Post by ricky8664 on Apr 20, 2024 10:48:52 GMT
Whilst running the engine it has tended to get hot quite quickly so we decided to replace the water pump on Friday as I had already purchased a new one.
The horror that greeted us on removal was a solid crystalline mass that completely locked the outer part of the pump impeller and the centre driven part had broken off, spinning freely but generating no water circulation. Inspection of the thermostat housing showed that to be similarly clogged with solid crystals. We cleaned it all off and unblocked the other hoses and pipes on top of the engine which were in a similar state.
My concern is what has happened to the waterways in the engine?
The heads will be replaced with SD1 heads at some stage but I wondered if I could use some heavy industrial strength cleaner to loosen any hard deposits that may be in the engine?
My brother is a plumber and suggested using the sort of stuff that he uses to clean out central heating systems. Not sure if anyone has tried this. Vinegar has also been suggested. He used it to de-rust the half shafts from his corvette and it worked perfectly.
Has anyone used something other than traditional rad flush to clean out the cooling system.
Whatever is used, my plan is to use it with the old hoses and fit the new after flushing.
Sentinel X400 is a central heating flushing liquid designed to remove hard deposits but is also compatible with systems containing aluminium, so I hope would not damage the engine.
The vinegar is acidic, so a bit concerned at the damage it might do to the ally engine.
Suggestions?
The moral to all this is "don't leave the engine idle for a dozen or more years"!
The horror that greeted us on removal was a solid crystalline mass that completely locked the outer part of the pump impeller and the centre driven part had broken off, spinning freely but generating no water circulation. Inspection of the thermostat housing showed that to be similarly clogged with solid crystals. We cleaned it all off and unblocked the other hoses and pipes on top of the engine which were in a similar state.
My concern is what has happened to the waterways in the engine?
The heads will be replaced with SD1 heads at some stage but I wondered if I could use some heavy industrial strength cleaner to loosen any hard deposits that may be in the engine?
My brother is a plumber and suggested using the sort of stuff that he uses to clean out central heating systems. Not sure if anyone has tried this. Vinegar has also been suggested. He used it to de-rust the half shafts from his corvette and it worked perfectly.
Has anyone used something other than traditional rad flush to clean out the cooling system.
Whatever is used, my plan is to use it with the old hoses and fit the new after flushing.
Sentinel X400 is a central heating flushing liquid designed to remove hard deposits but is also compatible with systems containing aluminium, so I hope would not damage the engine.
The vinegar is acidic, so a bit concerned at the damage it might do to the ally engine.
Suggestions?
The moral to all this is "don't leave the engine idle for a dozen or more years"!
