Cooling system trouble

[bradartigue]

It's real easy to remove a radiator and bring it to a shop to boil out and/or replace the bad parts. They can solder it up, weld it, etc. Good insurance against future failure.

[So Cal Mark]

if you have an infrared temp gun it's easy to scan across the core and look for temperature variations. We have lots of radiators rodded out; a rad that is restricted 10% will maintain temp in the 195-200 range with the fan staying on most of the time, a rad that is 25% restricted will overheat. Flushing it will only remove the dirty water. Radiators get calcium and alkaline build up that is as hard as rock. The rad has to have one tank removed and rods pushed through the tubes to unblock them

[DieselSpider]

if you have an infrared temp gun it's easy to scan across the core and look for temperature variations. We have lots of radiators rodded out; a rad that is restricted 10% will maintain temp in the 195-200 range with the fan staying on most of the time, a rad that is 25% restricted will overheat. Flushing it will only remove the dirty water. Radiators get calcium and alkaline build up that is as hard as rock. The rad has to have one tank removed and rods pushed through the tubes to unblock them

That is why coolant manufacturers recommend that you flush the system with a Mild White Vinegar mix (the same as you would use when you clean lime scale from your shower head or coffee maker) at least every one or two years in street use and twice a year in race use.

Here is the instruction from Engine Ice which is what I use in my Italian Motorbike. I was amazed when I switched over to Engine Ice how the cooling fan stopped running for so long at traffic stops and the temperature not longer shifted as much especially on 100+ degree days:

"The cleaner you can keep your cooling system and the fresher you can keep a fluid, the better it will perform. There are no special requirements for using Engine Ice. For any coolant and anytime you are changing coolant, we recommend a simple solution of distilled water and white distilled vinegar, both available at your local grocery store.

Mix the water/vinegar at 50/50
Fill system with the solution
Run engine until warm
Let cool
Drain
Run clear water through to rinse out vinegar
Fill with coolant of choice

This is the same as cleaning your coffee maker. The vinegar is acidic enough to clean out and contaminants and residual coolants, yet it won’t harm your seals and gaskets."

[mckeig]

I appreciate the replies. I'm sure it must need to be rodded. Like I mentioned in the initial post, the last thing to go wrong before it was parked was the heater valve, and when the coolant poured into the passenger floorboard I could tell it was old and dirty. Then the car sat for two years. I'm sure it had been a long time since the cooling system was serviced.

[DieselSpider]

I appreciate the replies. I'm sure it must need to be rodded. Like I mentioned in the initial post, the last thing to go wrong before it was parked was the heater valve, and when the coolant poured into the passenger floorboard I could tell it was old and dirty. Then the car sat for two years. I'm sure it had been a long time since the cooling system was serviced.

Maintenance is key to a healthy cooling system and the lack of a regular flush and refill regimen will cause the issues that you described unless you clean it all out and make it new before refilling with a permanent water-less coolant such as EvansCool.