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General Engine Question

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Howard_The_Duck

Howard_The_Duck

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Well,

Since I couldnt make it to the store to purchase my goodies to create my wheel hub remover because I got stuck at work late, I decided to go and remove the radiator from the BGT in order to see whether I needed to have it sent off or if I should just purchase a new one.

Well, I got the top hose off with a little coaxing. No biggie. I start to remove the lower hose from the water pump, however, and found something that concerns me somewhat.

The hose broke at the pump as I was removing it, which was no big deal. However, when it did break, nothing but white stuff fell out of it, in chunks and in powder form. The water pump fitting itself was completely blocked with an extremely hardened clump of said white stuff. I tried breaking it up with my screwdriver but it didnt really do a whole lot of good.

Im guessing that this was what is left of whatever antifreeze that was in the car? Should I be worried that this has solidified in the block/head? Whatever it is, I am pretty sure it can't be a very good thing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Zack
Spawn of Randi
 
Zack, If the pump also shows signs of leaking or does not turn freely I would replace it with new. The radiator will require boiling out and rodding if salvagable.I would also fill the block with a good cooling system cleaner whith the pump removed and then swirl it out with a water hose fitted with a pressure nozzel.Let me know how it turns out---Keoke
 
It's actually not old antifreeze you are breaking up. It's probably calcium deposits that are created over time due to the calcium in water used in the cooling system. Many times people will take their old radiators out to be cleaned, only to find that they are leaking worse than before! It's because a lot of times the calcium will plug up the holes in the radiator and keep it from leaking. I'll second Keoke as far as home cleaning goes, but there is a good chance you'll need a new one or to have it professionally done.
 
This is why I recommend filling radiators with coolant that's mixed with either distilled or de-ionized water rather than tap water.


PC.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
I went through this when I brought mine back into service. Flushed the system out added cleaners ran it for a bit flushed it again filled it with distilled and ran it for a bit and the rad. leaked like a siv. Flushed it again and replaced the radiator and went back to coolant and haven't had any problems well I did have one. After switching back to coolant the temp sender unit went out and started working backwards. Never did figure out why that happend but replaced it and all's been well since.
 
yea...me too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

While I was rebuilding the front suspension and waiting for it to get warm enough to paint, I pulled my radiator and flushed the system, replace hoses and the belt, and painted the radiator and supports (covering the overspray) and put it all back together. Had to pull the rad again to solder a leak in the top seam that mysteriously appeared and a few weeks later had to replace the water pump /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

Just proves the old saying...if it ain't broke, don't fix it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Ah well, as much as I wanted to spend my weekend ridding my British stallion of calcium deposits...

...the transmission in my clapped out Ranger died. So i get the joy of fixing that!

Yay!
 
Hmmmmmmmmmm........how much did you pay for that truck?The car? The MGBGT? Disparaging remarks about instruments of transportation are getting on my last nerve.....The neccessity of replacing the Ranger transmisson could have been avoided by checking the oil. You will find the LBC is even less forgiving! Get used to DAILY fluid checks on all reservours-if all of this gets to be to much trouble-there is always your feet! Your Mother
 
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