Hi,

Can anybody post a step-by-step best practice procedure for a DIY coolant change? Im thinking it is time to do this. The overflow tank has been empty (possibly leaks) for sometime, but no problems until recently.

I have a 02 MC at 68k, and recently noticed that the temp gauge pushes rather high. This has occurred twice, both times with the AC on, in stop and go traffic. The temp gauge moves downward after turning off the AC. It does not overheat/boilover, it just gets too hot for comfort.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

Your overflow tank has been dry for some time? That needs to be full at all times. Do a search for coolant change. There was one going a couple months ago.

 

kapps meant to be between the Max and Min marks when car is cold.

 

I haven't done it or looked at it on the mini, but usually there is screw/plug on bottom of radiator, unscrew that after putting down a thing to catch the coolant in. Then on top of radiator would be a bleeder screw that you open along with the resivoir cap to let all the coolant start flowin out real fast. After you get it all out close up the screw on the bottom. Then start adding fluid to your resivoir with the engine running and just keep adding and adding until it gets to full mark, I dunno what a good mixture is but I always did one thing of coolant and then the rest distilled water. Then close everything up. Oh and while you are filling you should keep the heat on.

I think thats all right...correct me if I am wrong on soemthing though.

 

Don't completely fill the reserve coolant tank because it needs some reserve space when the liquid expands as it heats. At least that what the MINI mechanic told me.

 

draining is by disconnecting the lower hose at the radiator. But this leaves lots in the block and the radiator too.

I did mine when I changed thermostats.... While the thermostat housing was off, I put a lot of distilled water directly into the block and it cleaned out a lot of the stuff left behind. Did the same through the bleeder in the upper radiator hose. Even with all this, I couldn't get all the old coolant out of the system.

Matt

 

All....Thanks for all of your thoughts/input on this subject. I have decided to settle on the Moss overflow tank to fix the leak issue. As for changing the coolant, has anybody had any experience with a local Jiffy Lube doing this? I know they use a machine which backflushes and replaces with new coolant. I would however buy my own coolant from BMW/MINI.