[s-cars] Gelling coolant

djdawson2 at aol.com djdawson2 at aol.com
Mon Apr 16 16:33:49 EDT 2007


Here's the benefit of dishwashing detergent...
 
It is made to be used in a piece of equipment that uses a number of different seals... and be safe to them.
It is made to be used in equipment that typically employs more alloys than just cast iron.
It *can* be made to dissolve and suspend hard water deposits ("sheeting action," calcium, rust, etc...)
 
You would add the amount directed by the manufacturer for a single wash load... to the expansion tank.  Most will run that mix at an idle for a couple of hours.  You don't want to drive it (high rpm) because it will foam up... but a high idle doesn't hurt.
 
When you flush it out, you'll be able to see if it was really bad, or just cloudy.  If it comes out very messy, I'd do it again.  When you're done, you want to flush fresh tap water through the system several times to get everything out.  Make sure that when you flush, it gets warm enough to open the thermostat, and that your heat is on high... so that the heater valve is open and the core gets flushed.
 
After you finish this whole process, I would attempt to "empty" the system as completely as possible.  Then when you refill, go with a 66/33 A/F to water ratio.  I would use de ionized water.
 
That's my suggestion...
 
Dave
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: gislio at gmail.com
To: djdawson2 at aol.com
Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
Sent: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Gelling coolant



Calgon?  I have not seen this particular brand, locally.  Will something else do the trick?  Finish? http://www.finish.co.uk/faq.shtml

Then, what is the drill?  Do I just add a bunch to the expansion tank?   How much?  A tablespoon?  A cup?  Dissolve in water, I presume (Finish is a powder)?  How long do I run this?  1 day?  

Thanks

  Gisli



On 4/16/07, djdawson2 at aol.com <djdawson2 at aol.com > wrote: 
You may want to scale back from a chemically assisted flush to a detergent assisted flush.  In the fleet maintenance industry, one of the favorite flush agents is actually Calgon dishwashing detergent.  It will thoroughly clean and break up hard water scale deposits... and it will not potentially damage seals or cause harm to engines that use several metals in their assemblies. 
 
FWIW,
Dave
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: gislio at gmail.com
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Sent: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 8:49 AM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Gelling coolant



Thanks, all, for the input.  A thorough, chemically assisted flush will be
performed post haste.

The sludge in my expansion tank is still quite reasonably runny.  It is

definitely more pink than brown.

I am relieved that there is relatively general consensus that this is due to
the mixing in incompatible fluids, rather than being attributable to some
malfunction.


Gisli


On 4/16/07, David Kase <davekase at pdqlocks.com> wrote:
>
> FYI, I got a nasty coolant system cleaner from a auto supplier a few
> years ago.  This stuff had an acid that you ran through the system, then

> you had to flush with (the included) neutralizer and water before adding
> the new coolant.
>
> I call it "nasty" because it seems pretty damn strong.  I believe it was
> compatible with all system plastic and such but I did two additional

> water flushes to be sure.
>
> If you can find this stuff, it might be your best bet.  It was in a
> yellow cardboard canister.  The components were in powder form.  I will
> try to see if I have one laying around to provide more info.

>
> Dave Kase
>
>
>
> Tom Winter wrote:
>
> >On 4/16/07 3:04 AM, "G?sli ?ttarsson " <gislio at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>I have noticed that the coolant in the expansion tank has a strange

> texture
> >>to it.  It is almost like it is beginning to gel.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >This sounds suspiciously like your system has incompatible coolants that

> may
> >have mixed, maybe only a small amount. But something is funky for sure.
> >
> >Regardless of what it is, you need to flush the system immediately
> because
> >if your coolant does gel, then it is VERY VERY BAD.

> >
> >At least I'd flush the system immediately. There's plenty of reasons to
> do
> >this given the symptoms you've described and the only reason not to at
> this
> >point is laziness (which is an attribute that I'm proud to have in

> copious
> >amounts). But seriously, don't be lazy on this score.
> >
> >Tom
> >'95 S6
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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