how do you take out an air lock??

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sajid1
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:21 pm

my mate thinks his car has an air lock

its a 325i sport

the way i told him is

start the car,
open the bleed nut on the thermostat i think its 10mm

open the water bottle cap and pour water into the bottle and rev the car from the the engine at the same time holding it at at high revs

when the water shoots out upwards from the bleed hole on the thermostat then the air is out

to finish put the cap back on bottle, close the bleed hole and switch car off, top up as necessary while car is off

am i right ?? can anyone advise
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mikey-t
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:26 pm

heater dials to be turned to cold, fill the system and just run the car normally whilst bleeding from the valve until water comes out
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dazleeds
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:27 pm

park car facing uphill as it helps expell the air

fill res bottle put cap on
start car
run upto temp with heater set to hot and on first or second speed

when cars upto temp on gauge check water pipes to and from rad etc have warmed up
this will show you that tstat is working

open bleed valve 8mm let water flow and check for bubbles etc
after 10secs close valve go check gauge and heaters

if the air has cleared the heater should be red hot
and temp between qtr and half but not over half

Daz

did mine yesterday hardly any air at all as parked up hill
changed wpump etc, would recomend new t stat if gauge has been showing cold as mine was
all is now perfect :D
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sajid1
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:40 pm

so when the bleed valve is open do u pour water into the bottle aswell to keep it from drying out
and does the car need be at high revs say 3/4k rmp to build more pressure so the air pushed out easier
dazleeds
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:44 pm

no need to rev the car at all

yes keep a check on water bottle but replace cap when bleeding

when done take car for a run
park up leave to cool and check water

mine hasnt needed a topup but keep an eye on it for a day or so
just to be sure
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Gouki
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:51 pm

just a tip i did it yesterday you'll notice bubbles coming out, keep getting rid of the bubbles once it comes out just with water you'll know its fine.
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sajid1
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:51 pm

ok cheers we'll try it tmrw
e30bmlover
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:51 pm

mine was done be draneing the system, opening the bleed nipple and filling the system up until it comes out of the bleed nipple. start the car up and put the heaters on full blast to bleed the heater matrix. job done.
Simon
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:52 pm

Follow Daz'z instructions, the M20 can be a pain, as for the revving, then it can work, done it a few times myself, get's the water circulating that bit quicker, and can help clear an airlock.
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Chris-W
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:05 pm

A quick blat to 4Âa does indeed sometime helps clear a lock.
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sajid1
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:11 pm

will rev it too then as it wont do any harm--will shoot the water/air out quicker

cheers fellas
karaokebykris
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Post Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:19 pm

does this apply to an m10 engine too? had to replace a hose on mine recently, not lost any water since but heater does not seem to melt me like before! ---- is that a bad thing tho? :mad: