Neil Clark Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 The engine and cooling are running perfectly on my Spitfire Mk1 but the water does not circulate through the heater no matter how often I operate the valve mechanism. The valve is new looking and the pipework seems fine. The hose from the engine rises above the header tank and does get warm bu the water doesn't seem to get into the heater pipes at all. Any thoughts please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 a blockage somewhere, I would run a hose pipe through all the pipes until it runs clear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 13 minutes ago, DanMi said: a blockage somewhere, I would run a hose pipe through all the pipes until it runs clear Either a blockage as above, or an airlock. It always helps to raise the front of the car when filling the cooling system (and have heater valve open of course). Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 Air locks happen even on large water transfer mains 1.7mts dia and 18klm between valves, main down for maintenance, on recharge it air locked not even at the highest point, all air bleeds (9in air valves) open, tried a day and a half to break the air lock, eventually had to drain the main and recharge all then went OK no air locks. In review we couldn't determine any action that had created the air lock, on the day Mr. Murphy had decided he'd have fun!! On my Vitesse I have installed an air bleed in the top heater hose just at the entry to the heater case using a Yorkshire Tee and soldered in 1/2in tail pipes and brass nut in the tee offtake, which obviously has a brass bolt and washer. Reason effective air bleed and I once had a Renault R8 Gordini in Canada which had an air bleed in the heater core for bleeding, seemed good engineering to me. around every 5 years I'll flush all the external 1/2 in hoses/piping and heater with the house hose, one day I'll probably blow the heater core!!! I'll worry about that when it happens at least the Herald/Vitesse heater is accessible Peter T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 we had vent /bleeds on some trucks as routing can be a bit involved but the idea of fitting one at the heater highest point is valid and better than cracking a hose connection with hot water spurting about this makes sense . as a better way of getting the air ...out no more jacking/ramps and faffing about Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I've no handbook - is the heater valve open with the knob pushed in or with it pulled out? Thanks Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Push the knob fully in to open the heater valve. When you look at the top of the heater valve, the cable should be fully extended when the valve is open. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 15 minutes ago, Nigel Clark said: Push the knob fully in to open the heater valve. When you look at the top of the heater valve, the cable should be fully extended when the valve is open. Nigel Does the Spitfire 4 differ from MK2 & MK3? Never thought about it before. On mine it's all the way out for maximum heat. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 definitely out for on then the air distribution is controlled by flaps either side of the heater unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 If it's properly built, it's out for hot, in for cold. However, the later controls fitted on MkIV onward are designed to use a different valve. If you fit a MkIV valve to a roundtail Spitfire then your heater control will work backwards as Nigel described. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 My car must have a new type heater valve. Didn't realise there was a difference, sorry for the confusion. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I'll assume it's knob out for hot. Which way round is the flow? Is the pipe going down vertically into the valve the inlet? And the metal pipe running back to the water pump housing the outflow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 The pipe under the manifolds that connects back to the water pump housing is a return pipe, so the connection to that is the outlet of the heater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Open is with the pin out on the side opposite the water exit pipe, closed in when pin is in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Thankfully it was just the valve blocked by gunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 you can drill off the rivet and rotate the halves to open the valve completely if its needed , do mark the bodies so replacing gets them in the right position Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Yes but I was able to remove and flush it out off the car I was surprised that it needed a litre of coolant to fill the additional capacity of the heater! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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