[s-cars] Gelling coolant

Mon Apr 16 17:59:58 EDT 2007

Sounds reasonable.  I'll research this some more and report back if I go
through with this.

Gisli

On 4/16/07, djdawson2 at aol.com <djdawson2 at aol.com> wrote:
>
> 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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> >
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