How to fill up coolant system? fill reservoir too?

[luvitt]

preparing for my maiden voyage tomorrow. I hooked up the engine to the hot water heater a few weeks ago, and all (or an unknown quantity) coolant leaked out while i was doing it.

So my yanmar 4jhe manual says the freshwater cooling capacity is 6.0 (Liter? gallon? quart? all i see is a curly L and cu in.)

I filled the system to the top and put the radiator cap back on. do i fill the subtank reservoir too? its presently at the low mark.

Im also concerned that the hoses that go to the hot water heater will take an unknown quantity of coolant away from the engine. they cant be full already, just from filling the engine, i dont think the coolant could have gone up then down and through the hot water heater and back w/o starting the engine. how or do i need to compensate for these 8' of hose?

thanks for your help, im off tomorrow!!!!!

 

[jibes138]

Radiator coolant

Run the engine with the cap off. Once it warms up and the thermostat opens the coolant will then circulate through the system, this will temporarily cool it down, let it warm up again until the thermostat stays open and the coolant is flowing through the system. Fill up the tank and put the cap on. Now the overflow reservoir, if you have one, should have a cold fill line on it or a hot fill line on it. Fill it to the hot fill line (since the coolant in the engine is hot and expanded). If no line fill it about half full. Now kill the engine. when it cools down and the coolant shrinks a little it will suck coolant from the reservoir and when it expands it will overflow the excess. Not every boat has an overflow res. nor did old cars. The coolant is toxic if ingested and dogs like the taste of it. So they started capturing the overflow.

 

[Taylor]

As I recall, you need to bleed the coolant system, air can get trapped in the hoses and block water flowing through the whole set of pipes. I think you do it by finding the high point of the system, loosening the hose there and letting air out until you get to coolant.

Maybe someone knows a more rigorous procedure.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Burp your system

most systems with hw heaters are the same. Here's our method: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4518.0.html

jibes' method will work, too.

 

[larryw]

I don't fill the res. all the way, just enough so I can open when cold and just reach the coolant level with a fingertip. Room for expansion, but no overflow.