14 replies to this topic

[n00b]

Hi all, looked in the radiator the other day, and its really brown! Looks like brown 'froth' this was when the engine is cold, and i only cleaned the rad out bout a month ago.

Now - my question is, what is the best way of cleaning all the rusty water out of the engine block, without taking the engine out and dipping it in acid?

My idea was to take the rad out, connect a rubber tube to the water inlet on the engine, and put the other the end of the tube into a bucket of water with rad anti rust solution. Then join the water outlet on the engine to a long rubber pipe leading to a drain in the street. The idea is to flush all the rusty water out of the block while running the engine. Any body tried this?

Many thanks ERic

[taffy1967]

It should work so long as you remove the thermostat first.

[n00b]

Doesnt have a thermostat

Another question, am i right in thinking that the water enter the engine via the water pump? and water leaves the engine via the thermostat housing? Many thanks ERic

[mini_kel]

Yep

[blacktulip]

what cleaner will you be using?

[n00b]

i was thinking of using the rad weld that neutralizes rust, im going to dump it into the bucket of water, not sure how long the water will last for......

ERic

[jordie 08]

i flushed mine out today and when i started it it went rusty again,no fair

[Tomf]

Yea i dont think you can stop the whole rusty water issue...

Iv flushed mine through loads of times not and trie all different things in with the water, but the rust comes back withing a quick drive

[jordie 08]

yeah why,is there a difference,i didnt know what else to use

[Big_Adam]

You got a lump of iron full of water.

What do you expect it to do? Grow cheese!

It's going to rust a bit.

[m1n1]

This procedure worked for me; removed nasty old mixture a few months ago and still has clean water/coolant mix.


1. take off bottom rad hose.

2 . Take off Heater outlet hose on cylinder head

3. Insert garden hose through radiator cap and flush through rad till clear.

4. Insert garden hose into rubber heater hose, water will flow through matrix and out bottom rad hose

5 . Insert garden hose onto heater valve, water will flow through the block and come out bottom rad hose

6. Insert garden hose into bottom radiator outlet, plug gap with fingers or rag so water fills rad and leaks out of top

7. Hoses on, refill with new water&coolant.

[Ethel]

As pointed out, a lump of cast iron full of hot water is going to rust! Using a generous dose of quality antifreeze with a rust inhibitor is your best bet.

[Jammy]

Doesnt have a thermostat

Do you have a blanking sleeve? If not the water doesn't circulate around the head correctly and you run the risk of cooking cylinder 1.

[pantera2075]

Flushing well is a good idea if you have a lot of rust, but the new water you put in will contain suspended oxygen - which will start the rusting process again. After a while all the oxygen is used up in the rusting process and it stops - unless you have a leak, or keep topping up/swapping the water.
If I was concerned, i'd flush well, then use cheap diet cola as a coolant instead of water. This has 0.05% phosphoric acid in it and is a rust inhibitor.