Expansion Tank breather issue

[Mikebmth]

Hi all,

Hope some one can shed some light on this bitch of a job, basically my expansion tank split during run to Beaulieu today so after Andrei put another one on from the spares he had laying about but the overflow / breather is clear on the tank itself.

Pipes all clear but my breather runs into the inlet and into a 90 degree piece that seems to be blocked up so the breather is not functioning at all, we tried clearing it out and filled with carb cleaner etc to no avail..Wonder if this is remnants of my HG failure recently.

Basically any idea on how to clear this, have tried upto 40psi through it and nothing moved, sorry pic a bit vague but best I could do with equipment.

[Cavalier342]

Ye we tried carb cleaner, air pressure, paper clip, screwdrivers, I thought I could see a blockage where the 90 degree join is, but just couldn't shift it.

[btcctroy]

Remove it and soak it in petrol

[Cavalier342]

Not a bad idea really but it's a part of the inlet, so will mean having to remove the throttle body. Can't separate it.

[btcctroy]

So does the throttle body not come off.

[Kevwaggy]

If its from the expansion tank to the throttlebody then isn't it the automatic choke?

[Mikebmth]

Its off the top of the expansion tank, the 2 hoses one feeds back to radiator the other on my one feeds to the inlet as shown in the picture.

A second pipe then feeds from this to just above the thermostat as a return pipe I would assume, seems the join between the 2 pipes in the 90 degree section where the pipes bolt to it is blocked with gunk of some kind and we just can not get it to clear.

This I assume needs to be clear to allow any excess from the expansion tank if the engine gets too hot it then feeds back into the water supply.

[Mikebmth]

This is clearer so you can see the part I have issues with

[Mikebmth]

No one got any ideas then huh???

Is this just a straight through pipe or is it there for any other reason ie can I bypass it and run a return feed from the expansion tank direct to the port above the thermostat..

[Gaz]

its just to heat the throttle body in minus conditions, just loop it out

[TurboDan]

Just bypass it, you'l find your car might actually run better.

[Cavalier342]

Bypassing it is too easy then in that case, all you need is a hose from a C18NZ or 18SV that runs straight from the expansion tank to the thermostat housing as on mine. Then block off the exposed pipes.

[Mikebmth]

Cheers guys, wondered if it did anything vaguely important but seems like another rubbish design from Vauxhalls boffins..Lol

Will go find a pipe to suit now...

[Cavalier342]

I might have a spare one Mike, come to think of it, as I kept all the coolant hoses from the old manual. If you want.

[Mikebmth]

I might have a spare one Mike, come to think of it, as I kept all the coolant hoses from the old manual. If you want.

Nice one mate, will be round at some point.....Probably weekend now

[Cavalier342]

Ye I'll double check my surplus storage warehouse. Give us a shout when you're popping over. Probably be Sunday then.