what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

I have used three gallons of vinegar to loosen up the rust in the cooling system and then used a box of soda to neutralize the acidic reaction of the vinegar and backflushed profusely with water under mild pressure. Now that I have done all of this I have refilled the system with destilled water. Fine, but after a year of driving it is beginning to look a tad red again. What should I add to the distilled water to prevent, or at least slow down the reformation of rust?

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

Anti freeze will retard rust much better than only water imho
I’ve had no experience with “water wetter” but heard good things and nothing bad.....but open to hear both!

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

Water wetter - anti- corrosion water pump lub, less tan 10$ most auto parts
My A was running 195*+, after flushing and new antifreeze it was not much better. Distilled water and one bottle of water wetter and now 174* ! the outside temperature about the the temp at near 80*

Ford recommended draining the antifreeze and using water for summer months!

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

x2...I use the anti-freeze that is safe for animals.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

50/50 antifreeze and water. Tap water is fine. The distilled water will turn into tap water in short order because of all the iron in the engine. There are different grades and kinds of antifreeze. I use the antifreeze that is recommended for older cars. I have a hunch that the newer antifreeze that is good for extended service may harm parts of the Model A engine, like the head gasket. Only a hunch.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

Steve Plucker, I did some remodeling in a house in Tucson recently that involved tearing out some old tile and the sheetrock underneath. We found several beer cans. The contract employees would drink on the job and hide the evidence. These were aluminum, so not the old steel kind.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

I used to work for Orkin Pest Control in Sacramento and had to crawl under old homes...got lots of old steel cans from there.

My collection is about 250 or so...oldest is 1936 cone top.

Pluck

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

This is what I use, mixed with distilled water.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

I use distilled water with a NAPA rust inhibitor-never any rust for years!

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

I think this was because alcohol was generally used as antifreeze and it evaporates out of the cooling system rather rapidly, since it has a lower boiling point than water. Topping off the radiator was a necessasry routine maintenance. A long trip in hot summer weather would rapidly evaporate the alcohol (about a third or more of the cooling system capacity) leading to overheating. So plain water was used in the summer.
When ethylene glycol antifreeze came into common use it was called "permanent antifreeze" because you could leave it in year around as it's boiling point was as high or higher than plain water.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

If it's starting to look red again here is what I would do.


1. Drain and refill with water and add a scoop or two of dishwasher detergent. This will clean out any grease and oil that might have made it's way into the cooling system.


2. Get a bottle of Thermocure, follow the instructions on the bottle. You won't believe how clean this will get your cooling system.



3. Refill with 50/50 conventional green antifreeze and leave your rust problems in the past.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

So Ryan,

With the dishwasher detergant in the system...do you start the car and let the mixture do its thing?

Pluck

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

Yup, should have elaborated on that. Start the engine, maybe go for a drive. Probably let it do it's thing for about the same time as a normal dishwasher cycle. The dishwasher detergent doesn't foam up, that's why you want to use that over any other soap.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

Check the MSDS sheets for the products. Ex: Thermocure is water and Diammonium Phophate (plant fertilizer, etc.), powder form available at Walmart, and others.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

I'm going to have to experiment with that. I always figured Thermocure was just a concentrated Evapo-rust but it appears not. Either way, it's great at cleaning up a cooling system. The water comes out black, just like using evapo-rust.

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

Thermocure has a neutral PH but does lean towards the acidic side, can't hurt to give a give flush with baking soda, but that might be over thinking the issue

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

Diammonium Phosphate Is also used in brewing...stimulates yeast growth, and is a useful addition to yeast starters and wines lacking in natural nutrients, such as white wines and meads.
Some winemakers add it to every fermentation. Use 1/2 to 3/4 gram per gallon.

$1.95 per pound

I did the math, looks like about 5.25 oz would be ideal for a "treatment"

Re: what now is best to prevent rust returning?
 

I have heard guys say a couple tablspoons of baking soda with fresh water, ten drop the lower hose after going for a spin......