that was worrying! advice please

[jasonp]

hiya, driving today past the olympic stadium which is looking really good, car was fine as i came off motorway and drove towards city rd suddenly my water temp went to top, red light came on, and plumes of smoke started to pour out from underneath the bonnet, being mindful of how quick alisdairs[sulzerek] car went up in flames the other week, i pulled over,jumped out and stood safely away and waited until she cooled down, opening the bonnet and checked that i was out of water, empty, when i poured water in, it poured out of the bottom, i then noticed the black pipe that transports water to the rad had come out of its fixing/cavity and water was pouring out of the pipe then straight out the bottom of car, i reattached the pipe with some insulating tape and put lots of lts of water back in and shes back to driving perfectly, it seems a clip has snapped,letting pipe slip out causing such a rapid loss of water,is there any other way or something i can use to secure the black pipe so it dont pop out again? other then the tape i have used as it dont seem very secure. thanks for reading all, cheers jason p

 

[Fatboy]

You need to secure the hose with a proper jubilee clip:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_753191_langId_-1_categoryId_165562

That's how it's done at the factory IIRC.

 

[RSGulp]

Also ASAP make sure you put a proper mix of anti-freeze/coolant in. With only tap water in the system it could freeze solid in this weather and you risk cracking your engine casing.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Also ASAP make sure you put a proper mix of anti-freeze/coolant in. With only tap water in the system it could freeze solid in this weather and you risk cracking your engine casing.

+1 []

If it's not got a proper level of anti-freeze, bring it in to the house!

 

[jasonp]

thanks for replys, anti freeze tommorow before i drive again and jubilee clip asap,paul, shes in a nice warm garage thanks paul, fatboy and rs gulp, regards jason

 

[robwright]

I would have just emptied the lot again as soon as I got home and parked up. I would never risk having raw water stood in a not running car any time of the year.

 

[jasonp]

hiya all, rob w thanks for that but it only happened today and its quite mild in london,i will put anti freeze in tommorow morning luckily shes in a warm garage and this has not occured before, how many litres of anti-freeze should go in considering nowt in there at present, cheers all jason

 

[robwright]

It's about 7 or 8 litres mate. I would premix it so you can guarentee the strength of what you put in don't jus guess it. I usually make up about 10 litres to do the job after bleeding and everything. Make sure you get phosphate free.

 

[RSGulp]

If you have a LIDL near you I noticed on their website they have an antifreeze/coolant tester in this week. Guaranted for 3yrs and will be TÃœV approved as all of their tools are. Gotta be worth the 99p investment! []

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_15858.htm

 

[Fat Albert]

I notice that Halfords sell pre-mixed coolant and screen wash!
I can't believe that people are unable to add their own water!

 

[robwright]

They probably market it as made with fabulous and expensive deionised water. Erm that would be rain water then or in my area tap water just as good. They will be selling magic beans next!!!!

 

[peanut]

if you are emptying any coolant out on the ground please don't forget that pets and wild animals find it really sweet and tasty

Antifeeze will kill yours or your neighbour's pet every time.

There is no antidote or treatment

its a long and painful death as their liver and kidneys shut down.