Oil in cooling water

[omega2]

Just caught what could have been a terminal break down, the engine got warm, and to cut a long story short we found oil in the header tank. This was a dead giveaway for a head gasket problem. We did the head gasket this week end and the engine is running fine now, staying cool no problems, however even though we have changed the water three times so far there are still traces of oil going around the cooling system. Would any one have any ideas on how to purge the system clean, can we use an auto motive flushing agent with safety? The engines are 30 year old Sabres and the internals are coated with brown rusty looking deposits.

 

[Divemaster1]

You could try one of those oil absorbing rags ... not in the header tank, but dipped in for 24 hrs... that should absorb some of the stuff and can easily be repeated several times over... you can get "cheap" spill kits here...

http://www.arco.co.uk/products/5656221/29102/Arco 15 litre Oil Tanker Spill Kit

 

[kashurst]

If its just traces, I would warm engine through and then drain the coolant. let it cool down and fill it up with fresh water only, warm it all up again and then drain it. If there are a few traces left I don't think it will do any harm. when the oil is more or less gone fill up with antifreeze mix again. You could try a cooling system cleanser - halfords @ £5

 

[longjohnsilver]

How about some sugar soap in the system? That should clean it up

 

[PaulGooch]

John, i wouldn't try rad flush etc, it's well known for unearthing leaks in car systems. It's designed for clearing blockages, rather than oil and will no doubt make short work of your "brown rusty looking deposits". I'd be inclined to hook it up to a pontoon hose and just flush it through and through until it clears, a bit of Fairy liquid shouldn't do any harm.

 

[omega2]

John, i wouldn't try rad flush etc, it's well known for unearthing leaks in car systems. It's designed for clearing blockages, rather than oil and will no doubt make short work of your "brown rusty looking deposits". I'd be inclined to hook it up to a pontoon hose and just flush it through and through until it clears, a bit of Fairy liquid shouldn't do any harm.

Cheers all, I had my doubts re the RADFLUSH idea, will keep on "wicking" the deposits until next washing day, then add soap and a shirt and pyjama's or two!!

 

[LittleShip]

I use soap (fairyor Bio soap powder. I prefer the bio) to clean systems, add to the header tank (approx a tea spoon full, no more) run the engine until hot and this should breakdown the oil deposits and let you flush them away.

Just make sure that once you have done this, that you completly flush the system out until all traces are removed, then fill with the appropriate anti freeze.

Works for me !

Tom

 

[volvopaul]

Attatch a hose from the pontoon, plumb it into the block as low as you can say into the drain plug, as oil is lighter than water the oil will always be at the highest point in the block, so it should eventually be pushed out.