How to remove an airlock from the cooling system
Content
Air in the cooling system is a serious problem, ignoring which can lead to engine overheating, sensor failure, blocking of the heating radiator. Timely diagnostics and elimination of minor faults is the prevention of serious engine damage. The car owner needs to know how to clear the air lock from the cooling system. The process does not differ in any difficulties, and even a novice motorist can handle it.
Signs of air in the cooling system
The main signs of air in the system:
- Coldness in the cabin when the stove is on. This is due to a disruption in the supply of coolant to the radiator of the heater.
- Engine overheating due to a violation of the coolant circulation. Overheating is indicated by an indicator on the dashboard. Rapid heating of the engine and almost instantaneous switching on of the fan is the main signal of overheating. If the arrow on the sensor moves towards the red scale, this is a sign of a malfunction of the thermostat or air accumulation. The valve does not open, antifreeze flows in a small circle.
- The engine warms up slowly and the arrow is at the beginning. This indicates that either the valve is continuously open, or the air is located in the thermostat itself.
- There is a periodic shortage of coolant in the expansion tank.
- Engine operation is accompanied by gurgling or other sounds unusual for the engine.
Reasons for the formation of a plug
An airlock appears in the system for the following reasons:
- Depressurization of branch pipes, fittings, pipes. Air is drawn in through the cracks of the damaged area due to depressurization and the resulting pressure drop.
- Air ingress when topping up or replacing coolant.
- Violation of the tightness of the water pump due to worn-out seal gaskets or cylinder head gaskets. Liquid leaks through the damaged area.
- Sticking tank valve. Instead of bleeding off excess pressure, the valve works to pump air.
- The use of low-quality antifreeze. It boils even with minimal engine overheating. Good antifreeze keeps the temperature up to 150 degrees without the formation of steam. Cheap fakes boil at a temperature of 100 degrees.
Cork Removal Methods
Before removing the plug, eliminate the cause of the air entering the cooling system. If the cause is not eliminated, the removed air will reappear in a fairly short period. After eliminating the malfunction, you can start removing the plug.
The first step is to eliminate the cause of the airlock.
The vehicle is placed at a slope so that the radiator neck is at the top. This position will facilitate the release of air from the system. But simply lifting the radiator neck is not always effective, since the closed cooling system does not allow the air lock to move on its own. To facilitate the release of air, the following methods are taken:
- Depressurization of the system. The motor is turned on for 10 minutes. Then they muffle and loosen the connections on the radiator outlet. Leave the tank cap in place. They are waiting for the liquid to start flowing out and return the branch pipe to its place.
- Mechanical blowing. Remove the casing and cover, pull together one of the pipes intended for heating the throttle assembly. Remove the lid of the tank, put a rag on the neck and blow into it. This action creates pressure within the system, pushing air out. Coolant flowing out of the pipe indicates that the plug has been removed. As soon as this happened, the branch pipe is returned to its place as soon as possible, the removed parts are installed. Delay in action is unacceptable, because air can get inside again.
- Liquid expelling air. Antifreeze (antifreeze) is poured into the expansion tank up to the upper mark. Then unscrew the radiator cap, start the engine and turn on the stove. It is necessary to wait until the stove starts operating at maximum power. At this moment, the thermostat starts to work, and the damper opens to the maximum value. It is necessary to wait for the moment when a clean, bubble-free coolant will pour out of the hole. The hole can be closed, and antifreeze (antifreeze) can be added to the expander to the operating level.
It is important! The main element of the cooling system is the thermostat. Special attention should be paid to its serviceability. If the appliance is broken, simply getting rid of the air will not help.
After using any method of removing the airlock, it is important to check the operation of the stove and the observance of the correct temperature regime of the engine.
Video: how to eliminate an airlock
Video: Lada Kalina. We expel the airlock.
Prevention of malfunction
Instead of fixing the problem, it is easier to take preventive measures. The main rule of protecting the cooling system from outside air is timely diagnostics. The system should be checked regularly for leaks. To prevent air congestion in the future, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Do not bring the engine to overheating, and the liquid to a boiling state. The coolant turns into steam, which under pressure penetrates into the hard-to-reach corners of the cooling system. He is not able to leave them on his own.
- Flush the cooling system regularly with water or special fluids. Some drivers advise doing this with Coca-Cola or Sprite drinks. A clean radiator works properly, so no jams will form in it.
- Fill coolant correctly. Before filling with liquid, loosen the clamp tightening, disconnect the fluid supply hose in the car with the injector. In a carburetor engine, the fluid supply hose is disconnected from the carburetor fitting. Coolant is poured into the reservoir to the maximum level. This is done slowly and in a thin stream so that the air from the tank is displaced by water. If there is no level mark, the liquid is poured up to the upper edge of the tank. The filled tank is closed when air bubbles disappear from the surface, then the hoses are connected. After these steps, the engine is started and warmed up to operating temperature. After turning on the fan, the engine is turned off and the coolant level is checked. If necessary, add coolant.
Correct coolant change reduces the risk of air in the system
It is important! The use of high-quality coolant is one of the conditions for preventing air congestion. Experienced drivers also advise installing a special filter that allows you to use even not very high-quality fluids, but you will have to change it every 3-5 thousand kilometers. Therefore, it is actually more profitable to purchase a high-quality liquid.
It is necessary to remove the airlock at the first sign of its appearance in the cooling system. Ignoring the malfunction will lead to costly vehicle repairs or complete engine loss.
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