So I overfilled past the F line though I think that isn't an issue. However, just so I feel better, can anyone confirm whether it will be an issue or not? Thanks.

 

Excess will overflow when the engine gets hot, and that can be messy, it dribbles into the rad fans, then gets everywhere......

I would suck a little out with a turkey baster (as the actress said to the bishop....)

S

 

Thanks Stealth. Right after I posted that I found some tubing and went out and siphoned it.

 

Best of the available pictures ...

 

Potentially stupid question - if you drain out of the side plate as well as the rad, will you be able to fill all the cooling passages properly by filling at the overflow reservoir? Don't want to introduce air into the system. Thoughts?

 

Thats why u have to bleed it after ...

it does not matter if you just drain the overflow reservoir. bubbles will still get in, and you still have to bleed it.

 

Is there a DIY for bleeding? Not mentioned in the original post...

BTW, your pic looks scary

 

Courtesy of dannobre, from another thread:

COOLING SYSTEM AIR BLEEDING
Applicable Models
Model Starting S/N Ending S/N
2004 RX8 00000000 ZZZZZZZZ

After performing repairs or any time cooling system coolant is drained, the cooling system must be purged of air. Use the following procedure below to remove air from cooling system:

1. Safely elevate front of vehicle on hoist. Elevating the front end only, at a steep angle will allow air trapped in system to escape easily.
2. Temporarily remove a coolant hose to the throttle body.
3. Fill coolant system with proper mix ratio of coolant / water per work shop manual.
4. Start engine N carefully monitor coolant level, topping off as necessary.
5. When coolant begins to flow from throttle body hose, air is bled from system.
6. Carefully attach coolant hose back to throttle body pipe. **Caution, coolant may be extremly hot!
7. Verify proper coolant level N add as necessary.
8. Check system for leaks.
9. Verify repair.

 

What I did was I elevate the front, Open the Cap and let the car idle. then keep adding coolant.

Coolant expand when heated. you have to remember that.

 

I think the idea of the above procedure is that this coolant hose to the throttle body (is this the famous one from the "bypass mod"??) is the highest place in the system so bubbles naturally travel up there...

Personally would do a combination of this plus idling with the rad cap off.

 

Hey guys now heres a question. Sounds stupid but no questions are stupid if you don't understand. Ok now how do i add purple ice? Do I have to just drain everything or just added to my coolant? I don't wanna mess with anything that i'm not good at. Especially on my baby.

 

Drain everything.

Add ICE or Water Wetter. The whole bottle.

Add coolant

Run Engine

Top it off with Coolant(or distilled water)

be happy.

 

I'm going too need too change my coolant soon

I'm thinking about buying some NPG-R coolant though.... Does anybody know how many gallons of coolant our 8's hold? Also, would I need too get the Evan's prep fluid considering I need too take all the water out?

P.S. - Our cars work okay with propylene glycol?

Edit: Decided too stay with whatever stock coolant, no point in going over board when my car is practically stock... But what about using this 1.5 bar cap?

 

Hey guys, thanks to all the info I successfully performed a coolant change today! I drained from the radiator and the engine block, getting exactly 9 liters out (the capacity spec is 9.8 so I am very happy with that - didn't even bother doing a full flush, just filled back up).

Speaking of which, it's really hard to see the fluid level in the reserve tank

My advice to anyone attempting this for the first time:
- use goggles! I'm happy I did, that **** sprayed all over once it hit the empty drain pan...
- use the following SST to prevent spillage when draining the block:

 

I just put a piece of towel on the radiator cap so it will never spray all over ...

 

No I mean when you drain it... When you take out the drain bolt from the block, a stream of coolant shoots out about 3 feet... So instead of making a huge mess you catch it with the SST and it goes tidily into the pan

 

hmm, I just loosen the bolt with the wrench, then I just do a quick *spin* on the bolt and moved my *** out with my trolley. of course theres a pan underneath to catch all the bad stuff.

no mess.

 

Just finished a Coolant change along with an installation of the Agency Power Silicone Hoses for the 8. Thought I'd pass on some observations.

I drained from the engine first, then the radiator. The owners manual listed the total coolant capacity at 10.4L and with this method I got about 7L each time. If you are just doing a coolant change, I dont see any need in pulling the tray, as only a miniscule amount got onto it from the radiator. And if you decide to "just pull the bottom hose" to drain, I found that cursing and having things at hand to throw helps loosen that hose

 

This is great info guys! I am about to do this for the first time on my RX-8, I was going to pay a mechanic 100 bucks to get probably a half done job. Here's the deal, tho: I have 63k miles on this car, live in PA, and don't race my car. Using the engine block drain AND the radiator drain it sounds like I can get the majority of the coolant out...do I need to worry about flushing at all? I was planning on refilling with just 65/35 or 60/40 pre-mix and then bleeding the air out of the system as prescribed. What do you guys think?

 

Definitely gotta flush at least once, that's assuming you don't have FL-22 coolant, in which case I'd recommend at least twice using the engine/radiator drain method. And I'd be careful about that 65/35 mix if I was in PA. Or just change it this fall.

 

turn on the key and turn on the heat control...should get your last bit of old coolant that way. When you flush it...make sure the heat is on as well...then it will circulate through the heater core and flush that as well....

 

What would be wrong with a 65/35 coolant/distilled water mix in PA? Or even 70/30? I know the rotaries run hot so I want the most heat protection I can get!

 

Well when your radiator core freezes this winter when it's -10 out and you're up on the highway, I'll laugh at you. Point, and laugh. Or you can just change your mix in the fall before winter, like I said.

 

Great DIY, I did this today, didnt bother with the underbody tray or the engine drain... just emptied the radiator flushed with distilled 3 times, and then filled it up with 60% water and 40% antifreeze. Got the bubbles outta the system and am happy with the results.

 

I am working on this right now.

+ 10 for wearing goggles and gloves when you take the drain plug out.