Filter for Coolant?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Filter for Coolant?
So I just replaced my lifters in my 2011 GS. Had to pull the heads which required draining coolant, cleaning block surfaces, etc.
I have some very small debris from the graphite head gasket material falling into the block coolant passages and a slight oil film in the coolant (can see this when I remove the cap on the overflow reservoir).
Was thinking that I could run an in-line filter on one of the small coolant hoses hear the front of the engine to filter out this material. Good idea or not?
I know it probably won't make any difference except to satiate my OCD. Anyone ever do this?
I have some very small debris from the graphite head gasket material falling into the block coolant passages and a slight oil film in the coolant (can see this when I remove the cap on the overflow reservoir).
Was thinking that I could run an in-line filter on one of the small coolant hoses hear the front of the engine to filter out this material. Good idea or not?
I know it probably won't make any difference except to satiate my OCD. Anyone ever do this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 1,166
From: Northern Wisconsin
If I were concerned that some debris got in the coolant passages, I would just full the system with plain water and run it for a couple days (assuming it doesn't get below freezing), then drain it. Refill with plain water and repeat. Then after draining it for the second time, I would refill it with the correct amount of full-strength coolant and add water to completely fill the system. As a precaution, I would then check the mixture strength as well as coolant level for a few days. Note: An alternative (and maybe better method) to filling with plain water and draining it out to clean the system, you could splice a Prestone flush valve into the heater hose and use that to flush the system with a garden hose. I think adding a filter is a bad idea. It would tend to slow coolant flow rate when new and get worse from there.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
If I were concerned that some debris got in the coolant passages, I would just full the system with plain water and run it for a couple days (assuming it doesn't get below freezing), then drain it. Refill with plain water and repeat. Then after draining it for the second time, I would refill it with the correct amount of full-strength coolant and add water to completely fill the system. As a precaution, I would then check the mixture strength as well as coolant level for a few days. Note: An alternative (and maybe better method) to filling with plain water and draining it out to clean the system, you could splice a Prestone flush valve into the heater hose and use that to flush the system with a garden hose. I think adding a filter is a bad idea. It would tend to slow coolant flow rate when new and get worse from there.
I was just thinking that I could use a simple paper element fuel filter and put it on the small upper return line that goes from the passenger side top of the radiator to the coolant reservoir (the head steam line connnects to this). Then run the car this way for a few miles and after that remove the filter.
I may try this and see what happens. Might work, might be a disaster.
Thanks for your advice.
