Radiator Flush - Citric Solution - Alto DIY

[helper_learner]

Since the Reaction here is,

2C₆H₈O₇ + 6 NaHCO₃ = 2 Na₃C₆H₅O₇ + 6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O

238 amu + 650 amu = ________________________

The ratio required without losses is 1 : 2.732.

But if we think of losses as @miqdadkanani said, 1 : 1.3 ratio is good enough.

[krafiq]

So after coolant change, my water body leaked! Word of advice... Change everything!
T stat, flange, hose pipes, radiator, radiator metal pipe, fan auto switch., Head Gasket, water body.. .
Mind you this list is not exhaustive

[miqdadkanani]

same. After the flush, head gasket failed and i eventually got everything changed including radiator, pipes, flange etc.

[krafiq]

Pictures of the system

[ahmedali.kas9]

This is incredibly sad to hear. How do I check this to avoid facing this? How did you find out something was wrong and how much did it cost to replace it?

[ahmedali.kas9]

was it because of the flush or purely coincidental?

[farooqk80]

if your system is standing on rust, it will eventually fail. Flush just speeds up the process

[ahmedali.kas9]

To flush out, remove lower radiator hose and use garden pipe into a heater connection so it flows from the head to the block to waterpump and out the radiator.

I know that the heater core inlets come out from somewhere on the firewall. Couldn't see them in this picture so I drew 'em out.

make sure no leaks exist

Should I leave the water in for a day or two to make sure of the leaks? Instead of checking then and there?

1.8 litre coolant concentrate,

remaining 200 ml concentrate, add 200 mil water

How do I measure all this?

Also how can I check if the rad cap is okay? In order to rule out the cap if i god forbid encounter any issues? I think I read somewhere on these forums about squishing the pipes when the car is cold and before starting to hear coolant swishing around in the system?

[Xulfiqar]

This looks like the car was bought new, coolant immediately drained because yahoodi saazish and then saada paani used to cool engine.

Seriously!! Was this engine from the titanic scrap?

[Xulfiqar]

To flush from heater line, remove a connection and insert the hose into the engine side.

For measuring liquids, if you need to ask this question then its best to not do such jobs as im going to assume you have never done such and have no idea how to do such either.

[ahmedali.kas9]

I just didn't want to carry around my pyrex glassware for measuring, so I was wondering if there was another way to remedy these measurements. I have done DIYs on my car before, but not anything mechanical. But, as always. I appreciate the insights

[krafiq]

Happens to the best of us....
This condition has come to after 2 decades of ignoring the cooling system
Pictures taken after 10% citric acid flush, 13% baking soda neutralizer, 2 iterations of Total Radiator cleaner, one dozen iterations of plain water draining....
I have recently found lost love for this car of mine. Somehow, especially after the Dollar hike from 178-280 and soaring car prices.... This baby has found it's way back in to my heart

[Xulfiqar]

You dont need your pyrex glassware.

Any container that holds 200 ml will do, an old juice box, old water bottle etc, you already know the 1 liter bottle has 1000 ml

The older package of havoline coolant had a scale and translucent window on its side too, dont know if they still make it.

[Xulfiqar]

Did your mechanic atleast wash the side of the engine before assembling?

And it seems like your job has just started, there will a ton of other spots on the engine that will be in this shape, that loss of material where the waterpump impeller spins can cause overheating at liquid wont be able to pump efficiently past that, that area is part of the engine itself unlike other engines where the housing is separate,

You may need to fill that in the future when the engine is taken down for heavy repair.

Please take it as learning experience that maintaining is always cheaper than repair.

[farooqk80]

The older package of havoline coolant had a scale and translucent window on its side too, dont know if they still make it.

They do

[krafiq]

Yes they still make translucent bottle with scale

[ahmedali.kas9]

This is how im thinking of performing the flush. I will put in the citric acid in the radiator directly, run for a while and then unplug the radiator inlet hose (encircled in red) and put a garden hose into the radiator and run the engine allowing all the water to drain out with fresh water pumping in too in order to further expedite the process of getting rid of the rust and limscale deopsits and most likely it's chunks. Will continue to run the water through the system until it runs clear. When it does i will flush one last time with the "distlled water" NASA battery tonic. I will then fit the new thermostat and new flange and then fill with coolant and battery tonic.

@miqdadkanani @Xulfiqar what do u guys think?

[ahmedali.kas9]

However there's this issue...

dont judge me, i was just uploading this on youtube for the sole purpose of uploading it here, i thought why not make a nice thumbnail? lol

PLease have a look and let me know if i should go through with the engine flush

[Xulfiqar]

It wont work, you need to push water in from the heater hose connection on cyl head or intake manifold to force flush the block out.

[ahmedali.kas9]

should i even go for the flush as im assuming my head gasket would be weak due to the head being faced too shallow and i do not want to further expedite the process of getting the head changed sooner that i thought. What do you think of the video, is it just some air in the system or truly a headgasket leak, if the latter, should i still opt for the flush?