Engine flushing question

[mngreen]

I would have tried cleaning the system with the old radiator still in place, then you could have run the engine and let the water pump circulate the various cleaning solutions. I would first use diswashing licquid to remove oil and grease and then used vinegar. Good luck with the Brass Works radiator .

I still can Purdy...the old radiator is still in place.

 

[Girl with wrench]

Phil // Pa - Please explain - what's a "flush pipe"?

 

[Brentwood Bob]

You divert the water away from the block, isolating the radiator. I made a rube goldberg thingy that comes off the side/return inlet of the block. I have air and water and a gate valve on the pvc piping to force the water counter-current out thru the inlet. Looks bad, works good. Put a rag over a funnel and see what you are pushing out of the cooling jacket.
If I can find it I will take a documenting picture. royalities I guess I will loose out on.
But we could call it brentwood bobs thingy.
Bob

 

[Barber31]

A while back I did the vinegar flush. I never ran the engine, just let it sit for about 3 or 4 days. And now I have head gasket issues. I'm not sure if it's just coincidence but the gasket was the newer one recommended for the hi comp heads, only a few months old and never leaked before.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I turned my radiator upside down and used a sump pump to backflush it, then used the sump pump to flush out the block. This provides the needed flow of water to flush out the rust. I did this after first driving for 2 days with water and Cascade, then rinsing, and filling with pure white vinegar and driving for 30 days, then flushing it with plain water.

 

[Mitch//pa]

Phil // Pa - Please explain - what's a "flush pipe"?

"Girl with typo" did you mean me

I use a long fence pipe or equivilant to fit in the upper radiator hose outlet and long enough to reach past the front of car. Stuff the upper radiator inlet where the hose came off from with some rags to hold the water from coming out. Insert garden hose into radiator and start the motor this will exit all the crap coming out onto the ground and not into the radiator. Holding the rpm's up higher makes a large difference of flow while flushing.
I also subscribe to using evaporust for cooling systems, filling the system with that then after letting it sit for the proper amount of time do dissolve the rust install the flushing pipe before restarting the motor flushing it through that way.
As purdy mentioned if your replacing the radiator do that very last if possible..

 

[Ray in La Mesa]

I made an attachment to back flush the radiator using a piece of 1 3/4" exhaust pipe to clamp in the lower hose. I braised a female hose fitting on the end and a tire valve on the side. When the radiator is full (with the cap on)I hit the air pressure and stood back. The water gushed out with a load of debris that I caught in a strainer to see how much was in there. Let the radiator refill a few times and repeat, change the position from vertical to laying on it's face and standing on each side strap. I just did a replacement honeycomb that had zero flow and got over two cups of acorns, leaves, etc out.

 

[Girl with wrench]

"Girl with typo" did you mean me

I use a long fence pipe or equivilant to fit in the upper radiator hose outlet and long enough to reach past the front of car. Stuff the upper radiator inlet where the hose came off from with some rags to hold the water from coming out. Insert garden hose into radiator and start the motor this will exit all the crap coming out onto the ground and not into the radiator. Holding the rpm's up higher makes a large difference of flow while flushing.
I also subscribe to using evaporust for cooling systems, filling the system with that then after letting it sit for the proper amount of time do dissolve the rust install the flushing pipe before restarting the motor flushing it through that way.
As purdy mentioned if your replacing the radiator do that very last if possible..

Mitch //pa Thanks for deciphering my typo - and for the explanation of flush pipe. I'll try your method today while it's warm enough to work outside. Thanks, Girl with garden hose.