Filling the water bottle

[chris57]

How the hell do you get the level right on that stupid shaped bottle on a 2 litre??

Martin

[gazza82]

Coolant?

[IanL]

Look at the bottle from the front, and match the visible level to the mark on the front ?

The level is not critical - as long as it is (say) 1/3 of the height, there will be sufficient head (standing pressure) to prevent air pockets in the system, and sufficient volume to contain expansion when the system heats up.

[Slo]

Do any of you lot actually have or seen a 2 litre engine? You cant see the coolant level through the bottle on these because its opaque and the neck has a chicane in it so you cant see the water level its ridiculous.

[IanL]

I just looked at the parts diagram in the Service Box, and that gives no colour information. That's why I put a query behind my suggestion.

If the plastic is not too dark, can you perhaps shine a bright light to one side of it to see the level?

Alternatively, use a flexible piece of plastic (say a cable tie) as a dipstick?

[gazza82]

I top it up to the top of the visible neck inside. Leaves enough expansion space.

[Slo]

Its virtually white plastic and not see through at all, that being said it was probably see through when new and 15 years of aging has made it useless to gauge as there no way to see if the coolant is between the fill levels, maybe shining a bright light in the cap will help but i doubt it as its a double chicane neck.

I've also always topped it upto the neck too but around christmas time i filled it up with antifreeze and has since leaked it into the passenger footwell, now i have no idea how much is in it as I cant see the level but it never gets too hot and the heater works just great.