Changing the coolant in my Xantia Estate

Unread post by **NAM** » 15 Nov 2010, 19:15

Hi All
Not been on for a while - the Xantia is behaving itself

- MOT due in Jan so may it continue. I am thinking about changing the coolant as winter is now upon us - flushing out the rad and topping up with fresh antifreeze.

I've not done the job before and Haynes makes the job sound ok with just two spanners in terms of difficulty rating (last time the garage did it - second cam belt change so had water pump done at the same time).

Any tips from anyone? Which antifreeze to use (I have seen reference to Antigel and also a Mercedes product) - does it matter which? Also do I need to open all the screws or just the one at the bottom of the radiator.

Look forward to the replies.

Nige

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 15 Nov 2010, 20:06

No its quite straightforward.

Tip (apart from a cold engine!) , leave the radiator cap ON and undo the radiator drain tap (if it has one) , then undo the rad cap. The reason is simply to avoid a shower

You may want to hose it out. I'm not 100% sure where all the bleed screws are on a petrol.

There will be one on the heater hose by the bulkhead (a plastic tyre valve type cap)

One on the thermostat housing (probably a 5 or 6mm hex head brass bolt, caution: do not use excess force)

One on the radiator itself (opposite end (still the top obviously) of the cap)

You will need to carefully bleed it when refilling and running. Failure to bleed the air out is very bad.

Tip: Get a 2litre plastic orange / coke bottle and cut the bottom off. Jam that into the rad cap orifice with a rag if needed. Fill it with that. Keep about a litre of coolant / water in the 'bottle'

I assume the manual states the procedure ?

, basically undo the bleeds fill it and shut them when coolant emerges without bubbles. If you have a brass one on the thermostat housing, I would advise removing it completely temporarily to help. Do not lose its little washer if it has one.

It is a lot easier to do / show someone than it is to explain though.

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 15 Nov 2010, 20:18

My recommendation would be to use a silicate free coolant, my preference is Honda genuine type 2 ready mixed coolant.

VertVega · Unread post by **VertVega** » 15 Nov 2010, 20:35

Very good and detailed explanation spider

I've sent pics of bleed points in this thread ---> Xantia 1.8 petrol, cooling system bleed points <---

Unread post by **NAM** » 15 Nov 2010, 21:11

Thanks Chaps - great pics and detail. Don't know how I missed the threads - I did a search. Anyway - I'll have a bash at the weekend.
Nige

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 15 Nov 2010, 21:51

Just as an added piece, Flush the Heater Matrix....

You can carefully remove the hoses with an aid behind the plastic elbow, if you hold the clip in the undone and gently lever the elbow from behind with a large screw driver, DO BE CAREFULL, but its safer then tugging from the front....

You can the flush out the matrix OR OR, thinking about it, remove the hose from the back of the head, probably safer, and blast a hose in that way... should help to clear the matrix out too...

Paul

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 16 Nov 2010, 10:04

I'd go with taking the hose off the head end Paul too, instead of risking the plastic elbow at the bulkhead. I find its best to not disturb that end unless you 'really' need to.

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 16 Nov 2010, 10:10

Ive successfully removed them with the method above... takes a bit of judge ment... though... thats only why I mentioned it.

But thinking about it, yes, take the hose off the back of the head, gearbox end.

Paul