The Ford Barn

Cape Codder · 08-20-2017, 08:14 PM

I have drained the coolant system in my car to replace the drain valve which was leaking. After draining the whole system I observed that the coolant was awful dark/dirty looking. When this engine was installed just over 8,200 miles ago it was a fresh rebuilt motor with a record radiator. I used Prestone Anti-Freeze with Distilled water and have added very little to it. I would not have thought the coolant would be this dark/dirty looking after just 8,200miles.

Is this a normal occurrence or......

Should I use Evapo Rust or just straight white vinegar to flush this out prior to putting in new coolant?

SeaSlugs · 08-20-2017, 08:36 PM

So is it brown or blackish or just darker green?

If its just darker green I wouldnt worry about it - in my modern vehicles the coolant never stays mountian dew green and eventually just becomes hunter green.

What are you using as a water pump lube?

is it 50/50 mix? If its antifreeze how can it cause rust? Not sure what vinegar or evaporust will solve...

Cape Codder · 08-20-2017, 08:46 PM

I would have to say its DARKER green to a little blackish. I don't use water pump lube as I have a leakless/non lube one. I used 50/50 mix with Distilled Water!

SeaSlugs · 08-20-2017, 08:49 PM

maybe mixed with some kinda rebuilt block stuff or radiator stuff? like some kinda coating or flux or chemical that was inside either of them. For as cheap as coolant is id drain it and just replace it. I dont think its a rust issues as how could it? might be reacting with the brass somehow as that can do things.

Big hammer · 08-20-2017, 09:09 PM

Maybe stuff left over from engine rebuild? Flush well with water, install fresh antifreeze, check later! before winter and then again in the spring!

Pinesdune · 08-20-2017, 09:12 PM

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Just a question, I know it was 8200 miles ago you filled it, but are you sure it was distilled water and not reverse osmosis or ? Just asking as some water filtering/distillation processes don't remove all the chemicals that are used in city water purification, you may have simply had a slight chemical reaction between the antifreeze, water, cast iron

"Edited for error"

Cape Codder · 08-20-2017, 09:29 PM

Thanks to SeaSlugs and Big Hammer for your comments and advice.
Also thanks to Pinesdune for your comments. All I can say about the Distilled Water is that I bought it at the store LABELED Distilled. Where it came from, who knows. By the way it has been 8,200 miles since I filled it and not 8 years.
Thanks again to all.

Tom F OHIO · 08-21-2017, 07:45 AM

On the 50/50 mix , doesn't it already have the water in it? Wouldn't you just fill it with the 50/50 mix and not have to add water? Just checking because I put the 50/50 in mine.

Tom.....

Cape Codder · 08-21-2017, 09:23 AM

I guess what I should have said was I used FULL strength Prestone Anti-Freeze and added the Distilled water to it to make it a 50/50 mixture.

holdover · 08-21-2017, 09:46 AM

I get my distilled water out of my dehumidifier. For no more than it costs I would change it. I would flow some water through the system first and maybe use a commercial flush to be safe, then refill and be good to go. I buy the full strength for the savings and also then I am sure it has distilled water that is home brewed.. Your mileage might vary

Cape Codder · 08-21-2017, 10:12 AM

Thanks to holdoverfor the comments, especially "Your mileage might vary".

While I'm at it I want to apologize to Pinesdune for saying "By the way it has been 8,200 miles since I filled it and not 8 years." I sure thought you had wrote 8 years!

H. L. Chauvin · 08-21-2017, 10:28 AM

FWIW:

1. Such typical, normal, Model A Forum Technical Questions and Technical Responses:

2. Have no idea what is the big concern about distilled water/coolant changing color after the "first" 8,200 miles ........ for God's sake ...... just think!

3. All of us can drink a glass of clear water at midnight ...... and the next morning after (8) hours ...... after we open our petcocks ..... it comes out Dark Yellow.

4. Appears Nobody ever thinks about this particular different "Color Changing Issue" .... but look .... we have successfully maintained and cleaned our inner engines for over (70) years ...... nobody ever complains ........ and we are still here.

