Ford Focus Overheating

Dad11

Hi all,

i am wondering if anyone ever experienced an issue with Ford Focus Ghia in relation to Radiator overflow reservoir. My reservoir needs to be filled.with water every two or three days. I replaced the reservoir today and filled the reservoir after a 6 mile.drive the water started.to.go.below the max level. Also the.plastic.reservoir gets very hot. See pic attached.

martinr5232

Dad11 wrote: »

Hi all,

i am wondering if anyone ever experienced an issue with Ford Focus Ghia in relation to Radiator overflow reservoir. My reservoir needs to be filled.with water every two or three days. I replaced the reservoir today and filled the reservoir after a 6 mile.drive the water started.to.go.below the max level. Also the.plastic.reservoir gets very hot. See pic attached.

For starters your rad cap is broken in the bottle.

Sort that first then see if your still losing coolant if you are check your thermostat housing and water pump for leaks.

Also you would be better off in the motors forum maybe ask a mod to move it.

biko

Detailing -> Motors.

Dad11

Hi Can someone tell me how I move my post to Motors ?

Dad11

Hi I replaced the whole Reservoir including Rad Cap.

martinr5232 wrote: »

For starters your rad cap is broken in the bottle.

Sort that first then see if your still losing coolant if you are check your thermostat housing and water pump for leaks.

Also you would be better off in the motors forum maybe ask a mod to move it.

martinr5232

Dad11 wrote: »

Hi I replaced the whole Reservoir including Rad Cap.

Judging by that picture the centre part of your rad cap is stuck in the bottle you need to get that out and replace it.

Dad11

I replaced Reservoir and rad cap

martinr5232 wrote: »

Judging by that picture the centre part of your rad cap is stuck in the bottle you need to get that out and replace it.

Dad11

Hi there. I used water in the coolant reservoir as a quick fix to get home. I am now adding coolant. I know I need to drain reservoir but do I need to drain radiator. Coolant is ready made. Pls help

Anan1

Is the car still leaking coolant, or has it been repaired?

Dad11

I used water as a temp solution in reservoir. Now am putting in ready mixed coolant in. I know I need to drain reservoir but do I need to drain radiator and anything else

Dad11

Repaired

Anan1 wrote: »

Is the car still leaking coolant, or has it been repaired?

Anan1

Dad11 wrote: »

Repaired

Have you tested the repair over a few days?

Dad11

Yes definitely no leaks

Anan1 wrote: »

Have you tested the repair over a few days?

dgt

What vehicle?

Jesus.

Bloody hell, can't someone just give the poor lad an answer!!

Anan1

Jesus. wrote: »

Bloody hell, can't someone just give the poor lad an answer!!

There'll be a drain plug somewhere around the bottom of the radiator. I have to say, though, that the OP might be better off letting a mechanic flush and refill the system.

Dad11

Ford Focus Ghia

dgt wrote: »

What vehicle?

Alanstrainor

Dad11 wrote: »

Ford Focus Ghia

This is like bleeding a stone. One word answers are tiresome to be honest.

You need to drain the system of all coolant, which would include the rad. If you aren't sure, you'd be better off getting a mechanic to flush the system tbh. Who did the repair? Surely they would have advised that new coolant was needed?

biko

Not sure about that one but some rads have a drain plug and some don't.
Easiest is to get underneath and look.

OP, I merged your two threads on the same car/issue.

Dad11

Sorry. Its very simple. Reservoir was replaced which fixed leak. It was filled with water to make 2 journeys. I bought ready mixed coolant. I want to know if I can just drain water in reservoir and that's it or do I need to drain radiator as well. When you say system whats involved in that ?

Alanstrainor wrote: »

This is like bleeding a stone. One word answers are tiresome to be honest.

You need to drain the system of all coolant, which would include the rad. If you aren't sure, you'd be better off getting a mechanic to flush the system tbh. Who did the repair? Surely they would have advised that new coolant was needed?

biko

You need to drain both as they are both part of the cooling system.
The reservoir is the easy part to drain.

Do you want to do it yourself?

Dad11

Thanks for merging. Yes I will drain the Radiator myself!

biko wrote: »

You need to drain both as they are both part of the cooling system.
The reservoir is the easy part to drain.

Do you want to do it yourself?

Dad11

Unfortunately I cant afford mechanic. With paycuts, and more and more taxes my back is to the wall. A mechanic is a luxury to me these days!

martinr5232

Firstly can the coolant you have be mixed with water ??

If it can take the bottom hose off the rad no big problem its usually held on with a spring clip but may have been changed to s jubilee clip if its not just squeeze it with a vice grips and move it back down the hose.

Drain the water and put your hose back on make sure the clip is sitting straight.

Fill with coolant and water run the engine with the cap off giving the rad hoses a squeeze to get the air out when the level stops going down put your cap on and leave it ticking over till the rad fan cuts in and out.

After that wait for it to cool down and top up your level.

If the fan cuts in at low temperature and stays going longer than it should you have an airlock in that case you will have to loosen the cap very slowly and be carefull it doesnt boil up or you will get scalded.
Run it again till the coolant level settles and put your cap on and check your fan operation.

Dad11

The coolant is already mixed and it says not to mix with water!

martinr5232 wrote: »

Firstly can the coolant you have be mixed with water ??


If it can take the bottom hose off the rad no big problem its usually held on with a spring clip but may have been changed to s jubilee clip if its not just squeeze it with a vice grips and move it back down the hose.

Drain the water and put your hose back on make sure the clip is sitting straight.

Fill with coolant and water run the engine with the cap off giving the rad hoses a squeeze to get the air out when the level stops going down put your cap on and leave it ticking over till the rad fan cuts in and out.

After that wait for it to cool down and top up your level.

If the fan cuts in at low temperature and stays going longer than it should you have an airlock in that case you will have to loosen the cap very slowly and be carefull it doesnt boil up or you will get scalded.
Run it again till the coolant level settles and put your cap on and check your fan operation.

martinr5232

Dad11 wrote: »

The coolant is already mixed and it says not to mix with water!

Well then you either need to get all the water out of your cooling system or get coolant you can dilute.

I know what i would be doing.