Since I have installed the 351c into my truck the water in the radiator goes dark brown after 3 rides. Now the motor was standing for some time before I got to it so therefor there is loads of 'brown' stuff. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean the inside of the engine and radiator. I have flushed it about 10 times and still water goes brown..

 

I had a real dirty engine once so I popped out the thermostat, ran a hose in the t-stat hole and, with all the freeze plugs out, used a coat hanger to bust up the sludge in the sides of the block while running fresh water through. Hope this works for you, too.

 

Are you running just straight water in the truck? Seems to me that this would lend to rusting on it's own and cause your water to turn brown.

--Mike

 

a box of ARM and Hammer bakeing powder in with straight water run for ten minutes or until hot drain flush and drain again then a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze.

44Dwarf

PS: 20 mule team borax works good to but foams to much.

 

44dwarf do you think any baking powder will work? I cant get ARM and Hammer down here in South Africa. Tried flushing it through the thermostat... did not take the freeze plugs out though. The only reason I am using water is because I have to change it every 2 weeks or so, anti-freeze can get a bit expensive every time.

 

Backin' powder is backin' powda!

I seem to recall a smooth way to flush a system with a minimum of mess and maximum of effect is to cut through your heater feed hose after it leaves the water pump. Plug one end up with a clamp and a 1/2" bolt, and onto the other end get a peice of 3/8" pipe, and a hose bib (the thing that sticks out the side of your house to attach a hose to, also known as boiler drains -- do not get a sill ****. Should be about $2.99). Buy a straight end to end hose barb too, to fix the hose when you are done.

You clamp the hose bib and pipe into the hose from the water pump. Attach a nice peice of old garden hose (heaven forbid you ever drink out of it again), and bring her up to temp with the radiator cap off. Now, open it up. As you are flushing out water via the heater outlet, proceed to put fresh water back in via the radiator cap.

I like 44dwarfs suggestion too, only one caveat -- if you dissolve too much crud out of the radiator, you may spring a leak, seriously. But if you are that close to a leak, may as well get it over with. You could even easily repeat it a couple of times with your nifty heater outlet.

When you are done, and you have nothing but clear clean water left, you can be a real **** retentive and drain the water and replace with 50% distilled and 50% antifreeze. Not really necessary, unless you are in a locality where you are using ground (well) water that is very hard, or full of iron. The iron won't harm you --- but it may be the cause of your brown water. But you really should put in some antifreeze. It does more than prevent freezes -- has corrosion inhibitors and stuff that is supposed (?) to protect seals and gaskets.

later......

 

also a good radiator conditioner would help.
wes

 

Yes any brand will work. I found this out once by paying $10 usd for a can of radiator cleaner, it worked great then i read the label and it said 100% Baking powder. Boy was i made but now i know..

44

 

thanks for all the tips guys.. i will go ahead and try the baking soda suggestion. How much do you think I should use? Should I dilute it in a bucket of water first and then pour it into the radiator?

 

I use 1 pound as that is the size box we get here.
If you like to dilute first fine but you don't have too.

44

 

dont you mean baking soda?

 

YES YES SODA!! not powered. Darn brain doesn't work right some times I had to go look in the cabinet to see. Sodium bi carbonate