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Radiator Coolant 

 

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 Post subject: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 11:25 am 
Getting Side Ways
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QLD, Australia

G'day, not sure if this is the right section, if not, I apologise.

I have noticed the coolant I've been using (Green stuff) has changed from green to shades of brown, probably rust or scale.

I replaced the plastic bubble some time ago, about 3 years ago and used clean water with new coolant.

Question is does one need to do a complete flush?

I don't have a drain plug on the radiator, radiator was replaced with a new one less than 1 year ago as the core was stuffed.

Radiator was replaced at the time when new harmonic balancer was fitted.

Here's couple of pics of the plastic bubble and discoloured coolant.

Any advice is welcome.

Cheers

 

 

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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:56 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Location: melbourne
VIC, Australia

Probably just general crud. When you added the coolant after replacing the rad., did you use the same stuff?? Sometimes coolants react with each other, so it usually a good idea to use the same type.

My suggestion would be a flush and replace.

If you take out the heater valve (bottom l/h side of the engine) and flush the engine through that, it is usually pretty thorough. Take out the thermostat too, make sure your inside heater control is wide open too.

It's a pita job, so not many rad. places do it properly, they just flush through the radiator (at least I haven't found one to do it well yet!!)
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2016 6:27 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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QLD, Australia

Ok, I'll give that a try. I did not use the same stuff that came out of the engine when changing radiator over, I used new stuff (same product) but never done a full system flush.

I'll take the thermostat out, not sure if I can get to that heater valve, it was easier to get at when I had it up on a neighbours' hoist. I'll have heater set to full. (all computer controlled).

Cheers
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:55 am 
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bondy99 wrote:
OI did not use the same stuff that came out of the engine when changing radiator over, I used new stuff (same product) but never done a full system flush.


Not a case of using the old coolant, but ensuring that you use the same Product/Brand when you add the fresh coolant if you haven't done a full flush.

What does the coolant look like when you open the cap?
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 12:56 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Ride: Ford Falcon AU 2000 Series II

Location: Crestmead
QLD, Australia

G'day SWC,

No worries, I thought that may have been the case. I did use the same Product / Brand when adding the fresh coolant. I'll have another look at the coolant when I open the cap tomorrow morning and let you know.

Cheers
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:53 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Location: Crestmead
QLD, Australia

Colour of coolant as it appears now is a mix light green/yellow and perhaps shades of brown.

Definitely no drain plug attached to the radiator.
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2016 4:47 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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VIC, Australia

Quote:
Colour of coolant as it appears now is a mix light green/yellow and perhaps shades of brown


Still not real good. Probably could do with another flush in the near future.

Quote:
Definitely no drain plug attached to the radiator.


Undo bottom hose.
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:27 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Ride: Ford Falcon AU 2000 Series II

Location: Crestmead
QLD, Australia

Update,

Thanks to all those that offered advice.

I've flushed the cooling system 6 times. Thermostat removed, heater set to full. Bottom radiator hose was disconnected to allow coolant to drain out, then reconnected when filling, run engine for 10 minutes each occasion, then flush. This was done until clear fluid was seen during last flush 6 times it took to flush system clean.

I also removed the plastic bubble ( header) to flush and clean trapped sediment within the tank.

Refilled using Nulon concentrated coolant and 6 litres of Nulon premixed coolant.

Run engine to expel air in cooling system for 10 minutes, test drive around the block, open bonnet when home to check for any water leaks. No water leaks detected. Nice dark green colour.

Cheers.
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 5:16 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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There you go.......... 8-)
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 Post subject: Re: Radiator Coolant
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:59 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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Location: Crestmead
QLD, Australia

creeture3

You are correct, I do need to have another coolant / radiator flush.

I've noticed there is some yellowing and looks like some type of sediment being deposited again in the plastic bubble container.

I wouldn't have thought I had to do it so soon. Temp gauge had red needle sitting on O instead of N or lower, but then again we have had some extremely hot weather in Brisbane and having a faulty Radiator cap did not help.

Had lost coolant in container with coolant level halfway between Max and Min lines (Only when aircon was used) Did not take any notice if there was any difference in coolant level with aircon off.

Cheers
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