Miatapower List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Wiseman, Curtis J" <(email redacted)>

I always flush my cooling system with water (fill, warm, drain, fill, warm,
drain, fill with coolant mix, stop) but is that good enough? Does anybody
recommend a more thorough technique or product?

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Dawson [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 10:44 AM
To: (email redacted)
Cc: (email redacted)
Subject: Re: 97 Pinging Stumper

What was the condition of the coolant? How often has the coolant
been changed? Do you have any information on the state of the
interior of the block, i.e. corrosion, etc.? I ask this because
poor heat transfer from the area of the cylinders in the block is
a common cause of "overheating" in the cylinders and thus
"pinging" under heavy load at high rpm's, as you describe.

Severe deterioration of the coolant can happen over the course of
mere _days_ if there had been a leak in the cooling system
somewhere. If the coolant had been allowed to deteriorate, then
buildup of scale and corrosion in the cooling system could be severe.

This is just something to consider. Many of the other suggestions
are also good.

Doug Dawson
(email redacted)

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Ackley, Ray (R.A.)" <(email redacted)>

If you follow the procedure you described below with tap water you will wind up with roughly 40% tap water (if my memory is correct) and 60% coolant mix. This is because the water from your flushing will still be contained in the engine block/etc. This is about 30% coolant and my not be safe from freezing depending on your geographical location. You should probably use distilled water only when flushing, but to me it seems like a bit of a waste. I flushed my radiator about 5-6 times before winter set in. After it was totally clear I used 50/50 mix for most of the radiator fill and then added pure coolant as needed to obtain the correct 50/50 mix. You can test for this with a hydrometer.

Also, make sure you have your heater on full heat when you're flushing your system.

Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: Wiseman, Curtis J [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 12:01 PM
To: (email redacted)
Subject: Coolant / Corrosion , was: 97 Pinging Stumper


I always flush my cooling system with water (fill, warm, drain, fill, warm, drain, fill with coolant mix, stop) but is that good enough? Does anybody recommend a more thorough technique or product?

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Dawson [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 10:44 AM
To: (email redacted)
Cc: (email redacted)
Subject: Re: 97 Pinging Stumper

What was the condition of the coolant? How often has the coolant been changed? Do you have any information on the state of the interior of the block, i.e. corrosion, etc.? I ask this because poor heat transfer from the area of the cylinders in the block is a common cause of "overheating" in the cylinders and thus "pinging" under heavy load at high rpm's, as you describe.

Severe deterioration of the coolant can happen over the course of mere _days_ if there had been a leak in the cooling system somewhere. If the coolant had been allowed to deteriorate, then buildup of scale and corrosion in the cooling system could be severe.

This is just something to consider. Many of the other suggestions are also good.

Doug Dawson
(email redacted)

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Ralph Alder" <(email redacted)>


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ackley, Ray (R.A.)" <(email redacted)>
>
> Also, make sure you have your heater on full heat when you're flushing
your system.
>


To correct a common misconception...you can turn the heater to full ON or
full OFF, but it won't make any difference with the flush. Coolant
circulates thru the heater core all the time. The only thing the heater
control lever does is open a flapper door to allow air to blow over the
coils and into the interior. There is no valve that shuts off coolant into
the heater core on a Miata.

Ralph Alder
Tustin, CA
'90 Classic Red w/Yellow Stripes
Team Orphan Aerodyne