When I stumble again, I may be back!!

I suspect my problem is going to be access to the bottom hose on the radiator....I just don't remember it being easy to get to....

I'll post back when I have an update!!
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omegaman2

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #6 on: 24 September 2007, 17:59:15 »
why do you want to change it ?
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ChocolateMonster

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #7 on: 25 September 2007, 16:33:35 »
Quote
why do you want to change it ?

Only because I have absolutely no idea when it was last changed. To be fair, the coolant in the header tank doesn't look too bad.

This is more an exercise to grow my confidence in all things mechanical really - changing the coolant can't hurt, and I learn some stuff as well!!
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #8 on: 25 September 2007, 16:43:26 »
I think the long life GM coolant comes with a recommendation to change at least every 5 years although it doesn't appear in the vauxhall maintenance schedule, so it's probably as well to change it now.

As you say, it's a good simple job to get you into the swing of DIY maintenance.

Recommended concentration for the red coolant is 50%. Have a look in your manual and see what the cooling system capacity is and divide this by two. After the last flush out, refit the bottom hose, check everything is secure and pour the calculated quantity of coolant into the header tank. Fill with water, run the engine up to temperature with the heater on full, checking that all the hoses get hot and top up with water as the level drops when air is expelled from the system.

Keep an eye on the coolant level for a couple of days in case further air is bled from the system.

Kevin
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ChocolateMonster

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #9 on: 25 September 2007, 17:02:43 »
Quote

Keep an eye on the coolant level for a couple of days in case further air is bled from the system.

Kevin

Time for a stupid question - sorry.

If the system is "sealed" once I have refitted the bottom hose after the final flush, how does further air get bled from the system. Where does it escape from?

It doesn't really matter - I was just curious. I want to make sure I understand what I'm doing!!
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #10 on: 25 September 2007, 20:59:49 »
Not a stupid question at all  :)

There will be high points in the system where air collects and doesn't escape during the initial filling of the system (heater matrix, top radiator hose, tops of cylinder head water jackets, etc.). Once the coolant gets blasted round by the water pump this air escapes in the circulation that runs through the top of the expansion tank and the air collects here, reducing the level in the expansion tank.

Kevin
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ChocolateMonster

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #11 on: 01 October 2007, 10:57:43 »
OK - the weekend got away from me a little, and so plan to tackle this one evening this week.

Just to make sure I have a complete understanding of what I am doing:-

1. Drain coolant.
2. Fill with clean water.
3. Run engine until warm with heaters on full blast.
4. Drain (now dirty) water.
5. (Repeat 2 - 4 several times)

Now comes the bit I am not clear on.

When I do the final drain of dirty water, surely some water remains inside the cooling system?

Therefore, if I were to add a 50/50 mixture of coolant/water to the system, then the resultant mixture would be at a weaker concentration than 50/50 because of the water that remained in the system after the last drain.

Should I, therefore, after the last drain of dirty water, simply fill the system with NEAT coolant - as the water that remains in the system will effectively dilute it to 50/50? Or is there some other way to mix the coolant to end up with the right concentration in the system?

And finally, do I need to remove the header tank and flush that out and refit during the flushing? After all, if not, how do I get rid of the potentially icky coolant that might lurk in there?

Sorry for being a dufus.... :-[
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Entwood

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #12 on: 01 October 2007, 11:36:51 »
According to the infiormation I can find .. the 2.2 DTI has a total coolant capacity of 7.9 litres, so once you done with draining and flushing add 4 litres of neat antifreeze the top up with water to full .. you now have 4 lires antifreeze 3.9 litres water !! near enough 50/50 for me !!!  :)

Hopefully one of the experts can confirm the capacity figure of 7.9 ltrs .. just in case I'm wrong .....

BTW .. on my v6 petrol it took around 10 flushes/refills before it finally ran clean  !!

HTH

:)
« Last Edit: 01 October 2007, 11:38:44 by entwood »
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ChocolateMonster

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #13 on: 01 October 2007, 11:52:17 »
Thanks for the help!!

So, what you're saying is that when I drain the system there is still 3.9 litres of fluid remaining in the system - even when no more fluid drains from the bottom of the radiator?

I have no reason to doubt you one little bit - but how do you know that it is 3.9 litres (as opposed to 6 litres, or 2.8 litres etc etc etc)? In other words, is this based on experience or is there a goldmine of information out there that I don't currently have access to???

Cheers!!
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Entwood

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Re: Coolant flush - 2.2 DTi 2003
« Reply #14 on: 01 October 2007, 11:55:27 »
I have some software databases that give me this information  :)  but I'm not an expert at looking up other folks bits and pieces .. I know how to look up mine ...  

I am looking at 2003 2.2 DTI (yours not mine !!) and under coolant capacity it says 7.9 ltrs.. this is for engine Y22DTH ...    thats all the info I can give you ..

I'm not saying there is 3.9 left after draining .. what I'm saying is .. after draining add 4 ltrs antifreeze then top up with water as required .... you'll then have nearly a 50/50 mix
« Last Edit: 01 October 2007, 11:59:28 by entwood »
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