Rusty coolant system

[Pittenger5]

Everytime I flush the coolant (once a year or so), its always a nice sexy brown color. I always flush it with hose water to get as much of the crap out as possible, then run a few gallons of distilled through to clean out as much of the crappy hose water as possible. But I think its just too far gone at this point. Is this something to worry about? And if so, anyway to fix it?

[carsick]

Which vehicle are you referring to?

[butcher bergs]

Gotta take the iron out.

I use 1/2 cup of bleach per gallon of water when flushing my house plumbing.

Maybe go 1/4 cup bleach or vinegar for a cooling system? Trick is, you have to get the thermostat to open in order to circulate through the entire system. Let it sit for a day then drain everything.

[aldend123]

Is this on a motorcycle? I guess I didn't realize they still use iron blocks or heads.

There's coolant flushing products sold for this purpose, but I think most just use vinegar. If the material is iron, and it has started to decay, the walls are coated in it still. Need an acid to clean it all off.

[Pittenger5]

Yes, 08 CBR600. Not house.

[butcher bergs]

The tap water is what's causing your issue. Your goal is to take the iron (or other minerals) out of solution. This is done by using an acid that's been diluted, like vinegar or bleach. I had this exact issue with my F4i because I used tap water.

I mentioned what I do with my house only because I run a bleach solution through the pipes on a semiregular basis due to high iron content in my well. You would not believe the shit that gets flushed out the next day.

Do the acid flush until it's no longer brown when draining out and use only distilled water for anything involving the cooling system. Any other type of water will have contaminates in it and there will eventually be a reaction of some kind.

[Pittenger5]

If you run bleach or whatever through, do you run the bike, or just flush it through?

[breakdirt916]

its always a nice sexy brown color.

pm sent for pics

I used to be down for brown...but they were always snooty and parents raised them to think they're always better than me....but if it's as sexy as you say...

[typeone]

If you run bleach or whatever through, do you run the bike, or just flush it through?

yes, run the bike. i do this every season with only distilled water and white vinegar. i'll usually do two cycles of each 60/40 cut (approx, maybe less) x2 then 100% distilled x2. fill/warm bike/shut down/slightly cool/drain/repeat. goes quick and keeps the system clean.

[TheIglu]

This is done by using an acid that's been diluted, like vinegar or bleach.

If you think using bleach will make an acid, you're gunna have a bad time.

If you think mixing it with an acid is a good idea, you are gunna have an even worse time. Ask the dead people of Syria what Chlorine gas (released when chlorine is mixed with an acid) is like on the human body.

Chlorine bleach is an extreme base, not an acid.

[butcher bergs]

I wasn't being clear with words and can see how I was misinterpreted.

My apologies for any confusion.

[Pittenger5]

I was very nearly butchered!

[Stromper]

Just get coolant flush

If your anal you can get a garden hose to coolant adapter, and after running with flush untill warm , drain, then power rinse with the garden hose.

Just buy 50:50 premix, I also add the pump lube and corrosion fix like 1/2 a bottle
Then leave it alone for like 4 years

[butcher bergs]

I was very nearly butchered!

Old habits die hard.

[number9]

What is the rationale for using bleach in your cooling system?

[butcher bergs]

Only intorducing it to the cooling system in order to ionize the iron particles and nothing more. I am certainly not saying leave it in there.

[TheIglu]

But ionizing, resulting in oxidizing (aka rust).

I don't understand the bleach aspect. Acid wash, sure. But bleach is the last thing I'd want to introduce into any system with steel if I was hoping to get rid of rust. Hell, bleach will rust stainless steel.

Maybe I'm missing something.....

[Pittenger5]

Where's Kurlon when you need him.

[butcher bergs]

Maybe I'm missing something. Where is the steel located in a cooling system that will be adversely affected beyond the contamination that has already been introduced throughout said cooling system?

Keep in mind I suggested bleach as an alternative to vinegar. Obviously vinegar is more desirable just for the safety aspect.

[TheIglu]

In my EX500's, the two riser tubes coming up from the head were mild steel.

I'm curious if the water pump impeller is also steel.

[Kurlon]

Where's Kurlon when you need him.

Not dealing with rust 'cause I flush the water + cool-aide out at the end of the season and switch to coolant for the winter. Granted, we actually have winter up here so slightly different situation to yours. Flush it out with lots of water first to assess how bad the issue is, if need be THEN try a chemical attack.

[Pittenger5]

Not dealing with rust 'cause I flush the water + cool-aide out at the end of the season and switch to coolant for the winter. Granted, we actually have winter up here so slightly different situation to yours. Flush it out with lots of water first to assess how bad the issue is, if need be THEN try a chemical attack.

I can flush it clear pretty easily, but then after running it for the year, itll be like loose baby shit brown regardless. So its there.
Also, I don't know what/how the previous owner treated it, so dunno if they just ran tap water or what.

[Tricky Mike]

[butcher bergs]

There's already tap water in there from when you flush with the hose. If you perform the system flush to remove the iron from the system, it should be done using only distilled water.

[Tricky Mike]

I know if your trombone is rusty you should work the slidey parts... Maybe with some lube?
I really have very little to offer this conversation.
Hi Dollar Bill.