I was plugging up the holes in the intake yesterday (where the smog pump used to be), and in order to get one of the plugs in, I had to pull off a hose from the carburetor. It went from the bottom of the carb to the water pump, and when I pulled it off, brown crap started pouring out everywhere. I opened up the radiator cap and saw the same stuff, so I'm assuming it was just dirty water. Do I just put more water in the radiator next time I run the car to take care of the problem? And BTW, is the water supposed to be that color, or do I need to do something?

 

sounds like a radiator flush might be in order.

 

Exactly! If you don't know how to flush your engine cooling system, get back and we'll lead you through the process.

 

Correct me if i'm wrong but your not supposed to have antifreeze running through your carb right?

 

That sounds like stop leak of some kind......

 

I had assumed he was talking about the intake manifold, and not the carb.

 

I'll look closer, but it might just be running through a little braket below the carb. Anyways, can you walk through the process of flushing the radiator?

 

This is how I do it.. There are a few variations, but this is what I do. Go get a gallon of anti-freeze, a bottle of "Water Wetter" and a plastic tube that will be inserted in the heater hose. It will be a water hose connection to the system so you can flush the entire system thoroughly. Here is a picture of where you will cut the hose and insert it, using two hose clamps. It is hooked into the heater hose that is at or near the thermostat housing. I have one inserted on both my hoses.


Now, take the radiator cap off, and turn the petcock on the bottom of the radiator and let it drain. Cut the heater hose and insert the plastic tube, and hook up the garden hose to it. Turn on the garden hose and let it run until the water looks clear. Next, put the garden hose in the radiator and flush it out. Put the cap back on the hose connection. Close the petcock, and fill the radiator full of just water. Put the radiator cap back on and start the car. Turn the heater on high, and wait until the thermostat opens, then let it run a few minutes. Kill it, and go get a beer or two. If you have an overflow tank, now is the time to take it off and clean it out thoroughly. Slowly remove the radiator cap to allow steam to escape. Once the cap is off, open the petcock again. And hook the water hose back up to the heater hose connection and turn the water on. When the water starts running clear, turn the engine off, turn the garden hose off and let it all drain. Start the engine and let it run for a minute or so to get the water out of the block and heater core and into the radiator where it can drain off. Put the cap back on the heater hose connection, and close the petcock. Get a clean bucket, or a gallon bottle and mix the anti-freeze with a 50-50 mixture of anti-freeze and distilled water. Do not use the garden hose water. This mixture is for most parts of the country, especially the colder climates. Some guys run a 30/70 etc.
Pour one gallon of this mixture into the radiator, then add the Wetter Water. If the radiator is still not full, add more mixture until it is. Put the radiator cap on and start the car. Keep the heater on high. Let it run until the thermostat opens, then run it a few more minutes. Do not overheat the engine. Turn off the engine and go get another beer or two or three. When the engine has cooled down, take the rad cap off and fill the radiator to the top. Start the car with the cap off and look down into the radiator. If the system is full the water level won't drop, but if the system still needs water, which most of the time it does, then add more mixture. If you are satisfied it is full, then put the cap back on and fill your reservoir about half full. Take the car out and drive it several blocks and watch the temp gauge carefully. If the gauge shows hot for more than a second or two stop.....let it cool down, then add more mixture. But if the gauge swings toward hot, then suddenly drops to cold, then you just have air in the system, and that is normal. Take the car home and kill it. You are done for the day.
Remember....do not use a comercial acid flush. Only use clear water. Also, if you live in a hot climate, then you might want to use a 30/70 or 20/80 mixture. Water cools better than anti-freeze.

On Edit: I forgot that I had taken the hose connection off my Mustang and just have a copper tubing there. Here is a pic of the hose connection on my Ford truck.

 

hoooray for beer!

when i have car problems i get a beer and a bigger hammer.

 

[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

Too bad we can't get good German beer here in Texas. Shiner is the nearest that the Texas micro breweries can come to a good German beer.