Hi,

Well, my V6 cambelt DVD arrived and I watched it. It's excellent - well done Mark & everyone else involved.  :y

Some follow on questions if I may ......

1) Was the battery disconnected? Does it need to be?

2) Does the plenem need to be removed on the 2.5? I'm assuming not.

3) It seemed to me that coolant was added after the engine had been started. Did I miss something or was that just a top up after adding as much as would go into the header before starting it?

4) Does the engine have to be stone cold before the work is done?

5) I'm assuming that this would be a good time to change the HBV? Mine has done 100k and it would avoid having to drain the coolant again in the future.

Once again 10 out of 10.

Thanks .......... Rob

1) No, No

2) Nope

3) If replacing the waterpump (which you might as well) since you are stripped that far down, flush wish lots of clean water. Then when the pump is back on, fill up with 50/50 mix with anti-freeze. Once all done, and started the engine, the coolant level will drop quite a bit as air pockets are removed. It will need topping up.

4) No, but it helps avoid burnt hands!

5) I'd leave it until it breaks, HBV is not in the area you are stripping down either.

Thanks Tunnie,

Noted re the HBV, but changing now for the sake on an extra £15 for a new one would avoid having to drain the coolant with the associated cost/hassle factor.

Cheers

Lincs Robert wrote on 12. Dec 2009 at 10:09:

Hi, Well, my V6 cambelt DVD arrived and I watched it. It's excellent - well done Mark & everyone else involved.  :y Some follow on questions if I may ...... 1) Was the battery disconnected? Does it need to be? It doesn't have to be but I have always disconnected mine for peace of mind 2) Does the plenem need to be removed on the 2.5? I'm assuming not.No 3) It seemed to me that coolant was added after the engine had been started. Did I miss something or was that just a top up after adding as much as would go into the header before starting it? After filling an empty cooling system there are air pockets that get pushed round by the pump when you start up. If you fill to the brim on the coolant bottle it will burp a pint of coolant out over your inner wing. I add coolant until it is up to the half way seam on the bottle and get as much air out of the top hose as possible by squeezing it (burping it) before starting it. Once running not much will happen until the engine is hot enough for the thermostat to open at which point the air in the radiator and top hose gets pushed round to the coolant bottle and you will need to top it up again. 4) Does the engine have to be stone cold before the work is done?You have to work on it, if it is too hot to touch it is too hot. You won't damage the engine. 5) I'm assuming that this would be a good time to change the HBV? Mine has done 100k and it would avoid having to drain the coolant again in the future. Once again 10 out of 10. Thanks .......... Rob

Note to self must type faster ::)

Mines still on its original HBV!!! Some fail, some don't. Given the economic situation and numerous reports of Vx part quality going down the drain, i would still leave it for now. But each to their own  :y

Andy H wrote on 12. Dec 2009 at 10:25:

Lincs Robert wrote on 12. Dec 2009 at 10:09: Hi, Well, my V6 cambelt DVD arrived and I watched it. It's excellent - well done Mark & everyone else involved.  :y Some follow on questions if I may ...... 1) Was the battery disconnected? Does it need to be? It doesn't have to be but I have always disconnected mine for peace of mind 2) Does the plenem need to be removed on the 2.5? I'm assuming not.No 3) It seemed to me that coolant was added after the engine had been started. Did I miss something or was that just a top up after adding as much as would go into the header before starting it? After filling an empty cooling system there are air pockets that get pushed round by the pump when you start up. If you fill to the brim on the coolant bottle it will burp a pint of coolant out over your inner wing. I add coolant until it is up to the half way seam on the bottle and get as much air out of the top hose as possible by squeezing it (burping it) before starting it. Once running not much will happen until the engine is hot enough for the thermostat to open at which point the air in the radiator and top hose gets pushed round to the coolant bottle and you will need to top it up again. 4) Does the engine have to be stone cold before the work is done?You have to work on it, if it is too hot to touch it is too hot. You won't damage the engine. 5) I'm assuming that this would be a good time to change the HBV? Mine has done 100k and it would avoid having to drain the coolant again in the future. Once again 10 out of 10. Thanks .......... Rob Note to self must type faster ::)

;D ;D  :P :P

The video is indeed excellent, just make sure you have the cam locking kit...not ever had the bottle to do this on my cars but looks pretty straight forward, just the timing bit that worries me, or the risk of me getting it wrong lol :y