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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Flushing and refilling sprite

Hi

Following my first thread last weekend concerning my leaking mkiv sprite I am now in possesion of a nice new water pump.

I'm still a bit unsure of the best way to flush the whole system. (haynes seems a little unclear to me). Thinking that I will take the rad and heater out and flush seperately then clamp a hose on to the heater tap on the block and flush the engine that way. Does that sound ok?

Also I was planning on refilling with a mix of antifreeze and filtered rain water. Is there something better? Haynes says to pour it in through the expansion to rad pipe, any better ways?

once again any help appreciated
M Adams

I flushed mine with a pump from a pond. circulating through a bucket with ZOK27, a gasturbine cleaning soap.
Change direction of flow now and then and refresh until clear.

Fill the system through the upper heater hose with a funnel, open radiator until overflow, replace radiator cap and top up and put the hose on the tap. Top up expansion tank and squeeze the upper hose for the last bits.

That's how I do it.
Alex G Matla

There are flushing chemicals sold, or if you are cheap, you can flush with plain, white vinegar (after the first drain/flush of the old coolant, re-fill entirely with vinegar, run the engine for a few minutes, then flush it out with a garden hose, under pressure, until it runs clear).

It is pretty shocking to see how much gunk (mineral deposits) that vinegar will dissolve and dislodge in about 10 ~ 20 minutes.

Like Alan said, flush in the reverse direction of flow (in through a heater hose, and out through the opened thermostat elbow).

Oh, and remove the thermostat before flushing, to get full flow everywhere. This is a handy time to replace an old thermostat, or at least to test the one you've got, in a pan of boiling water on the stove.

After flushing, fill with distilled water and whatever % antifreeze you use.

Alex described a good way to fill. I am too lazy to fill through the hoses, and so I simply fill the radiator at the threaded plug on top, then run it (heater valve open) and top up the level in the open radiator as needed, until the thermostat opens and the water temp starts to rise enough to require replacing the threaded plug, then I fill the expansion tank half way and check the level in it again after driving a good 30 minutes. If there was any air in the system, it will work its way out, and the level in the expansion tank will go down.

Norm
Norm Kerr

Might be a daft question, but where is the block drain plug on a MkIII midget
P.J young

Hi, the most common way to empty the system is by removing the bottom hose from the rad.

There is a drain plug for the block which is towards the back of the block on the same side as the carbs (1275).

See item 27 for drian plug location:
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=1375

Thanks
Mark

Mark Whitmore

This thread was discussed between 07/07/2011 and 09/07/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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