7 replies to this topic

[SugarCrashedPupski]

Hey everyone,

 

So, I did my first long drive in my 91 998cc Rover Mini (2.5-3hrs) since purchasing it 2 months or so ago. 
About half way into the journey there and back home again, the car overheated. These 2 times are the only times it has done so. 

The radiator has got a lot of brown sludge which basically looks like the equivalent of diahorrea and smells fishy. 
I know over time radiators rust inside and maybe some old coolant has turned into this sludge. I imagine that this long journey has just forced the sludge up from the bottom of the rad and needs flushing out properly. (I believe this is the first long journey the car has done in about 5 years or so). 

It would also appear that the temp gauge on the dash doesn't work either which is helpful when your car overheats. 

The head gasket is fine, the car idles well and runs very smoothly on short journeys. it has recently had a full service basically to start from scratch so i know where i'm at.  It is not a daily drive either. 

 

Besides flushing the radiator out which i'm planning to get done very soon, is there anything else i should look out for?

[nicklouse]

radiators dont rust. they are copper or aluminium and they can corrode.

 

the block and the head rust.

 

give it a flush out and then get some cooling system cleaner in it and use as directed. then flush until clean and fill with fresh coolant.

[richmondclassicsnorthwales]

Hi

 

As above - and would be a good idea to change the thermostat and get a new sender unit

[Spider]

It sounds like it could be oily / greasy. This makes quite a difference as to what you use to flush it with.

 

Try draining all the coolant and refilling it with Kerosene then flushing that. It will need a few flushes to clean it all out.

 

This comes with an Caution note ;- I have used Dish-washer detergent for this, but only leave it in for like 5 minutes max. Any longer than about 10 mins and it can corrode parts as it is fairly aggressive.

[Alpenflitzer]

I recommend decalcinator tablets for coffee machines. Take 5 time th quantity for a coffee machine and let in the radiator overnight. Next 2-4 times flushing with a hose in two directions.

Edited by Alpenflitzer, 02 June 2019 - 12:37 PM.

[SugarCrashedPupski]

Thanks all, will give these a try

[Twincam]

Bicarbonate of soda has been used before... Pull all the hoses off and make sure you flush everything out as best you can too (open the heater matrix with the knob inside and flush through the pipes too)

[gazza82]

Cheap coca-cola works too ..

 

Makes you wonder what it does to YOUR insides though!