No fluid overflow when bleeding the coolant??? | FerrariChat
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No fluid overflow when bleeding the coolant???

Discussion in '308/328' started by ClydeM, Oct 6, 2006.

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  1. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    11,949
    Wayne, NJ
    Full Name:
    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #1 ClydeM, Oct 6, 2006
    Has this ever happened to you....
    Yesterday I smelled antifreeze while toodling and decided to bleed the system today. Let the car stand & idle to normal operating temperature, fans are on for several minutes, a little is kicked back out the overflow tube. Crack both front bleed then rear bleed....nothing. No hissing air, no antifreeze, nothing. Wait a while longer...nothing. stop & restart car...nothing. I'm about to head around the block just to save my sanity or is this yet another 308 idiosyncrasy or my idiotsyncrasy?
     
  2. enjoythemusic

    enjoythemusic F1 World Champ

    Apr 20, 2002
    10,676
    Worldwide
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    Steven
    #2 enjoythemusic, Oct 6, 2006
    Do you have the old 0.9 bar or proper 1.1 bar cap? What i'd do is make sure i have the STANT 1.1 bar cap available at pretty much any auto store ($10) and with cap off the expansion tank i'd add some coolant/water/Evans coolant/whatever you use in the right percentage. Seems to me you may be low in fluid.

    Make sure you have the in cabin heater levels set to the ON position too.
     
  3. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
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    Nov 4, 2003
    11,949
    Wayne, NJ
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    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #3 ClydeM, Oct 6, 2006
    Yep, have the Ferrari 1.1 bar cap. And the tank has coolant too.
    I took it for a quick 2 mile drive while the engine was still warm, got the temp up to 195 and still just the slighest hiss of air when I returned to bleed it. The engine isn't running hot, so I know the water pump is working. Thermostat must be working too or it would overheat quickly. This is wierd.
    And this has happened before. But not to anybody else?
     
  4. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    #4 Steve King, Oct 7, 2006
    Clyde I usually burp the baby each time I take it out of the garage just as a habit. My process is to do this cold. I take off the Cap on the expansion tank and go to the rad. and unscrew the bleeder plug and wait until antifreeze comes out and close up the system and I'm done. I usually get a "hiss" for 3-5 sec and then fluid . I never bleed a hot system and it would take me to long if I had to wait for the fans to turn on especially with the temps in the 50-70* range in the NY area. My problem if you want to call it one is to use the sponge trick to block the oil cooler duct so I can get both water and oil temp up during the early spring and fall. I also have the OEM cap (1977). So if you get no flow I would be concerned that you have some blockage or a major air pocket in the system. My 2 cents
     
  5. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
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    Sep 30, 2003
    18,079
    Savannah
    #5 thecarreaper, Oct 7, 2006
    i dont know i would bleed it "everytime" you take it out. i say this with respect to wearing out the brass bleeders and threads. even if you only drive it occasionally, you should not get air in the system that often , nor that soon.

    i do agree that you can do it cold, but i swear it works better with the car warmed up. i have never had a problem with CAREFULLY opening the cap on a fully warmed up engine using both gloves and a heavy towel. all you do is push down on the cap to relieve the pressure and it will not scald you! :) i have been doing this for years, so maybe i am just used to the process.

    to the thread starter, i agree you may be low on coolant. what the car doesnt need it will pee out on your floor :) . i would attempt to add coolant and make sure you are not low, and dont have a huge air pocket.

    the weather here in savannah turned really cool for the first time. just this morning i opened the heater valve and bled my cooling system before i logged on here and saw this thread. its amazing how the system traps air in the heater side of the system. car runs perfect and loves the cool air.
     

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