08-20-2017, 08:14 PM	#1
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,262	Anti-Freeze Coolant I have drained the coolant system in my car to replace the drain valve which was leaking. After draining the whole system I observed that the coolant was awful dark/dirty looking. When this engine was installed just over 8,200 miles ago it was a fresh rebuilt motor with a record radiator. I used Prestone Anti-Freeze with Distilled water and have added very little to it. I would not have thought the coolant would be this dark/dirty looking after just 8,200miles. Is this a normal occurrence or...... Should I use Evapo Rust or just straight white vinegar to flush this out prior to putting in new coolant? Last edited by Cape Codder; 08-20-2017 at 08:28 PM.

08-20-2017, 08:36 PM	#2
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant So is it brown or blackish or just darker green? If its just darker green I wouldnt worry about it - in my modern vehicles the coolant never stays mountian dew green and eventually just becomes hunter green. What are you using as a water pump lube? is it 50/50 mix? If its antifreeze how can it cause rust? Not sure what vinegar or evaporust will solve... __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

08-20-2017, 08:46 PM	#3
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,262	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant I would have to say its DARKER green to a little blackish. I don't use water pump lube as I have a leakless/non lube one. I used 50/50 mix with Distilled Water!

08-20-2017, 08:49 PM	#4
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant maybe mixed with some kinda rebuilt block stuff or radiator stuff? like some kinda coating or flux or chemical that was inside either of them. For as cheap as coolant is id drain it and just replace it. I dont think its a rust issues as how could it? might be reacting with the brass somehow as that can do things. __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

08-20-2017, 09:09 PM	#5
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,131	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant Maybe stuff left over from engine rebuild? Flush well with water, install fresh antifreeze, check later! before winter and then again in the spring! __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

08-20-2017, 09:12 PM	#6
Pinesdune Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 414	Anti-Freeze Coolant Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Just a question, I know it was 8200 miles ago you filled it, but are you sure it was distilled water and not reverse osmosis or ? Just asking as some water filtering/distillation processes don't remove all the chemicals that are used in city water purification, you may have simply had a slight chemical reaction between the antifreeze, water, cast iron "Edited for error" Last edited by Pinesdune; 08-20-2017 at 09:41 PM.

08-20-2017, 09:29 PM	#7
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,262	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant Thanks to SeaSlugs and Big Hammer for your comments and advice. Also thanks to Pinesdune for your comments. All I can say about the Distilled Water is that I bought it at the store LABELED Distilled. Where it came from, who knows. By the way it has been 8,200 miles since I filled it and not 8 years. Thanks again to all.

08-21-2017, 07:45 AM	#8
Tom F OHIO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 408	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant On the 50/50 mix , doesn't it already have the water in it? Wouldn't you just fill it with the 50/50 mix and not have to add water? Just checking because I put the 50/50 in mine. Tom.....

08-21-2017, 09:23 AM	#9
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,262	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant I guess what I should have said was I used FULL strength Prestone Anti-Freeze and added the Distilled water to it to make it a 50/50 mixture.

08-21-2017, 09:46 AM	#10
holdover Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: SW Virginia near the Blue ridge Parkway Posts: 674	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant I get my distilled water out of my dehumidifier. For no more than it costs I would change it. I would flow some water through the system first and maybe use a commercial flush to be safe, then refill and be good to go. I buy the full strength for the savings and also then I am sure it has distilled water that is home brewed.. Your mileage might vary

08-21-2017, 10:12 AM	#11
Cape Codder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,262	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant Thanks to holdoverfor the comments, especially "Your mileage might vary". While I'm at it I want to apologize to Pinesdune for saying "By the way it has been 8,200 miles since I filled it and not 8 years." I sure thought you had wrote 8 years!

08-21-2017, 10:28 AM	#12
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Anti-Freeze Coolant FWIW: 1. Such typical, normal, Model A Forum Technical Questions and Technical Responses: 2. Have no idea what is the big concern about distilled water/coolant changing color after the "first" 8,200 miles ........ for God's sake ...... just think! 3. All of us can drink a glass of clear water at midnight ...... and the next morning after (8) hours ...... after we open our petcocks ..... it comes out Dark Yellow. 4. Appears Nobody ever thinks about this particular different "Color Changing Issue" .... but look .... we have successfully maintained and cleaned our inner engines for over (70) years ...... nobody ever complains ........ and we are still here.