The bleed coolant system is the system in the engine that regulates temperature and prevents overheating. The bleed coolant system through circulating coolant regulates the temperature of the engine. The coolant absorbs heat from the engine and transfers it to the radiator, where it cools and returns to the engine.
So, do you have to bleed a coolant system? What happens if you don't bleed coolant system.....
When we change or add coolant, if the coolant system is not bleeded, air pockets may appear in the system.
① Coolant flow is reduced because air pockets create blockages in the cooling system, preventing coolant from flowing to all parts of the engine. This could overheat the engine, causing serious damage to the engine.
② Air pockets cause the coolant to be unevenly distributed throughout the system. Some areas have too much coolant and others too little. The engine develops a hot spot, causing overheating and potential damage.
To avoid these problems, we need to properly drain the coolant system after any work involving coolant is done. This involves opening the bleed valve, usually located near the top of the radiator, to allow air to escape until only the coolant comes out. It ensures that the coolant is evenly distributed and there are no air pockets that could cause problems down the line.
We guess you're really curious about the process of removing air from the coolant. So we sorted out the general steps of "how do you bleed air out of coolant?" for you, you can refer to:
① Turn off the engine and wait for it to cool down.
② Find the radiator cap and remove it. If your vehicle has a pressurized coolant reservoir, find it and remove the cap.
③ Fill the radiator or reservoir with coolant until it reaches the "full" mark.
④ Start the engine, then let it spin on empty for a few minutes.
⑤ Observe the coolant level in the radiator or reservoir. As the engine warms up, the coolant level may drop as air is released from the system.
⑥ Add more coolant as needed to keep the level at the "full" mark.
⑦ Keep the engine running and watch for air pockets escaping from the radiator or reservoir. If you see air pockets, there is still air trapped in the system.
⑧ Gently squeeze the upper radiator hose to help move any trapped air out of the system.
⑨ Once the coolant level stabilizes and no air pockets appear, replace the radiator or reservoir cap.
⑩ Shut off the engine and let it cool, then check the coolant level again. Add more coolant as needed to bring it up to the proper level.
The above is the process of bleeding the air in the coolant system. But we will also encounter a situation, that is: how to bleed air from cooling system without radiator cap? If the vehicle does not have a radiator cap, it will be more challenging to bleed air from the cooling system, but it is still possible to:
① Find the highest point in the cooling system: Typically, the coolant reservoir or overflow tank is at the highest point in the cooling system.
② Park on a level surface: Let the vehicle park on a level surface to ensure that the coolant is evenly distributed throughout the system.
③ Start the engine: Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes until it reaches the working temperature.
④ Turn on the heater: Turn on the heater to the maximum setting and let it run for a few minutes.
⑤ Check the coolant level: Check the coolant level in the overflow tank and add more if necessary.
⑥ Squeeze the radiator hose: Squeeze the radiator hose to help move any air pockets in the system.
⑦ Turn off the engine: Turn off the engine and wait for it to cool down completely.
Repeat the process: Repeat steps 3-7 until there are no more air pockets in the system and the coolant level remains the same.
When we do the above work, we must first read the vehicle manual to ensure that there will be no violations during operation.
If you're not sure how to remove air from your coolant system, it's best to check your owner's manual or take it to a professional technician.
In general, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to completely remove the air from the coolant system. This time depends on the vehicle, the size of the cooling system, the amount of air left in the system, and the efficiency of the engine cooling system. Sometimes it may be necessary to repeat the vent to ensure that all the air has been expelled from the system.
Return
VIEW All