Bleeding the air from the cooling system

[Macarena Man]

Has anyone made a bleeder valve to replace the 1" plug on the 24v head?
Chasing bubbles would be much easier with the bleeder.
Thanks

 

[NIsaacs]

It is actually 1/2" NPT. Just loosen it and let the air out. When you see coolant, tighten it up. Make sure the fill bottle is full and about two overnight shutdowns will fill the last little bit.

 

[Ozymandias]

I've never had any problems bleeding my 24V by just running it.
That's new to me that there is a procedure aside from filling the radiator and the bottle and run it.

 

[SAndreasen]

I always loosen the plugs in the head when refilling a dry system or radiator r&r . The plugs aren’t just for show

 

[bcbender]

Drained and refilled my 04 several times (water pump(s) and coolant exchange, never had to do anything other than fill / run / check,.. fill the recovery tank to full HOT.. then run a few thermal cycles. Usually the second one stayed stable on the recovery bottle then I would adjust if needed.

 

[Ozymandias]

I always loosen the plugs in the head when refilling a dry system or radiator r&r . The plugs aren’t just for show

Many of these plugs are for production like the freeze plugs on the block.
And the ones on the cylinder head are common to an industrial engine that is used in a wide array of applications, so everyone can hook-up his hoses and lines where it is most convenient.
If a bleeding would be indicated there would be a dedicated bleeding plug or even valve.

 

[Gearclash]

I’ve seen a 5.9 get several cylinders destroyed by over heating because the cooling system wasn’t bled or burped and topped off before putting it under load.

 

[Matt42]

I’ve seen a 5.9 get several cylinders destroyed by over heating because the cooling system wasn’t bled or burped and topped off before putting it under load.

I did this to a non diesel back in the 1980s and I don't wanna talk about it. Now, I use one of those vacuum-pressure devices to evacuate and refill cooling systems.

 

[bcbender]

I use one of those vacuum-pressure devices to evacuate and refill cooling systems.

Same here.. best thing ever!.. No mess on the ground, no need to purchase more coolant (usually) unless time for flushing... All around one of the best investments I made.. I have one dedicated to coolants only.

 

[rotohead]

Would one of these vacuum pressure devices show a head gasket leak? I seem to have a loss of coolant somewhere and my suspicion is at the head gasket into one of the cylinders. Is this prossible? I've done a lifetime of oil analysis and never seen coolant in the oil.

 

[Ozymandias]

Would one of these vacuum pressure devices show a head gasket leak? I seem to have a loss of coolant somewhere and my suspicion is at the head gasket into one of the cylinders. Is this prossible? I've done a lifetime of oil analysis and never seen coolant in the oil.

You want to do a pressure leak down test for this.
But as long as you don't see bubbles in your radiator coming up it is very unlikely to have leak into the cylinder as the combustion pressure is so much higher then the coolant pressure it will almost always by exhaust gasses in the radiator also.

 

[rotohead]

A pressure leak down check of the coolant system with a kit mentioned above?

 

[Ozymandias]

Google "cooling system pressure test kit", it has nothing in common with a vacuum pump, totally the opposite.

 

[rotohead]

"Google "cooling system pressure test kit", it has nothing in common with a vacuum pump, totally the opposite."

https://www.harborfreight.com/cooling-system-test-and-refill-kit-64985.html

I have this on order from HF. I'm looking for a way to confirm a coolant leak that I think is through the head gasket into the cylinders somewhere. There are no other coolant leaks. New rad, hoses, etc.

 

[Mark31]

I park my truck with the right side a little higher and pour coolant in SLOWLY and I can hear the bubbles coming thru the Cummins thermostat "bleed hole". After one heat cycle, I might have to add a little juice.