My Cooling System Conundrum!

[zoomie]

does look an awful lot like a plexiglas tube with washing machine filter in it......crap i could make one for way less i be willing to bet

[BuffaloRider]

Jay, yeah, I imagine I'd be cleaning it out on a regular basis in the beginning. It'd be a pain but every piece of contaminant it filters would be one step closer to a clean(ish) system.

Zoomie, It definitely seems overpriced for what it is, but if I made one myself I'd be scared of the filter breaking loose and winding up lodged in the line or... something. Maybe the heat would be too much for the materials used and it would bust, I don't know. Basically I don't trust myself enough to attempt make one but if someone else did and it worked out, I just might follow their lead.

*googles "DIY coolant filter"*

[Mainemantom]

I remember in the 60s a gas station my Dad went to used a cooling system cleaner then air and water together to flush out cooling systems. Of course then all the crud went down the sewer. The procedure worked great. I don't know if anyone uses that system any more.

[VicCrownVic]

These cars have MASSIVE grilles and bigger radiators than just about anything that came with a small block ford. A very, very clogged rad can still work just fine... The bottom line is these things tend to spring leaks in radiators before they overheat.

My own experience with these cars seems to match this.

I had to flush the heater core on my 91 back in Nov or Dec, heat worked great for a while. Flushed the heater core a second time in Jan or Feb and flushed the whole cooling system.
Heat is now ok, still not as good as the first time I flushed the heater core, but good enough that I haven't bothered with it again.

[BuffaloRider]

I bought a tefba filter that just came in the mail. I've also got all the radiator and heater hoses as well as a new heater core, still have to buy the radiator though. I'll probably install the tefba filter tonight if I get out of work before it's too dark and cold to do it.

Here's what it looks like.

[turbo2256b]

All that crud is mostly from not changing the coolant. Eventualy it turns into a mud like substance. If it real bad the rad should be rotted out or replaced. The heater core has much smaller passages and clogs easier than the rad. If it flushes out your lucky and its no use trying to rot one out.

Had one engine though that must have used well water in with a lot of calcium in it. Replaced everything after trying industrial acid rad cleaner probably illeage today. Had to replace the engine as the water passages in the block were completly coated in white calcium deposits. It acted like insulation blocking the coolants abilty to absorb heat from the engine.
Lesson learned use distilled water mixing coollant when possible.

[jaywish]

Distilled water is pretty cheap at supermarkets and such. Always figured with all i put into keeping up a car why not spend 2 or 3 dollars every few years to keep the cooling system a bit cleaner.

[marquisman]

This is important. I dont even fuck around anymore. If in doubt, atleast buy the premixed stuff. I have seen guys use tap water and all kinds of well water. Its like changing your oil with used oil lol.

[jaywish]

Oddly enough my Mercedes manual indicates distilled water not required. I believe ford also. Still why put minerals in the system?

[marquisman]

Because, the engine needs nutrients too! Vitamins could not hurt either

[sly]

multi-vitamin in the fuel tank every morning

[jaywish]

We need Centrim SILVER for our cars.

[marquisman]

We need Centrim SILVER for our cars.

It dont dissolve for shit. Needs to be powder form lol.

[BuffaloRider]

I installed the tefba filter today. I haven't really driven with it on yet, just got it up to working temperatures to make sure it didn't leak. Check out these pictures of the inside of my radiator hose and my old coolant... no bueno... no bueno


That's a pleasant sight.


Oh yeah, just beautiful.


My handywork... kind of crooked but whatever.


Tefba filter installed.


that's what she looks like, can't wait to see what it catches


yummy, makes me thirsty for some warm apple cider


some of the chunks that stuck to the funnel... kind of depressing.


Again my plan is to continue getting as much crap out of the system with the tefba filter, flushing chemicals, and garden hose flushes until I can get the radiator, then when the time comes I'll set it up where I can get someone to help me and hopefully replace as much as I can in one weekend.

[BuffaloRider]

I haven't been driving my car more than 10 minutes at a time so the Tefba filter hasn't had much of a chance to really catch anything. I just drove to Cincinnati this weekend to see the dead sea scrolls and this is what my filter caught after the trip.



No over heating or anything. I'll be getting some cooling system cleaner crap soon to run through it. I should have done that by now but I'm just trying to get a little more use out of this coolant that I JUST added before I dump it out... and I'm just being broke, distracted, and a maybe a little lazy.

I finally ordered the Genesis all aluminum radiator and it's on it's way. I've got a new heater core waiting to be installed as well as gaskets for the removal of the upper intake manifold and all the hoses I need, even a few of the same ones (I accidentally got a little carried away with my Rock Auto Order)

I've recently noticed that I have some sort of oil leak that builds up on the lip of my valve covers so I guess I could try putting new gaskets on those while the intake is off and I can get to them. That'll be another exciting story I'm sure. Right now I'm still just preparing and waiting for the right time to get to it all, I don't want to get started and not be able to finish.