cheekymonkey Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 Car drives fine, but coolant is rust coloured. Flush and fix, or has the damage already been done? Am guessing the 4 life that's in there has been contaminated somewhat... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 Believe it turns that colour with age bud. So it's flush and refill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 As above, if it's 4-life. Flush and refill. I woulnd't bother with 4-life, just use any ethylene glycol antifreeze, it's a fraction of the price and does the same job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted May 5, 2008 Author Share Posted May 5, 2008 okie dokie, thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 (edited) Out of interest, has anyone tried the flush with vinegar as described on mkiv.com? EDIT - this guide. Edited May 5, 2008 by SteveR (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share Posted May 6, 2008 Hey all. I've tried to flush this out today but the rust colour just keeps coming and coming. I can get the rad running more-or-less clear out the bottom but running the engine causes more to come out. I ran the engine for 10 minutes with the heating on full blast constantly filling the rad from a hose. Where could this be coming from? As a side note there are a few places at the front of the engine that have rusty coloured deposits on them - I'm thinking there was some sort of failure or rad leak on this car in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 It's probably been run with little or no antifreeze in at some time, antifreeze nearly alaways also contains a corrosion inhibitor. The rust will be scale from the iron block that's settled in pockets of the cooling galleries. Flush as best you can, then use any branded antifreeze all year around. Worry is the heater matrix may have suffered with no corrosion inhibitor in the system at some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 Thanks Chris that's mainly put my mind at ease. Would have been flushing the car again tonight but I haven't been able to start the car since Sunday. On a positive note I have been able to clean up the expansion tank with some tesco kettle de-scaler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 If I disconnect one of the hoses to the heater matrix at the back of the engine, then stick garden hoses on the pipes and flush through, will that get all around the engine? The reason I ask is that the way I am flushing at the moment seems a bit pants, it just goes in the rad and out the bottom again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 use some pliers to clamp the spring clip on the top and bottom hoses where they attached to the radiator, this will release the tension in them and they can be slid off the hard inner rad section. Both hoses can then be removed from the radiator, go steady and twist/ease them off. Hose into the top hose (not too much flow) voila rusty water out of the bottom hose.... re the heater matrix pipes, it may be worth removing the in AND out pipes and if possible gaffa tape on a bit of larger hose that leads out of the engine bay.........this way if the matrix has lots of crude it saves it from going all the way through the blocks water ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Doom Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Is there a guide on how to flush the coolant somewhere as i want to do mine soon? I've had a good search but it seems there are mixed opinions on how to do it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzi Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 Is there a guide on how to flush the coolant somewhere as i want to do mine soon? I've had a good search but it seems there are mixed opinions on how to do it... I just emptied the radiator, put the drain plug back in, got the hose and filled to the top and empty via the drain plug again until the water comes out clear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Doom Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I just emptied the radiator, put the drain plug back in, got the hose and filled to the top and empty via the drain plug again until the water comes out clear Cheers, I'll give that a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Is there a guide on how to flush the coolant somewhere as i want to do mine soon? If only there were... post #5 in this thread: Out of interest, has anyone tried the flush with vinegar as described on mkiv.com? EDIT - this guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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