How to Refill Antifreeze 5.7Gi

whitesharkseeker

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Just put in a new HX . My engine block was drained and now h
ave no idea where to put in the antifreeze back in? Don't want to introduce cool water to a hot engine as the thermostat need to open and may crack my block. Any suggestions?

Thank you, Eric
 

alldodge

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The HX has a radiator cap on top just like a auto radiator, just fill it there. The AF will fill the block and there is always a small hole at the thermostat to allow air to escape.

If the motor has a air bleed (most do not) it should be marked and be up a bit higher then the HX
 

Scott Danforth

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here is a radiator cap on the expansion/separator tank
 

whitesharkseeker

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My HX does not have a radiator cap, just a fresh water reservoir with two hoses running to it from the HX. I refilled antifreeze into that reservoir but it doesn't seem to get past the thermostat into the block. I was thinking about warming the engine to open the thermostat but don't want to introduce cool antifreeze into an empty block and crack it. Thank you.
 

alldodge

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The thermostat doesn't completely block the path (95%) and coolant should flow thru the circulating water pump and into the block. To verify, pull the engine block plug and see if some comes out
 

Scott Danforth

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My HX does not have a radiator cap, just a fresh water reservoir with two hoses running to it from the HX. I refilled antifreeze into that reservoir but it doesn't seem to get past the thermostat into the block. I was thinking about warming the engine to open the thermostat but don't want to introduce cool antifreeze into an empty block and crack it. Thank you.

please post a picture of this mysterious engine that does not have a radiator cap at the highest point.

the factory Volvo expansion tank also has a fill hose to the lower radiator hose. you fill the system there. period

the system will self bleed abut 95% prior to you even starting the motor
 

Lou C

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If you can I'd pick up a spare thermostat housing gasket. Then remove the 'stat housing and fill the block till its up to the top of the intake manifold, and then reinstall the 'stat and housing.

Doing it this way prevents having an air lock which can stop the thermostat from opening.

Then fill the Hx, and get one of the Lisle radiator filling funnels that allow you to bleed all the air out. They work great!

well designed cooling systems SHOULD self bleed but they don't always!
 

whitesharkseeker

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please post a picture of this mysterious engine that does not have a radiator cap at the highest point.

the factory Volvo expansion tank also has a fill hose to the lower radiator hose. you fill the system there. period

the system will self bleed abut 95% prior to you even starting the motor

I can assure you there is no radiator cap on my HX, just a fresh water reservoir cap (I assume an expansion tank is the same thing). The hose to that tank goes to the heat exchanger, not the block. Put in a new HX. I don't think I have water in my block and can't find any info how to get anti-freeze into it past the thermostat. I tried filling via the fresh water reservoir but it wont pass the thermostat into the block. I have air blowing out that freshwater reservoir when engine is running and trying to rule out a blown head gasket vs air lock. I did a chemical test (C02 or combustion gasses) on that air burping out of the reservoir and it was negative.
 

Bt Doctur

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All heat exchangers have a cap for filing and overflow protection. post some pics of yours
 

whitesharkseeker

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I will post pictures tomorrow. The heat exchanger does not have an overflow cap but a tube that goes to the freshwater reservoir, I guess for overflow. The ends of the HX are bolted on for cleaning but no cap of any kind for overflow protection.
 

Scott Danforth

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Post a picture of the one an only factory heat exchanger in existance that doesnt have a cap for system filling
 

alldodge

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There are some that are made that use a hose to a separate tank with the cap on it. Many of the BB use this method, but they just get filled at the tank and it flows into the HX. My dump truck also has similar kind of set up.

In the pic, the over flow container is on top left, next to it is the fill tank which has the cap and a 1 inch of so hose going to the HX

82-mag.jpeg
 

whitesharkseeker

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Heat exchanger clearly does not have a fill cap, only fresh water reservoir that is connected to heat exchanger.
 

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alldodge

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In my pic above I mistakenly said the clear box on the front left as a over flow container, its the out drive lube bottle.

Your pic is like the one above and also my dump truck

tank.jpg
 

Lou C

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Looking at that coolant tank, it is probably pressurized to allow the Hx to stay full. Some modern cars do use this type of system where there is no cap on the radiator. What I'd do is what I said above (remove t-stat housing, fill block to top of intake manifold), then fill the Hx slowly via the tank to allow air bubbles to escape. Then when you run it, leave the cap off of the Hx overflow tank till all the air bubbles bleed out, if you can use that Lisle funnel I referenced above it will take less time and be less messy.
The idea is to get as much of the trapped air out as possible to avoid air locks that can cause overheating.
 

Scott Danforth

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thermostat housing has burp port. overflow reservoir should also have a fill line to bottom of the water pump.
 

whitesharkseeker

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Thanks for the replies and good info. I took the boat into the shop and mechanic told me a blown head gasket judging from bubbles in reservoir but my chemical test for combustion gasses were negative and good compression in cylinders. Thought mechanic would do a leak-down test but didn't. I'm not convinced it's a head gasket and think block has no coolant or air lock. Just don't want to tear head's off if a simple fix. Thank you again.

Eric
 

Scott Danforth

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then drain the system and pressure test....... easy test to do in 10 minutes, especially on a closed system.
 

Bondo

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I'm not convinced it's a head gasket and think block has no coolant or air lock.

Ayuh,.... So open 1 of the block drains, 'n see if antifreeze comes out,......

I'm guessin' it will,.....
 
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