When Draining the Coolant
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
when rebuilding an old engine, that has lots of buildup...I found letting it soak for a few days full of a mixture of vinegar and salt works VERY well in breaking loose all the scale and crud. Then, flush it well with water, and you should have a clean system. Then when the motor is ready to be fired up, run the cleaner through it, and then flush and fill as appropriot.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by jackson
100%I've run into that very thing several times ... it'll come loose. Search archives for my posts about using Prestone AS100 heavy duty cooling system cleaner (2-part powder in divided canister) ... how to use & where to get ... the BEST home remedy cleaner out there bar none.
Good news is that everything that drained so far from the other side of block, radiator, and taking the pump off was VERY CLEAN... nice bright orange, just how it looked when I put it in.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by genuine1980
I'll try draining the pss side again even though it really looks like cast iron.
Good news is that everything that drained so far from the other side of block, radiator, and taking the pump off was VERY CLEAN... nice bright orange, just how it looked when I put it in.
Good news is that everything that drained so far from the other side of block, radiator, and taking the pump off was VERY CLEAN... nice bright orange, just how it looked when I put it in.
I had an engine with that black crap built up. Just a lull in flow where the crap can build up. Poke through it and you should be fine.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
I had an engine with that black crap built up. Just a lull in flow where the crap can build up. Poke through it and you should be fine.
All Cleaned, flushed and refilled now. Thanks guys.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by genuine1980
Well you guys were right. That other side was just blocked with a bunch of hardened crap. But when I hit it with a hanner and punch, it borke off and drained the pass side of the engine...
All Cleaned, flushed and refilled now. Thanks guys.
All Cleaned, flushed and refilled now. Thanks guys.
Just a tip, and I don't have anything to back this up...but I've heard that the orange Dex stuff is way worse on engines as far as corrosion, and gunk. Has anyone else heard this as well?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Just a tip, and I don't have anything to back this up...but I've heard that the orange Dex stuff is way worse on engines as far as corrosion, and gunk. Has anyone else heard this as well?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Jud Chapin
When this product first came out, I read there were problems with it gumming up. However, I don't think this is a concern any longer. They are now getting away from all the different colored coolants and Prestone sells one which will work with any anti-freeze in any car.
Yeah, I like that new Prestone stuff too. Works with old and new. I use a little more water, like a 60/40 mix, and reverse that in winter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Loveland Colo
Zerex G05.
Phosphate free, recommended for the new high-tech engines/cooling systems. Not cheap. You may have to search for it.
I agree, use distilled water. What's your car worth to you? Why go cheap on coolant?
John
Phosphate free, recommended for the new high-tech engines/cooling systems. Not cheap. You may have to search for it.
I agree, use distilled water. What's your car worth to you? Why go cheap on coolant?
John
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by genuine1980
This is like the Dino vs Syn in old engines and Leaded vs Unleaded conversation. lol
You know us...nothing can be an easy answer. I didn't mean to question your choice of coolent. I was just pointing out some readings I remember about the Dex being worse in the long run.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
You know us...nothing can be an easy answer. I didn't mean to question your choice of coolent. I was just pointing out some readings I remember about the Dex being worse in the long run.
In my experience though... every car I flush that has dex in it, usually it comes out nice and clean looking, unlike the green stuff.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by genuine1980
There was no offense taken. I am interested though. I never heard of dex being bad... i've always heard the opposite. I run it in all my cars, if you have any info saying to not use dex pass it along.
In my experience though... every car I flush that has dex in it, usually it comes out nice and clean looking, unlike the green stuff.
In my experience though... every car I flush that has dex in it, usually it comes out nice and clean looking, unlike the green stuff.
Here's a link I found a while back. I was doing some work on a Malibu, and it seemed EVERY part of the car's cooling system was failing. Gaskets. Freeze plugs were eaten through from the inside like wet tissue paper. The T-stat was no longer working. The hoses were all clogged, and the rad was just as bad. I asked around a lot, and found a LOT of people that used Dex Cool and paid a lot of money to have the problems caused by it fixed. I have no opinion of my own seeing as how I have never used it...but a lot of people do have an opinion, and you just have to read.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html