As previously stated, I am new to this hobby. I just changed the radiator hoses and water pu,p on my '66 F100. When the water pump came off, there was A LOT of rusty looking sludge present. My mechanic friend (who did most of the work) said it is common, and that eventually it will rust through somewhere, freeze plug, cylinder wall...etc. Is there anything to add to the antifreeze to hinder this process? I mean I understand metal rusts, but surely there is a way to slow it down or treat it right? We flushed everything out best we could and filled with new antifreeze.

 

It will take "four score and seven years" plus...for the block to rust thru, but the 'cup type' freeze plugs, unless they are brass, are rusting as I type.

You can attempt to flush the engine, but by this stage of the game, the only way to remove all the rust and scale is to have the block "hot tanked." The engine has to be disassembled to do this.

Do NOT add anti-freeze to a rusty engine, it will make the problem much worse! Anti-freeze acts like a rust inhibitor, will dislodge even more rust/scale, shoving it into the radiator, clogging it up.

Been there, made the mistake of doing that. NEVER use just anti-freeze in an engine, proper way is mix it 50/50 with distilled water.

Anti-freeze is heavier than water, pump will not be able to circulate it properly.

 

if you're using antifreeze and water (instead of pre-mixed 50/50 antifreeze), make sure you use distilled water- not tap water.