Rusty Radiator Issue

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 29, 2010 | 03:54 PM

mobiledj911

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

Rusty Radiator Issue

Well, I bought an 1994 Ford F250 that I thought was in good shape, but less than a week after owning it the radiator starts to leak.

I then start the process of swapping out the radiator and am shocked to find alot of rusty material in the radiator/upper/lower hose as well as the themostat.

I got an OK deal on the truck, so I do not mind putting a little in to it, but how much of a problem is this?

Should I just flush it real well or something else or think about getting rid of it?

Thanks.

Nov 29, 2010 | 04:22 PM

oreocreaming

Postmaster

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 4,319

Likes: 4

From: Elk City, OK

take some powder dishwasher soap, enough to do 2 loads of wash and put it into the upper radiator hose, put the hose back on the radiator and run it for about an hour. more if you want. drain everything, fill with water, run for another hour then drain it. that should remove all that crap outta there. the rust is from the p.o. running water instead of coolant. with that being said, you need to worry about future cavitation. make sure you either run a elc (extended life coolant) or run standard coolant with SCA's (supplemental coolant additive) that can be found at napa auto parts. you will need test strips as well, you need to test your coolant every 6 months or so. or if you use the ELC then you dont have to worry about the SCA's or testing your coolant because its already mixed in with the coolant. if you want to know more about "cavitation", what it is and how its caused and how to prevent it, do a search for it. the search tab it at the middle of the page when you scroll to the top. its under your name at the top right hand corner and over to the center.

Dec 2, 2010 | 07:28 AM

mobiledj911

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

What is the best brand soap / flush to use?

What would be the best (or tried & true) brand soap / flush product to use?

I will be flushing a few times with the old radiator, but am replacing the radiator with an all alumninum radiator.

Does the above make any difference with the SCA additive. etc.?

Dec 2, 2010 | 08:31 AM

1994F2507.3L

Cargo Master

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 2,227

Likes: 149

From: Higginsville, MO

i was told the brass/copper radiators are better.... cost some more money but are better. electrosol dishwashing detergent is what went in my dishwasher lol its some good stuff lol and i use the john deere cool gard II coolant it is ELC but also its good to test it every once in awhile just to be sure... john deere sells the test strips and the SCA additive for there coolant and its dirt cheap.... like 3-4 bucks for the strips and 3-4 bucks for the additive the coolant as about 15 bucks for a bottle of CONCENTRATE not the 50/50 so u need 4 gallons of it and 4 gallons of distilled water which is like .60 cents a gallon at wal mart.

the link to the coolant is the 2nd link down in my signature vvvvvvv it has all the specs and info on the coolant

Dec 2, 2010 | 05:24 PM

johnboggs21

Postmaster

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 2,500

Likes: 2

From: Michigan

I use the coolant additive from john deere too. Seems like pretty good stuff, and not very expensive at all. Id recommend it to anyone.

Dec 2, 2010 | 08:39 PM

IHdieselfan

Tuned

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 392

Likes: 1

From: Panther Branch, NC

cool gard II is good stuff its basicly its cat elc but different color. I work for the john deere dealer here. the jd coolant conditioner is for coolgard I which is basicly regular green stuff.