k water level

[patibbitts]

Started driving my K Series S3 1600 for the first time today after a rebuild.

Water related questions please:-

Q: Where is the normal water level indicated on the header tank of a K series?

 

Q: Is there a thermostat fitted anywhere?

 

Q: what's the best way to ensure the system is full / remove all air ?

 

Q:if the header tank is filled, will it find its own level by dumping water - if so how?

 

Q: Any other useful info regards water cooling.

 

Replies appreciated,

 

[CageyH]

The level is normally marked on the header tank. Do you have the round one, or the rectangular, flat one?

The thermostat is normally found in the thermostat housing - the black plastic bit that bolts in to the water pump feed.

Jack the front up, and bleed through the radiator.

I don’t think so. If it does it will be through the header tank cap, and you will have hot coolant all over the inside of the engine bay, and possibly you if you are driving along the road.

[Alastair B]

For the rectangular tank, the level of the plastic seam, which is lower than the max. Mark is where the coolant level seems to sit the best with no operating problems or spill

[SM25T]

On the round tank it is marked with max and min. The max is around the waistline. The thermostat is very difficult to access on an S3. A bleed tee fitted to the highest heater or bypass hose makes filling and bleeding easier. Search for Caterham bleed tee on eBay.

[patibbitts]

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated. I don't seem to have a thermostat housing anywhere in the plumbing. All the silicon hoses connect direct to metal tubes?

 

Temperature consistently indicates about 82° on the gauge, the fan comes on and off if stationary or in traffic - which seems ok ? I'm just a bit neurotic as the recent headgasket weep has made me a little nervous regards water levels! - which I'll continue to monitor .

[SM25T]

Under the inlet manifold. Follow the big hose from the bottom of the radiator ... it turns 180 degrees back on itself under inlet and connects to the black plastic thermostat housing. It is an absolute swine to get at, held to the block by a single bolt that also holds the dipstick tube. Once this is removed, the whole housing pulls out of the block rearwards. There is just an o-ring to seal it into the block by the water pump.

[patibbitts]

Oh, thanks for that - must look closer!

Cheers,

 

[grumpy the 7th]

If you do remove the thermostat housing DO MAKE SURE  you use an ORIGINAL (if you can still get them) rubber gasket. It (was / is) part number PEF10010 and use plenty of Lockhead gasket grease above and below the gasket.

Fitting it is a bit like working on Hitler's VW Beetle.(it was his master plan to take over the world) the more you work on a Beetle's engine the more your wrists become locked solid in obtuse angles and you can't hold a gun to shoot back at them.