Losing Coolant

Well, I think I can say with decent certainty that it is a clogged radiator. The attached picture shows that about half a gallon of coolant was pushed out over about 2-3 miles. Looks like it's time to find a radiator shop.
 

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Just call BERGS RADIATOR and get yourself a new radiator !!

mike

Gery Bergbower
Berg's Radiator
332 South Paul Avenue
Bluford, IL 62814
Phone: 618-231-3507​
Fax: 618-732-6275​
 
Now that you ran vinegar in the system you have a very good chance of clogging your newly repaired or new radiator if you do not take the correct steps and precautions. There is a systematic way to do things..
Search VINEGAR and EVAPORUST...
 
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Hi Ryan,

Most cleaning methods recommended herein are for cleaning a mixture of an excess of old oil pump grease mixed with miscellaneous crud and minimal mineral deposits mixed with grease.

Appears what you may have is hardened mineral deposits that built up over quite a few years by Model A owners who did not use distilled water or rain water in this radiator.

After 80+ years, well water and filtered, treated water that came in contact with the earth are full of dissolved minerals which build up and clog radiator tubes.

Very dangerous caustic soda will clean the radiator tubes as recommended by Mr. Victor Page in his 1931 Model A book; however, why risk accidental Model A paint removal, burnt skin, possible loss of eyesight, etc., etc. associated with improper handling of caustic soda.

Options that you correctly mention in your reply no. 42 appear to be a radiator shop or new radiator.

Just remember not "all" radiator shops "today" have the vintage knowledge and/or are willing to do what has to be done with a Model A radiator ...... might take some searching.
 
When you bring it in to a radiator shop, make SURE they know it is NOT to be pressure tested like a modern radiator. Will spring leaks like an all day baby diaper.
 
Thanks for your replies. Apart from neutralize the vinegar and flush the block, what needs to be done about the vinegar? And I know H.L., I have yet to find a shop near me that will take on the job let alone one that is confident. I'll make sure to tell them not to pressure test it when I do.
 
I had similar symptoms on my car. I suspected the head gasket but found this.
 

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(Third time lucky for this reply? I've been having trouble with an edit function that doesn't let you edit, it just tells you that the post is similar to a post that you posted recently.)

I think that using plain water is not really the main problem. I think it's a combination of it being over 85 yeas old and spending a lot of time sitting around. The symptoms were very similar to the OP's.
 

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That head would be a good one to make a cutaway display. Then you can also better learn the cause of the hole.

It has to be one of three things.
Mechanical damage, such as the piston pushing a screw through it, but that doesn't appear to be the cause.
Rust from water, which it appears to be by the thin jagged edge.
A poor casting, which is highly unlikely, as it would have shown up bad from the start.
 
I would guess it was caused by a less than perfect casting resulting in the water damage. The damage has definitely come from above rather than below. Another one of those interesting little experiences that makes owning a Model A such a wonderful thing.
 
New head fitted and up and running again. Now I will be able to discover if the hole in the head was the main cause of my coolant loss or just a coincidence.
 
Just saw this thread, so a little late, but I had a similar problem earlier this year, when I put in a new water pump, and lost about a gallon in 20 miles too. I had been using Prestone antifreeze before the new pump. After putting in the new pump, I put in fresh Prestone. I found it was loosing coolant like the poster had. Found the Prestone was foaming out the overflow. In the thread I posted, suggestions were a head gasket leak etc, pushing air. I didn't find any compression leak. In the end, I switched to distilled water and anti corrosion additive. I don't loose any coolant now. In both cases, the coolant level was set just above the baffle.
Some of the respondents claimed they had similar problems with Prestone and when they switched to Sierra, the problem went away. I plan to switch to Sierra, but have some additional work to do before hand. I think the main problem was a more aggressive pump churning up the coolant. The radiator flow tested fine.

I guess my main point is perhaps the brand of coolant was part of the problem.
 
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