1) Assuming
and ensuring that the engine is cold, open the bonnet and take off the
Radiator cap (RC). Start the Car and keep it at a fast tick over i.e.
Race the engine a little bit. Simultaneously, look into the open Radiator
neck to establish if there is any ‘turbulence’, signifying
Coolant flow through the radiator. THERE SHOULD BE NONE immediately after
such a cold start. If there is turbulence, then you need an ‘RTV’
per (8) of Part-1 too and the Mechanic will know how to put it in. Do
it now when the engine is cold and the RC is off.
2) Without re-installing the RC, after having installed the RTV, let
the engine run at a fast tick-over for at least ten minutes (do not
use the choke for racing the engine, use only the accelerator as extended
choke usage can damage the catalytic converter. This will ensure thorough
‘Bleeding’ of the Cooling System. Once Air bubbles stop
coming into the radiator neck, top it up along with the overflow bottle
upto its halfway mark, close the RC and take it on a good at least 5km
spin. Make sure the Radiator Fan comes on when you return, before switching
off the engine. This is to ensure that the Engine as well as the Gear
Box have reached their normal running temperatures.
3) If upon installation of the RTV and running the engine for a few
minutes the coolant starts to rapidly flow out of the Radiator neck,
then the ‘Radiator-bypass’ circuit is blocked in all probability.
This will have to be cleared first and the problem overcome. If not,
you could be in serious trouble by way of almost total coolant throw-out
up to the windscreen and thus overheating even while driving even normally.
4) Drain the Engine/GB oils. Replace all three Filters. While the Engine
Oil is getting drained, ask the Mech to reset the 6-tappet clearances
to 0.25mm, with due precision. For this setting, the engine should be
warmed up first i.e. the RF coming on and then shut off, followed by
removal of Tappet cover etc. Take this opportunity to get him to ‘torque’
the Cylinder Head bolts too. He would know their ‘Sequence’
and near correct force required to do so, by experience, though a torque
wrench is the right tool to use – which is hard to come by even
in good garages. Make sure that the tappet cover is installed properly,
by wiping dry all oil traces from the mating surfaces before putting
it back.
5) Replace the existing Spark Plugs with the new ones, carefully setting
their Gap @ 0.7mm, using a ‘Feeler Gauge’. Wipe their ceramic
bushings with a clean rag moistened with petrol and Install carefully,
so as not to crack their bushings in the process or damage their socket
threads.
