ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

[DAS BOOT]

WTF?

So... oddly enough my girlfriend saw my car leaking a little bit... I check s, its dexcool.

Car has been running warm recently, under 210 mark, so probably actually 220ish. I have a 160* stat but I assumed middle of FL summer, might be part of it.

Well getting something welded real quick on my exhaust(just a cut I made when I gutted the CAT)

got to see it up close, when we had the car running on the lift(checking for leaks) and it was kind of puking its guts a little.

I pulled the cap, and there is some sludge on the cap. WTF? I flushed/replaced the fluid. At ~40k, I know have 82k. It was replaced with dexcool, gonna say prestone, either way it was upperlevel, because I know the ****tyness of dexcool and what can happen, hence the swap at 40k



SO.... whats up, I think my radiator is done, where the fluid is leaking ... might have to replace, but is there anything/way to flush all this bull**** out of my system. Also maybe a chemical to dissolve/flush the crap that might be in my system.

So what should I look to do since I have to fix all of this now?



PS any tips on a place to get a nice radiator?

[josh98bird]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

I'd replace it if I had the money and time, as far as flushing it... did you take it somewhere?? Thats the best way to flush it if you have a sludge inside because they will hook it to a machine and flush the **** out of it. If your coolant is low (hence from leaking) then it will run a bit hotter. Let us know how it goes

[josh98bird]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

http://www.rondavisradiators.com/radgallery.htm

http://replacement.car-stuff.com/par...howdc=true#top

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/pr...egory=radiator

there are a few places... I'm not sure what you want to spend... advance or autozone will also have a radiator.

[dmw319]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

mine has done the same thing before. get that dexcool crap outta there, id take it somewhere to get flushed if i were you or just put a new radiator in.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

**** forgot to add. My heater isn't blowing hot air...

This is what scares me a Little, it actually worked the other day (messing with fogged windows), and I think we used it slightly few weeks ago.

car was running a solid 210 on the guage should have been blowing hot air... Unless there is a blockage causing nothing to run through the heater core.

[josh98bird]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

replace the heater core
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...220+115&Nao=30

[DAS BOOT]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

Alright, if I have too I have no issue replacing stuff(not putting an aluminum radiator in though ;) )

I just want to make sure, if I do a new radiator, and heatercore we fix all the other issues, so it doesn't just kill the radiator and heatercore... Radiators aren't dirt cheap, and the heater core is probably a pain in the ***.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

Flush it and put the CORRECT amount of Dex-cool in. DO NOT use higher than 50/50 mix. Get the 50/50 pre-mix and then add distilled water. Dex-cool is REALLY better than the green crap, but you have to do it right.

BTW, too much (high concentration) of Dex-cool will create sludge.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

Flush it and put the CORRECT amount of Dex-cool in. DO NOT use higher than 50/50 mix. Get the 50/50 pre-mix and then add distilled water. Dex-cool is REALLY better than the green crap, but you have to do it right.

BTW, too much (high concentration) of Dex-cool will create sludge.

What makes it better? I mean I did mix it close to 50/50, but I didn't sit there with a beaker and graduated cylinder.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

What makes it better? I mean I did mix it close to 50/50, but I didn't sit there with a beaker and graduated cylinder.

Did you use tap water?

http://www.getahelmet.com/jeeps/maint/dexcool/

http://www.theherd.com/articles/dex_cool.html

[DAS BOOT]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

Did you use tap water?

http://www.getahelmet.com/jeeps/maint/dexcool/

http://www.theherd.com/articles/dex_cool.html

I did use distilled water... I researched all this stuff beforehand because I have heard people and their nightmares with dexcool. And on top of this, I know improper mixtures and not using Distilled water can be a problem. Some of our projectors at my movie theatre are water cooled, and we use a speciic mixture of Green stuff and distilled water(pain in the *** trying to round up 30 gallons of distilled water.)


Could have adding a hypertech Thermostat caused any of this? Something with the thremostat or the gasket, not be compatible with the system?


I assume my power steering cooler should be fine, since its a GM one.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: ACK! radiator/dexcool disaster...

I did use distilled water... I researched all this stuff beforehand because I have heard people and their nightmares with dexcool. And on top of this, I know improper mixtures and not using Distilled water can be a problem. Some of our projectors at my movie theatre are water cooled, and we use a speciic mixture of Green stuff and distilled water(pain in the *** trying to round up 30 gallons of distilled water.)


Could have adding a hypertech Thermostat caused any of this? Something with the thremostat or the gasket, not be compatible with the system?


I assume my power steering cooler should be fine, since its a GM one.

maybe this is my problem... Got this from another board from an ASE certified mechanic...

and dexcool forms sludge when mixed with air under heat and pressure

any of the chemical flushes out there should work to cut it, just follow the directions, as for the clogged heater core, back flush it with a hose before using the chemical, and just refill with green when you are done if so desired

Maybe I had air in my system somehow... but with the 160* thermostat, hp tuners verified it ran a nice 160* I always thought it would run hotter with air in the system, but I guess not. I bled it until fluid came out bleeder maybe should have left the screw open longer and get more out.