another reason to change your coolant

[So Cal Mark]

took this one apart today;

[lglade]

It sure looks like a mess. What do you end up doing for an engine like that? Obviously the water pump and thermostat are replaced, but what about the radiator? How about the engine; can you have it boiled out and remove that junk?

[DieselSpider]

Must have waited 2 1/2 years to flush it.

A half gallon of white vinegar and a few of distilled water to flush things out every 2 years followed by some fresh coolant is really cheap insurance against this sort of thing.

Some people actually believe these scheduled flushes are just ploys by the auto industry to bleed them. Hopefully that was a junkyard engine sitting in a wreck for many years.

[lglade]

Agreed...a little basic maintenance can preclude this kind of thing--and for a lot less time and money than this is going to cost to fix. But I'm sure curious if you can save an engine like that or if you just have to find a new one somewhere.

[RaneeHobbs]

Mark, Please explain to me what exactly happened here and what was I seeing in that picture. Thanks, Ranee

[So Cal Mark]

We're rebuilding this engine. The car has been sitting for a couple of years with mostly plain water in the system. This is basically the result of electrolysis. Luckily the cylinder head is eroded

[DieselSpider]

Yep - too many think that if you aren't using it that you do not need to maintain it. Brake fluid and coolant still need to be kept up to date regardless of usage.

The Smithsonian found out about this the hard way and has had exhibits literally rot away on them.

[klweimer]

Based on some of Mark's pictures, I went with Evans waterless when I rebuilt my engine. I think it's good stuff, but I had a heck of a time stopping all the tiny leaks after assembly. I don't know if it was the Evans, or just me... I think I'm over the hump now, but had to drain the system a couple of times after the rebuild. It's a pain to try and catch every drop of that pricey fluid, filter it and put it back in.
Kirk

[CajunMike]

So what is the best way to handle a car that is sitting with coolant? Better to drain it out or just keep changing it every year or so?

[DieselSpider]

So what is the best way to handle a car that is sitting with coolant? Better to drain it out or just keep changing it every year or so?

Keep it filled and change it out every few years otherwise seals will dry out and crack. If you drain it you will need to evacuate it to get the pockets of water out which I will do using a shop vac after removing the thermostat. Don't forget to open the heater control valve so the heater core also gets drained. You may need to replace the heater control valve and water pump if you drain it as the seals can dry out and crack without the coolant.

[CajunMike]

Thanks!

[CajunMike]

So what is the best way to handle a car that is sitting with coolant? Better to drain it out or just keep changing it every year or so?

Keep it filled and change it out every few years otherwise seals will dry out and crack. If you drain it you will need to evacuate it to get the pockets of water out which I will do using a shop vac after removing the thermostat. Don't forget to open the heater control valve so the heater core also gets drained. You may need to replace the heater control valve and water pump if you drain it as the seals can dry out and crack without the coolant.

What is the best antifreeze to use for long term storage?