Brown/black Coolant

[ozz]

I had to remove some coolant to fit a sensor and got a nasty shock.

 

 

on the right is the coolant straight out of the engine.

on top of the right is my magnet which is attracted to the sludge

on the left is a sample decanted from some left to settle over night.

 

There is no oil floating on the top and the black sludge is suspended in the coolant

 

 

I have removed the sludge using two methods filtering on the left and swirling magnets in plastic bags on the right.

 

 

I then took a sample of the sludge and heated it with a blow torch.

 

It did not burn but glowed orange and changed from black to orange.

 

Background facts/observations

 

1. coolant is carplan premium red

2. the radiator is aluminium as are the connecting hoses that are not rubber

3. I have no froth or creaminess in my oil

4. I have no excessive white smoke

5. There is no oil floating on the coolant prior to filtering.

6. I have not had any overheating problems or coolant loss through the overflow/expansion tank

7. This is the first coolant fill after engine stood dry (of coolant) for two years prior to fitting (I think I flushed it before fitting).

8. engine is 2.0 pinto

 

From my experiments I think its rust from the block and if I flush the system everything will be ok.

 

Does anyone agree or think its something else?

[tractor]

theres no problem there ozz just an old pinto

[Guest chris brown]

I think you are right it must be rust give it a good flush using something like bars flush (yes the same firm that make bars leaks) and then try again. As it has only stud a couple of years one flush should do unlike my Daimler which was left for 40 and has been a pig to get clear as both engine and rad were bunged up.

[maccavvy]

hosepipe/pressure washer down the rad pipe too to power flush the block. then do in reverse

[fry61]

The untreated liquid looks the same as central heating sludge; that is rust formed without any air present; so as above is probably just ferric oxide.

[Longboarder]

Doesn't say much for OAT anti corrosion properties although to be fair Carplan does say 'not suitable for classic engines' and the pinto is a classic.

 

Nigel

[biksz]

flush the correct way the water flows then back flush rad and the block I have same problem with a 1.8 pinto but do not think got it all as have had overheating problems and losing water which has finaly led to recessing valve on pot 4,reccessing valve might not be caused by it but has not helped.and I flushed my block three times and am still getting dark brown water from it.

[Shaft]

Remove the rear most core plug....

You'll be shocked how much sludge will have gathered around cylinder 4.

You'll have to poke and prod onto it to loosen the stuff.

Theres also a tapped hole in the block around the same area. I piped from this into a tee piece near the water pump to aid flow around cylinder 4.

See my build pics for more info.

[ozz]

Ran out of likes! Thanks for all of the replies, most reassuring, even if the answer is that I have to do some cleaning.

Cheers Ozz