So much rust in my coolant!

[macsinger]

So I've completely taken apart my coolant system. Partly to run a test on the thermostat and see if my water pump is working, but also to clean things out! When I flushed it there was sooooo much rust. I've found a very large presence of nasty gummy rust build up in the steel fittings on the engine, inside the radiator, and lining all the connecting tubes as well.

I took off my reservoir tank and cleaned it out as well. There was some very thick and nasty rust sludge that had built up at the bottom, and likely clogged up the reservoir hose that goes to the radiator cap.

I'm thinking that if I cleaned out the metal fittings and the radiator (somehow). That it still wouldn't stop the rust from accumulating. In fact exposed steel tends to even rust faster that steel that has a layer of rust. Did these things originally have a coating on the inside that is now gone? Do I have to replace them all or is there some kind of rust inhibiting additive that I can buy?

Any thoughts? Anybody experience the same thing?

 

[golddrakul]

Do a vinegar and water flush [probably several] to get the existing rust out, several of the commercial anti-freeze brands have rust inhibitors in them. Not sure if the more esoteric [like Engine Ice] contain rust inhibitors, so you may want to check before going down that path.

 

[macsinger]

I've used ammonia on rust but never vinegar. Will the vinegar damage any rubber o-rings or anything? I know ammonia will.

 

[golddrakul]

Not supposed to, but it's a good question. However, if it was my bike with all that stuff in it, I'd replace the rubber parts anyway. For the big ZLs, there's a posting listing inexpensive alternative hoses and thermostats; do a tag search for radiator hoses. Get new o-rings for the cooling tubes at the engine, and a new radiator cap [these seem to have a high failure rate with age, and are cheap insurance]. Chances are the switches are okay, just the wire going into the epoxy is bad. Grind out the epoxy with a Dremel and solder in a new wire [preferably a high temp teflon, but at least automotive grade] and re-apply epoxy. Money saved on switches will pay for rest of stuff. Total out of pocket cost should be under $25 [using generic hoses, o-rings, etc] plus cost of final coolant.

 

[macsinger]

Anybody think that putting ammonia inside the radiator to eat away the rust buildup is a bad idea? Of course I would remove all rubber hoses and o-rings first, and flush the radiator with distilled water really well afterward.

I just have so much rust buildup in my tubes and hoses, that I don't think a vinegar flush will really do anything.

 

[gosupes]

I've used vinegar before. Let it sit overnight and it works good. Never used ammonia, not sure I would. I would have to read up more on it first.

 

[vinny]

I have used the vinegar method - I used a hot water and vinegar mix to speed things up a bit. I was happy with the results - not sure about ammonia?

 

[adrenalinejunky81]

Distilled water + 50% antifreeze after flushing with a gardenhose (pull the thermostat). If I was to guess, it sounds like there might have been something else dumped in there like some sorta sealer. That stuff always makes a mess like that.

Check your hose connections. If corroded scrape that stuff off, coat the pitted areas with rtv and stick the hoses on. MUCH cheaper and just as effective as the replacement parts solution.