Does anyone know the procedure for filling the coolant system on my S type? every time I fill the reservoir it does not leak, but when I pull into the driveway after a drive it leaks onto the ground from under the reservoir. I seem to remember something about a special procedure to fill/purge the system after draining it? Any one?

 

You probably have a hose leaking...

 

I just found it in the FAQs, so much good info... read em!

 

Yes, that's a leak

 

The X200 had a problem with the coolant reservoirs cracking/leaking.
You probably just need to replace the reservoir and go on with your life.
There is a bleed hose for the cooling system on the steel cooler line that terminates near the left suspension tower. Get the coolant up to temp with the reservoir cap ON and unscrew the plastic end until the coolant flows. The system needs pressure to bleed the heater pipe.

 

These cars are notorious for coolant problems, at least in my book.

Since I bought mine, I have had two upper coolant hoses replaced, one coolant overflow tank and one lower hose redone.

Unless you actually see coolant seeping from the tank, I would bet on a hose as well.

Don't buy your hose from the dealer or get OEM. You may as well buy from NAPA and save $100 per hose. It's also better to do it yourself.

I got reamed by Firestone on a cooling system repair. I would have been better off taking a day off work and fixing the damned thing myself.

 

I took the wipers and the shroud off today and found the problem.
There are 2 nipples sticking out from the top of my puke bottle instead of one. one is for the breather screw hose for filling and the other? I just siliconed a plug onto it with a hose clamp. Don't know what went there, no loose hoses hangin' round, no idea... onto the next problem

 

I am wondering if the spring clips on the hoses are good enough or if I should change them for screw type jubilee clips. I have seen some suspicious deposits at the ends of hoses with spring clips but nothing definate yet.

 

When it comes to cooling systems, a screw-on clamp is always better than a clip-on clamp. If in doubt, replace....

 

You might want to look at this diagram from the JEPC. If you blocked off the bleeder hose you might not be able to get all the air out?? Does you tank look like this?

 

Does the black top part of the expansion vessel crack or are the leaks usually in the clear plastic part. Mine seems to leak just below the cap but it could be going over pressure and the cap would then be just doing its job. My fear is a cylinder head gasket problem...

 

Sorry to say but leaks happen on just about any part

You can test for HG failure cheaply and easily I believe, then you'll know for sure.

 

I don't have that apparatus marked 10 in the thumbnail, but that was the open nipple on my puke bottle. I sealed it up with a vacuum hose termination and a hose clamp, ran the heater on high to purge the system and all is working well.

 

There are 2 nipples on the top/side of the coolant reservoir. One is sealed and is only used to hold the bleeder hose rubber hanger (#10). The other is the air bleed hose (#5).

You probably have the air bleed hose going to the sealed nipple and now you have sealed the one that needs to be opened to the air bleed.

bob gauff

 

My expansion vessel only has two hoses joining it the big one at the bottom with a quick connect clip and a small one on the top with a smaller hose leading back to another hose above the fan. It sounds as if other cars have three hoses.
Dont most cooling systems on other cars have an overflow tank from the pressurised vessel so if you overfill the expansion vessel it goes down to an overflow vessel and gets sucked back later when needed. In mine it seems to spray all over the engine after escaping from the cap.

 

The picture was from a early 2000-2002 car. You have a 2003+ car. It's a different set up. The tank is technically called a degas bottle.
.
.
.

 

I took the hose off the other nipple and it's open too, so...
I permatexed an intake plug onto 1 nip and put the hose back on the other. It's working fine now sooo...