pete east Posted April 22, 2003 Share Posted April 22, 2003 Does anyone out there know what lbs/inch 2 the cooling system pressure cap needs to be on supersprint crossflow? (Sits on turret over thermostat housing) I suspect the spring in my current pressure cap is getting a little tired,and is letting water into the overflow bottle almost as soon as the engine is warmed up. I have tried to get a new one but no Ford Dealer seems to know what pressure limit the cap is set at,which makes getting a replacement from them and other sources questionable.Is it possible to get a cap with a higher blow by limit? any comments would be very welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hughes Posted April 22, 2003 Share Posted April 22, 2003 Almost sure it's 14lb and it is off a Fiesta XR2 Mk1. I've changed to a fully sealed system and I think i've got one or two in the garage send your address and i'll send it you. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete east Posted April 22, 2003 Author Share Posted April 22, 2003 John - many thanks for your reply,and offer of pressure caps,As I have a couple of caps already,I will decline your generous offer,But I would like details of your fully sealed system as I have been thinking of going down this route anyway. As before any comments would be very welcome. Best regards. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted April 22, 2003 Share Posted April 22, 2003 Fully sealed is definately best. I think someone posted a list on here of all the parts needed to do this. I did mine so long ago I cannot remember the parts but I think its virtually all Ford Fiesta stuff. As you live in Essex I would normally suggest come and look at my set up, but as I now have an electric waterpump on mine its now far from standard so I don't think it would be too much help Edited by - Graham Perry on 22 Apr 2003 13:19:11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hughes Posted April 22, 2003 Share Posted April 22, 2003 Pete The system I have is a header tank from the old Rover 216 which is the one that Caterham fit on the K series cars. This is mounted as high as possible over the heater on mine. There are just 2 connections to make - 1) The large one which is 16mm i think connects into one of the heater hoses. (one comes off the inlet to the water pump, the other from the middle of the inlet manifold). Don't think it really matters which. If no heater then I would run it to the connector on the water pump. 2) The small connector on the top of the header then runs to the small overflow on the thermostat housing. This is to allow air to bleed back to the header. The water level in the header must be above this level. The pressure cap on the thermostat housing is replaced by a simple blanking cap (from an Ital 1700 i seem to remember) but most motor factors will have one. When filling i fill with the thermostat cap off slowly until the thermostat housing is full and then put the cap on. The header tank is then filled until about half full. The black plastic cap on this is noe the pressure cap rated at 14lb. Hope this makes sense - certainly has improved the cooling on my car and now have no need to keep refilling the system Could try and get some photos if that would make it clearer John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted April 22, 2003 Share Posted April 22, 2003 There are a few pics here I carried out this mod and it works very well! Steve Se7en-Up! Less is more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted April 23, 2003 Share Posted April 23, 2003 John & Steves notes and pictures explain it really well, so it should be easy to fit. It is important though that the header tank represents the highest point in the water system so try to position it as high as you can under the bonnet. Looking at the photos you will also see that the thermostat housing has been replaced for the later Escort mk11/Fiesta one, which is what I have on my car. This removes the need for replacing the cap with one that doesn't blow off, as the header tank cap now takes on this job. Edited by - Graham Perry on 23 Apr 2003 07:27:26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete east Posted April 23, 2003 Author Share Posted April 23, 2003 Many thanks to all for your valued comments - I will now set about sourcing the components required to alter my cooling system. Best regards - Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted April 23, 2003 Share Posted April 23, 2003 Graham, The header tank must be the highest point when you bleed the system, after this you can place the header tank high or low, just make sure it is only half full because you need air to presurrise the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hughes Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 I would suggest that the header tank is always the highest point otherwise the air will migrate to the "new" high point which on the Xflow is the thermostat housing / top hose to the radiator. Lowering the header may possibly work if the small diameter "air return pipe" is not used blanking the small take off on the top of the thermostat housing and the top of the header tank. Though this would reduce the efficiency of the system at keeping air at the top of the header. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 John, The header tank i use has only one connection at the bottom witch runs to the top of a modifyed Escort MK2 thermostat housing, i really can't see how the air is going to come at the thermostat housing because to do this it has to go at the botttom of the header tank first before it can rise to the thermostat housing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashaughnessy Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Roger King can supply a complete kit (including instructions) to convert to a fully sealed system (though it doesn't contain any kind of bracket to mount the header tank). If you don't want to convert and just want a new pressure cap for your current system Redline can supply you with the correct one. I converted to the fully sealed system and it was an easy job. Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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