Matt I had a drain T on my old 4Runner for 12 years. Never leaked a drop. I don't think you need to use the temporary set up. Look at all of your hose, rad & heater. If they look questionable replace them now.

If you are lucky your engine isn't full of rust. I'd just do the flush with the rad cap off & see how that works. If need be you can pull the lower hose.

 

The hoses look fine to me - not flaking or cracking anywhere...

I'm also not seeing any hoses on the RHS of the car - the only hoses I see going through the firewall are on the LHS - they go to the thermostat area. There's a device with a cable fitted into that hose already (maybe the heater valve?) Does water pass through the enginne's water jacket form the LHS and exits all the way over on the RHS? It looks more like it goes in on the top of the LHS of the motor and then come out on the lower edge of the same side... Am I just not seeing it properly?

 

Take a picture & post it. The cable is attached to the heater valve. Wow your MINI is full of luxury features. On my last MG I had to get out open the bonnet & turn a hot valve by hand if I wanted heat. Had to repeat the process to shut the heat off.

Feel the hoses. Are they hard as a rock or soft & squishy? They should feel firm with some give. The trouble with hoses is they can look fine, but the wear is on the inside of them. I've had perfect looking hoses fail. If it was me I'd replace all of them. They all are 16 years old after all.

 

Here's what I got:

This shot is looking straight back towards the firewall - this is the LHS of the motor of course...



And this is looking inboard from the left-side of the car:

 

That is indeed your heater valve. If the instructions with the flushing T say to put it into outbound heater hose that is the one to use. The water flows from this hose into the heater core & back out the other hose that T's into the lower rad hose. Hope that helps.

 

So... that being the case... should I make my cut, say, just aft of the heater valve and put the flush opening between the valve and the firewall? I might just use an extra length of hose, just because that would be a LOT of cuts all in a small area...

Thanks as always, CHuck!

 

I'd put it between the valve & the firewall. I agree that using an extra piece might be better. Be careful removing the hose from the copper pipe that protrudes from the firewall. That is the heater core & is easily bent if you use too much muscle.

 

I can't be help with a specific answer but I can, I believe, explain the confusion.

I made recommendations based on my 1979 .... it is clear from comments about under the bonnet heater valves that others are trying to help you based on their 'older than that' Minis

You have a 91? A grey car? Sorry, I have no experience there and can only refer you to Mr Haynes as clearly you've shown me there are plumbing differences. The concepts apply, but the specific of where to cut change.

If it were me...it wouldn't matter which heater hose was tapped as long as the heater valve was opened during the flush. The tap allows a bit of pressure to be applied vs gravity feed of the hose in the rad' filler.....

 

I have a '92 actually.

I'm assuming that if the heater valve is all the way open that the back pressure will travel "forwards" through the heater assembly, up through the bottom of the radiator and then out the fill neck. Since it's a "T" fitting I assume that water will also travel the other direction through the thermostat and water pump and thence into the water jacket. the only thing I can't figure out is that the directions specifically say to run the car at idle speed during the operation of the back-flush - but won't at least half of the water be, in effect, traveling BACKWARDS through the system if I do this? Or will it, since there is fresh water coming into the "T" fitting, pump through the radiator, through the water pump and thermostat, and then into the water jacket?

 

Matt,Not sure if we have ever met but I am local to you.I live in Powell.I have owned classic minis for 25+ years and do all of my own work.My time bounces all over the place but if I can be of help let me know.Hal J.

I have included a pic of my cars to perhaps jog your memory.People remember cars easier then people

 

Nice picture Blimey. Here are a couple I snapped of you guys at Mid-Ohio last Saturday.






***Back on topic*** You ever get that thing finished Matt?

 

Hi here, Hal - your cars really do look familiar. Were you at the Brit Car Show at QSL a few weeks back? I'd love to meet for a drive some weekend - just let me know when you have time. I'd actually like someone thst knows the Mini to drive my car - since this is literally the only classic Mini that I've ever driven, I don't know of the little things I feel in the steering wheel and suspension is normal, or the precurser of trouble, you know?

Re: the flush - haven't done it yet, no - I need to stop and get a piece of hose. My folks were here all week for the 4th holiday and that means *nothing* gets done.

 

Did the flush - worked like a charm. It ran clear after only about 30 seconds, so hopefully the service was done in the last few years. The hoses are soft and supple as well - possibly replaced recently. I just spliced between the heater valve and the firewall - used a 5/8" T, not the 1/2", like I thought I would.

I'm still having issues reaching the lower radiator hose clamp though - the clamp's turned back towards the firewall about 45-degrees which is making it impossible to get my long screwdriver on the fitting. I managed to open the T-valve I installed and managed to get out a little less than half a gallon of fluid, which I just replaced with my 50/50 solution - I figure if I do this a few more times before winter, I'll gradually increase the amount of antifreeze in the radiator (shrug).

 

We were indeed at the British Car show at QSL.We also did the tour Saturday B4.I am always up for a breakfast run on a Sunday morning or even a ice cream drive on a Saturday. Give me a call sometime. 614-425-5479(cell) Maybe we can plan a GTG with some of the other guys.

Crashton.Nice pics thanks! I plan on printing them out for my "trophy" wall!I have never had pics of the cars moving

Back to the thread: Glad you got it worked out.Like I said let me know if I can help in the future.I don't stick my nose into this forum often so either give me a call or drop me a p.m. Take care,Hal

 

Hey Matt, I sent Blimey's phone number to you in a PM a while back when you needed help with your Mini.

 

Hey young lady! Haven't seen you hanging around club xb for awhile! I trust all is well!

 

Yep everything's good. I got on club xB yesterday. The Mini is doing good too. She just hasn't been driven in about two weeks. :(

 

Get her up and running, girl! I want to go for a drive with you and the bumblebee!

Hal - what are you doing this Sunday? Saturday I have to go pick up a washer/dryer (ugh), but I think I'm clear the following day if you want to go for a drive. there was talk a few weeks back about possibly going to the Sonic Drive-in as a group, but I got distracted and let the possibility slip by - maybe we can check it out and if it's fun (as I think it will be) then we can plan to go after the COlumbus Mini Mornin' or something (every third Saturday of the month).

-Matt

 

I'm going to take her for a drive on Sunday. I've been busy on the weekends spending time with my boyfriend and going to the lake.

 

Matt,Sorry I missed this.I spent the afternoon hanging out at the Arthritis show yesterday but just bummed around today.We did go for ice cream in the Cooper S tho'
Next weekend is the Indycar event at Mid-Ohio so I am out then too