What’s this cooing system symptom?

[Cubey]

Operating temperature is normal. (Electric aftermarket temp gauge)

It has a very, very minor leak in the radiator and has for a year at least. It’s gotten no worse. I’ve never used any additives myself but can’t speak for previous owners. I add 50/50 conventional green to the bottle as needed.

Radiator is always full when I check it cold.

Is it just needing a good flush? If I stick in my finger and wipe the inside of the radiation, I get a thin layer of the brown/orange muck.

To be honest it’s been this way for the past year. It’s just been one of those “out of sight, out of mind” things besides checking that it’s full and not oil contaminated.

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[Thewespaul]

You sir need a coolant filter.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

It looks like rust in there. A GOOD flush will take care of at least most of this. I had rust in the cooling system of my 81 F150 and did a flush about 15 months ago. I had a head gasket go out and decided that was the time to do it. I drained as much coolant out as I could. I flushed out as much rust as I could at a friend's house since I have no water at my garage to do this. After I reinstalled the engine, I filled the system with straight water. I let the thermostat open and topped it off. I drove it for about 10 miles. I took it back to my friend's house and drained the system. I then flushed it out as much as I could, including the heater core and refilled with straight water. Repeat the drill. I ended up flushing it out 6 times before I was happy. It didn't get all of the rust out, but it probably got at least 95% of it out. Of course, I then had to put a radiator in it a couple of months later since there wasn't enough rust to seal the pinholes.

 

[Cubey]

You sir need a coolant filter.

That was my first thought too, actually.

This is what I found. Thanks Google! I'll see about that next month when I have the money.

https://www.oilburners.net/articles/coolfilter1.html

 

[Cubey]

Of course, I then had to put a radiator in it a couple of months later since there wasn't enough rust to seal the pinholes.

Yeah the rust might be why the pinhole leak isn't very bad. It's a slight seepage way up at the top of the front, close to below the filler neck. It's so slight there is no puddle from it.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

That's about how mine was with all of the rust. I'd have to top it off about every 9 months or so. Plenty of time to forget about it and wonder why the engine was starting to run hotter. .

 

[Cubey]

It was only ever fairly low once, but not badly so.

Before towing, in Colorado (in fall, it wasn't very hot out) it was creeping up over 200* at 60-70mph which was unusual.

I find it's normal when towing my big ol trailer. I see that on long hills and when speeding up to merge on a freeway. Or with heavy wind it's having to fight against. It drops to around 195-198 at 50-55 cruising speed on a level highway. Even lower if going down a long hill. So it's definitely cooling ok still.

But anyway that one time, I had to top it off at the radiator and it's been ok ever since. I watch both the bottle and radiator level. I have never had to refill the radiator since, only the bottle.

I always clean off the gunk from the cap and from around the neck with a blue, shop type paper towel, when I have the cap off.

 

[nostrokes]

Run some bg cooling system cleaner in it then flush and flush and flush.... Coolant filter after that.

Probably gonna need a rad after that though....

 

[79jasper]

Run some bg cooling system cleaner in it then flush and flush and flush.... Coolant filter after that.

Probably gonna need a rad after that though....

Was about to say that about the rad. It'll probably leak after a thorough cleaning. Lol

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[Thewespaul]

That’s why I only mentioned the filter, it would clean up what you have already but a full flush would probably bring out several leaks

 

[nostrokes]

That’s why I only mentioned the filter, it would clean up what you have already but a full flush would probably bring out several leaks

I would guess after putting the filter on it would filter enough crud out and he will loose his "sealant" eventually..

 

[79jasper]

Imo, most of that won't come out with just a filter. Sure, you'll get some.

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[Cubey]

Imo, most of that won't come out with just a filter. Sure, you'll get some.

The obvious loose debris would at least.

I might wait until next year to mess with it, when I have a driveway to work on it in a relatives house.

Then I can do a through flush first, then replace the radiator if needed, and install a filter all at once. It’s not super cruddy in the radiator so I’m not worried about blockage.

 

[gnathv]

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You can get these for under $50 on ebay. Should be able to make it work on idi, may need a fitting or two.
Comes with shut off valves.

 

[79jasper]

If you do a filter, skip the bypass style. Do a full flow.

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