Coolant in the heads
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 5
From: Richardson Tx.
Coolant in the heads
Hello
I removed the intake manifold so that I can reseal it and when I did some anti-freeze moved about and now I can see that it is in the heads/valves and probably in the hole for the distributor.
How can I get rid of the anti-freeze that is in the heads/valves?
thank you
I removed the intake manifold so that I can reseal it and when I did some anti-freeze moved about and now I can see that it is in the heads/valves and probably in the hole for the distributor.
How can I get rid of the anti-freeze that is in the heads/valves?
thank you
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 28
From: Burkburnett TX
Put engine back together, pull spark plugs, turn over engine until water quits coming out of the spark plug holes. Change oil. Drive car for 100 miles, then change again. That's what I have done in the past.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
I agree 100%. When I change the intake manifold or gaskets, I use a 1/4'' hose down the thermostat housing and run it down into the heads in order to syphon out as much fluid as possible, this way I don't have to drain the radiator and I don't get fluid into the oil. If you do it another way, be sure to drain the oil. Bad things happen if you mix coolant and oil and then start the engine. Good luck on your project.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Back up a bit. How much coolant are we talking about? A tablespoon in each intake port or the whole top end full of coolant? Use paper towels and soak up anything in the intake ports first then pull the plugs and crank it over to get any coolant out of the cylinders. Change the oil to get any coolant that got into the pan. A cup of coolant is not good by any means, but it's not a disaster either. The real problems are when the coolant hits hot oil in a running engine. The resultant milkshake is death to bearings. You pulled the intake so (obviously) the engine was not running. Not running the coolant will fall to the bottom of the pan under the oil and not mix easily.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 5
From: Richardson Tx.
Back up a bit. How much coolant are we talking about? A tablespoon in each intake port or the whole top end full of coolant? Use paper towels and soak up anything in the intake ports first then pull the plugs and crank it over to get any coolant out of the cylinders. Change the oil to get any coolant that got into the pan. A cup of coolant is not good by any means, but it's not a disaster either. The real problems are when the coolant hits hot oil in a running engine. The resultant milkshake is death to bearings. You pulled the intake so (obviously) the engine was not running. Not running the coolant will fall to the bottom of the pan under the oil and not mix easily.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 5
From: Richardson Tx.
thanks for the replies....I tried to get a rag in there but its difficult to get much out.
I drained the oil out - coolant came out first. Then I removed the spark plugs. Nothing came out of any of them. I still have some in the heads. the intake and carb are still off so I am not in a position to fire it up soon.
Can I just rotate the engine at the crank bolt to get the coolant to go somewhere else?
My main thing is that I don't want to ruin anything by having this coolant sit in there.
I drained the oil out - coolant came out first. Then I removed the spark plugs. Nothing came out of any of them. I still have some in the heads. the intake and carb are still off so I am not in a position to fire it up soon.
Can I just rotate the engine at the crank bolt to get the coolant to go somewhere else?
My main thing is that I don't want to ruin anything by having this coolant sit in there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
vac it out as much as possible. Then follow other advise on removing plugs, turning over and changiong oil ofter for a while.