Expansion Bottle

[Bioman1966]

Hi Guy's, Just a quicky, is the Expansion Bottle suppose to get hot, even driving most of the day it does'nt seem to get hot. Bioman1966

[Mirez]

Hi Guy's, Just a quicky, is the Expansion Bottle suppose to get hot, even driving most of the day it does'nt seem to get hot. Bioman1966

 

Generally yes, warm to hot - remove the cap SLOWLY after a run and you should get some steam.

[Bioman1966]

After driving for a few hours, i can take the cap off and put my finger in and it will still be cold, do you think the pipes what go to it could be blocked? Bioman1966 Edited June 1, 2011 by Bioman1966

[Mirez]

After driving for a few hours, i can take the cap off and put my finger in and it will still be cold, do you think the pipes what go to it could be blocked? Bioman1966

 

I take it the car's not overheating? Needles showing 90? Whats the radiator feel like? Cabin heater working?

 

There are a few things that could cause this and the TDI is so efficient that cooling issues can be masked for ages.

[Bioman1966]

Cabin Heater fine, Temp Gauge sits at 90deg, the hose near the Alternator is cold to the touch as well. Bioman1966

[chrispb123456]

After driving for a few hours, i can take the cap off and put my finger in and it will still be cold, do you think the pipes what go to it could be blocked? Bioman1966

Coolant should return to the bottle through the top pipe this is usually a restricted flow, the restriction could be in the pipe or in the connector on the bottle this creates an air bleed so small quantities of air and coolant will bleed up to the bottle and not be trapped in the cooling system.

 

So if you remove the pipe from the bottle start engine coolant should be ejected if it doesn't there's a blockage in the pipe.

[Bioman1966]

After driving for a few hours, i can take the cap off and put my finger in and it will still be cold, do you think the pipes what go to it could be blocked? Bioman1966

Coolant should return to the bottle through the top pipe this is usually a restricted flow, the restriction could be in the pipe or in the connector on the bottle this creates an air bleed so small quantities of air and coolant will bleed up to the bottle and not be trapped in the cooling system.

 

So if you remove the pipe from the bottle start engine coolant should be ejected if it doesn't there's a blockage in the pipe.

 

 

Thanks for this, removed the pipe conecting to the expansion bottle, found this to be blocked, fitted some clear braided hose for now, and its returning fine and the expansion bottle is nice and hot now. Do i need to get the proper pipe from the dealer or can i just fit a normal bit of pipe there?. Do i need the pipe with the plastic bit inside.. Thanks Bioman1966

[chrispb123456]

If it's just a plain hose then no but if a restrictor is fitted in the pipe then my advice would be get the correct hose.

[Bioman1966]

Phoned the main stealer, you can't just buy the pipe i wanted, you have to buy the other Two pipes it's connected too, nearly

[chrispb123456]

What you could try is split the old pipe open get the restrictor out, get a small drill bit clean out the hole.

Warm your new pipe up in boiling water and push restrictor into new pipe, if its a loose fit in the new pipe use a hose clip to stop it moving in pipe.

 

If you leave the pipe on without restrictor fitted more of the main flow through the radiator will be directed through the bottle this could possibly cause engine to overheat as the flow will follow easiest path

[Bioman1966]

Thanks for all the advise, did like you said, opened up the other hose, cleaned the resistor out, drilled it alittle bit bigger so as not to block so easy, and fitted into the new pipe. Will monitor over the next few weeks to see how it is. Bioman1966