Hey I finally found a webpage for the tool that my mechanic used. Hopefully this will help a lot of people:



original manufacturer: Lisle
http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_detail.cfm?detail=224
more info at a reseller's website:
http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/sh...CAT591_pg2.htm


Here's how it works: the funnel makes a good seal with the radiator cap, so you can fill the funnel with about a Liter of coolant, let the engine run for 5-10 minutes, and remove a ton of air from the cooling system. Try it , I was amazed at how many air bubbles were removed, even after pouring slowly and leaving the throttle body hose open to let air escape. I probably removed .25 L or so; I can't imagine what kind of havoc that would have caused this summer.


Their website has some other cool stuff such as easy hose remover pliers: http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_detail.cfm?detail=834

-scott-

 

I have this tool and it is a life saver. Every person who worke on their own car should have one.
I wouldn't do a coolant fill without it.

 

I didn't know such things existed.

What I used to do was to jack the front end of the car up, insert a funnel and do what this tool does. But it was always a pain in the *** with the coolant getting hot etc..

 

I have a tight fitting funnel and I do the same thing to help get the air out, works like a charm.
Joe

 

WOW - both of those are uber cool! I bet that hose removal tool would work AWESOME on fuel lines, BTW. Those are always a bitch to pull off.

Not to mention both are CHEAP. I figured they'd be high-dollar items.

Thanks!
Dale

 

The hose removal pliers can be a life saver at times. And I had never see the funnel before, but it is a damned good idea!

 

Thanks for the link. I've been meaning to get one for a while.

John

 

Yeah, I'm bringing this back from the dead....

Just found the EXACT tool pictured above at Pep Boys the previous weekend. It was only $9.99, and it was back with the oil/coolant/filters area.

Comes with 3 sets of caps and fittings - set "B" fits the RX-7 neck perfectly. Nice, tight, leak-free fit.

This is a really good idea to have handy after a coolant flush/fill! Air bubbles can and will cause cooling problems!

Dale

 

Sweet. guess i'm going to have to try this as well..

 

Really, $10 at Pep Boys?? I paid ~$20 online, couldn't find it at my local stores...

-s-

 

Could someone get me one of these and send it to the UK, I can paypal the cash across to you

Thanks!!

 

I saw couple of machanics in Japan used those things to get the air bubbles out on rx7. I didn't know that you can get those goodies here...very nice!

 

Get them here??? They are made in the US

 

I know, I just didnt know that we had one of those in US.

 

Glad I'm reading this. I had my radiator flushed at KD about a month ago (had them do it along with a few other things). Now I hear A LOT of bubbling after a good drive. A couple of nights ago I checked the coolant level with the engine completely cold. There was NO coolant showing up on the dipstick. I know I obviously have to add more (I didn't drive it since the low coolant discovery).

Part of me was really mad because I wonder if they left some coolant out, knowing I would go to them for an overheat problem or worse. I don't want to believe they did that on purpose...

Anyway - I need to top off. I did see this the other day at Pep Boys. Thanks for the heads up.

 

A word of caution: Remove the throttle body coolant line when filling up!! I have this funnel thing and it's great but it still couldn't get all the air out of the system when I flushed it. I was really close to overheating while using it, then I removed the TB coolant line and everything worked out great.

 

From their website: http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_dealer_finder.cfm


Outside the United States and Canada contact our Export Agent:
Browne Dreyfus International, Ltd.
305 Madison Avenue, Suite 420
New York, NY 10165 USA
PHONE: 212-867-7700
FAX: 212-867-7820
WEB URL: www.bdi-ltd.com
E-MAIL: info@bdi-ltd.com


That might be cheaper than having one of us try to ship things overseas. It's really a pretty simple concept, I'd be surprised if there isn't already a company who makes them on your side of the pond.

-s-

 

Thanks, I haven't even seen Mechanics use these this side of the pond - we're well behind with good tools or they cost about $100

I'll get in touch!

Thanks!

 

It's not a common tool here either, I'd never seen one until spring 2004.

-s-

 

Can I get some elaboration on those TB lines that you disconnect? Is it the line on the firewall side? Do we remove the whole line or just one end of it at the TB? We leave this disc. the whole time the car is running? Then attach it at the end before OR after we turn the car off? Sorry if its too many questions I just dont want to mess up and want to be exact on things.

Jeremy

 

The TB coolant line is disconnected at the back of the TB near the Firewall. Just disconnect it and leave it hanging there. Now fill up your coolant in the fill neck and make sure the AST & overflow tank is filled too. You want to fill it up (while the car is off and cool) until coolant starts to leak out of the TB coolant line you disconnected. Now you reconnect the TB coolant line.

Your car should have most of the air bubbles out.

As for the funnel tool.. This is what I do. After performing the above steps, I connect the funnel tool to the coolant fill neck and leave it half full with coolant.. now start the motor and let it run until the thermostat opens and it'll shoot all the damn air bubbles out...make sure you also leave the heater turned on so it can circulate through the heater core.

 

sorry to reopen this thread... but i was under the impression that the sole purpose of the AST was to remove air from the cooling system?? maybe air in my system is the cause of all my overheating woes? what then does the AST do? ill have to stop by pep boys to get one of these things

 

The AST is only able to remove a small amount of air each time the engine heats and then cools. If there is a lot of air in the system, this could take quite a few cycles of heating and cooling.

 

It is cool though I've had no trouble without it. Thanx though.

 

none of the pep boys or auto places carry this funnel