Gurgle Behind Dash. Normal.

[Westy]

This is funny and strange at the same time. Every time I start my 968 I hear water gurgling, I assume through the heater core. Would this be normal, or do I need to bleed some air out of the system somewhere? It actually made me laugh........my little guy has gas and needs to be burped!

[thomasryan]

abbynormal. there is a bleeder at the water neck at the front of the block for the upper hose.

bleeding the air out usually takes three attempts to get it all out. the thermostat needs to be open and the heater turned to max .

[Westy]

Thanx for responding TR. PM sent

[Westy]

OK, now we'll just have to see what happens when it cools down. Didn't really notice any air coming out, but I did get a small flow of fluid each time I opened up the nut. Curiously I noticed a very small stream of fluid on the floor when I started it and pulled out of the garage. Maybe a tablespoons worth and about 3 feet long, and that was it. Not real concerned yet, but something to watch. Maybe something in the overflow. I know if that heater core is going bad I won't be real happy!!!

[dgcantrell]

From personal experience, park the car nose high. As steep as you can get it and bleed it that way. I have a spot in my yard that let's me get the nose about a foot and half higher than the rear. And it's still hard to get all of the air out. I'm going to invest in a vacuum refill unit soon to I won't have to fool with it so much when I do a full flush or some work on the engine that requires draining it.

[Westy]

Yup, this is weird. I'm still waiting for it to cool down so I can start it and see if baby still needs burping. Went to look for the heater valve but didn't see it. Not much room down in there to eye stuff!

[dgcantrell]

I think the heater valve is located on the front end of the coolant pipe that runs the length of the engine just above exhaust manifolds. It's up near the front just under the power steering reservoir and behind the oil filter. They had to put it up front on the 16 valve engines as it's damn near impossible to have it at the rear of the engine like the 8 valve engines.

[Westy]

^^^ I thank you for that. AND that would be right about where I saw the trail of water. Thanx again!

[Westy]

OK, started it, and backed back into the garage. Still gurgled, but that's OK 'cause I'll just bleed over the next several days until it's gone. After I find the leak. It was getting too dark out to try and see anything. Interestingly, the coolant seems to pool somewhere down low. Nothing on the ground until I roll, then it leaves a small stream, and as stated earlier, it ain't that much, but I'd hate to go out and blow something, depositing stinky coolant all over the engine compartment. Stay tuned...............

[dgcantrell]

It's probably accumulating on the air deflector tray under the engine. It can hold a pint or two of water until it overflows or you make it slosh over the edges when you move the car.

[Westy]

Yeah, 'zactly what I was thinkin'. I hate tracing leaks!!

[alfadoc]

My S2 has some sort of a very slow coolant seep somewhere. When the level gets a little low in the reservoir, the heater core will gurgle. It does not require bleeding to get the noise to stop, I just top the reservoir off.

[Westy]

That ws the first thing I checked. Unfortunately it was topped off. I'll get the air out.....eventually. Initially I'll have to figure out how to get this thing up in the air so I can crawl under it, remove that front bottom panel, and see what I can see!!!