Water

[Fidias]

Hello all..

Yesterday i took a look at the water level of the renault im restoring and its filld up with oxide, this orange colord water... so i took out one of the hose´s and its was raing orange water.. i started to change the water untill it got the color of water (i know water donest have a color but i hope that everybody understands)..

Anyway im wondering if this is common in car restorations and how do you eliminate the oxide in the water.. is the only solution should be taking the motor and cleaning it?

is there another way to take the water out?.. much more simple that dosen wet everything??

Fidias

 

[Steve Hennessey]

The orange colour is rust mixed with water! - very common on cars that have not been maintained or cars that have not been used for a long time. If there is red sludge in the radiator or heater matrix then it's worth flushing it out by using a hose pipe but flush it backwards ie remove the radiator, turn it upside down and flush through the bottom hose. Remove the 'exit' heater hose from the water pump, turn the heater control to 'hot' and flush through using the hose.

Put everything back together and buy some 'radflush' from the motor accessory shop. Follow the instructions. In the past I have used soda crystals to flush out cooling systems with good results.
Once you have done this job then fill the engine with water but don't forget to add some anti-freeze as this has a rust inhibitor. You will need to bleed the cooling system to remove air bubbles.

There is no easy way to do this job and the rusty water will go everywhere.

 

[Fidias]

Hi thanks for the reply steve! - darn.. so it is a tuff job, im worred because i just dont whant to get some cabes wet, but thoes tips about how to main the cool sistem are great!..

anyway..have you heard about someone that created a water flush sistem?, i mean, drilling a hole and put a cap?

Sorry for my terrible english, im from chile

 

[Paul Narramore]

The orange colour is rust mixed with water! - very common on cars that have not been maintained or cars that have not been used for a long time. If there is red sludge in the radiator or heater matrix then it's worth flushing it out by using a hose pipe but flush it backwards ie remove the radiator, turn it upside down and flush through the bottom hose. Remove the 'exit' heater hose from the water pump, turn the heater control to 'hot' and flush through using the hose.

Put everything back together and buy some 'radflush' from the motor accessory shop. Follow the instructions. In the past I have used soda crystals to flush out cooling systems with good results.
Once you have done this job then fill the engine with water but don't forget to add some anti-freeze as this has a rust inhibitor. You will need to bleed the cooling system to remove air bubbles.

There is no easy way to do this job and the rusty water will go everywhere.

Thanks for that Steve. I was wondering how to flush the system through although I was hoping not to disturb the radiator. Also I was wondering if there's any need for special flushing fluid. In the old old days, I'd remove the bottom hoses (on Minis) and the thermostat housing then using a garden hose, flush through as well as back flushing through the bottom of the radiator. Distilled water gets plenty of mention in the Renault handbooks but in the past I've always used rainwater from our water butts. If you see this old post, any comments? PS There's a tiny drain plug half way along the cylinder block too which needs to be undone as there may be scale behind it.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Rained heavily last night so looked in the car and, you've guessed, another puddle. And this after and application of sealant and SIX of Doctor Tolleys. I've even applied Dr Tolleys on the INSIDE of the rubber FFS! Beyond a joke. Time for the watering can.

 

[mojobaby]

Hello Paul, I hate to even suggest it, because I would personally find it a nuisance, but perhaps it's time to remove your dashboard and whatever else you can comfortably remove and then sit in your car while it's raining.


a Youtube trick that I've just watched; spray some really soapy water around the outside of your window seals and then using a compressor if you have one, blast air into the window seals from the inside of your car. Hopefully the bubbles will appear on the outside where the leak is

 

[Paul Narramore]

Mb, Yes sitting inside and watching the leak is my next step once I've discovered how to undo the dashboard. It does seem that all of the miracle cures in the world hasn't solved the leak so far.

 

[reggie]

Rain down the wiper blades, then the arms, then the spindles into the car ?

 

[Paul Narramore]

Reggie, The small puddle I find after rainfall is a whitish colour which suggests the Doctor Tolleys, which is milky in appearance is being washed through before it dries. After a total of eight applications of Doctor Tolleys, I shall lower the dashboard and fascia and apply a bead on the inside beneath the rubber. If that fails, I shall whip the screen out, throughly clean the rubber and check the window aperture then replace it. Once the 2cv has gone, I shall park her in the garage.