coolant boil-over tank

blackmaxima88 · 07-06-2003, 10:28 PM

this past spring I flushed my cooling system... completely.... for about 45 minutes with clean clear water running through the engine and radiator. I made sure there was nothing left. I also replaced the thermostat and put in a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze/water in there. the hydrometer measured it to around -40 degrees...or somewhere around there. now when I run the car the water temperature gauge hovers at exactly halfway, which is normal, and the heater blows out air hot enough to baste a turkey. just the way I like it. this past winter, I suffered from a stuck-open thermostat which didn't allow any heating up of the coolant. the temp gauge never left C and I couldn't get any warm air from the vents. miserable. I could open the radiator cap after 4 hours of driving and the coolant would only be slightly warm.

All fixed now.

however, I went to clean out the boil-over tank and noticed a thick black crud built up on the inside that I can't seem to wash out. the opening is too thin to get anything in there. I think it's from the old coolant, maybe metal crud from the radiator that got washed away. I don't want to put it back on until that stuff is cleaned out of there, I don't need it going BACK into the radiator. has anybody else experienced this problem? I'm sure it's normal but I don't know how often the coolant was changed... the old coolant was a mixture of dark green and brown, so I suspect it wasn't well maintained. but that's ok cos she's in good hands now.

right now I have the escape hose running into a clear plastic root beer bottle. this way I can at least catch the coolant. does anyone have any suggestions for cleaning that stuff out of there?

Dan
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1988 Nissan Maxima SE
(REBORN in 2003)
SHIFT_new beginnings

*maximase86* · 07-07-2003, 12:42 AM

hmmm, maybe try spraying some degreaser let it sit and then rinse and empty until everything is clean. See what happens from there. Either that, or you can try using a tooth brush to get in there to clean the walls up.

S

blackmaxima88 · 07-07-2003, 05:24 PM

I thought of it but I didn't think a degreaser would remove metal crud build-up.... but I'll try it anyway, I'll have to plug the hole on the bottom with something. I really don't want to re-install it with that stuff in there because it'll just get back in the cooling system.

anyway...I'll take your suggestion....thanks!

Dan