Coolant filter screen
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 889
From: tn
Good info.
Could learn a lot from truckers.
They should have tons of real world maintenance data.
I could put a DIY strainer in heater core hose. When strainer plugs only thing that would happen is heater wouldn't work till strainer cleaned.
Could learn a lot from truckers.
They should have tons of real world maintenance data.
I could put a DIY strainer in heater core hose. When strainer plugs only thing that would happen is heater wouldn't work till strainer cleaned.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,692
From: Houston, Texas
Dirty antifreeze will plug a paint strainer right now, imo if a person wants to torch an engine, put a screen in the cooling system.
There is a reason that OEM's don't use these.
There are purpose made inline filters for cooling systems, while I don't advise their use either, they would likely be better than a homemade "screen". I want to think that a purpose made filter would spread the area of the filter to an area much greater than the cross section of the hose, which is way, way too small for a filter.
A BETTER idea would be to use a "big truck" style filter, what they do is run a spin on filter through heater size hoses, this will filter the coolant without obstructing the cooling path (big hoses).
Do you get me? it is a bypass filter, not a full flow. (these filters also have a pellet with cooling system additives to extend coolant life indefinitely, pretty smart....)
There is a reason that OEM's don't use these.
There are purpose made inline filters for cooling systems, while I don't advise their use either, they would likely be better than a homemade "screen". I want to think that a purpose made filter would spread the area of the filter to an area much greater than the cross section of the hose, which is way, way too small for a filter.
A BETTER idea would be to use a "big truck" style filter, what they do is run a spin on filter through heater size hoses, this will filter the coolant without obstructing the cooling path (big hoses).
Do you get me? it is a bypass filter, not a full flow. (these filters also have a pellet with cooling system additives to extend coolant life indefinitely, pretty smart....)
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,469
From: AR
It isn't unusual to will run coolant for 500,000 miles or more in big trucks while changing the coolant filter every 30,000 miles or so.
Last edited by JMD; Nov 10, 2010 at 08:27 AM.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 889
From: tn
Those spin on heavy equipment conditioning coolant filters are readily available for about 10 bucks.
Wouldn't mind having one on 66 GMC heater hose or as a temporary maintenance filter on other car's heater hoses.
A bit on the overkill side.
Wouldn't mind having one on 66 GMC heater hose or as a temporary maintenance filter on other car's heater hoses.
A bit on the overkill side.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 469
From: The garage (near SF bay- Calif)
Just get some Extended Service Prestone and it's good for more than 5 years.
You'll spend way more than the $10 cost of fluid on that filter contraption that
may or may not work, plus spend way more time to install.
BTW: The regular Prestone is good for 2+ years.
The corrosion inhibitors in coolant wears out in a certain time and a filter won't replace those, it will
just filter out more rust that the corrosion inhibitors are no longer there to prevent.
Last edited by 1971mach1; Nov 10, 2010 at 11:19 AM.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 889
From: tn
OK, so I'm a lil crazy.
I have seen particulates trapped in filter after coolant flush was performed.
I know that typical coolant flush procedure will not completely clean system.
I am not equipped to remove all tap water post flush.
I know that tap water can promote scaling more than distilled water.
I know of countless cooling systems that decline in performance over the years.
JMD educated me that heavy equipment uses conditioning coolant filters routinely.
I have seen particulates trapped in filter after coolant flush was performed.
I know that typical coolant flush procedure will not completely clean system.
I am not equipped to remove all tap water post flush.
I know that tap water can promote scaling more than distilled water.
I know of countless cooling systems that decline in performance over the years.
JMD educated me that heavy equipment uses conditioning coolant filters routinely.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 432
From:
I made mine from a spagetti strainer,,,wraped it around the handle of a large screw driver and cut the excess off,,,,,stuffed into the return tube of the radiator and folded the excess over the end and then slipeed the hose of it it,,kinda a pain to flush but works for 8 bucks
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 889
From: tn
Conditioning coolant filter
I have 3 rides scheduled for flush.
Don't want to introduce tap water due to possible scaling issues.
I bought some spin on coolant filter heads and some 30 micron conditioning filters w/ 1 oz time release DCA. Will install in heater hoses. May leave filter on truck and remove filters from Mustangs once satisfied solids are filtered out.
When DCA is expired I will introduce type 4 LCA as required per test strips.
To minimize O2 in systems I am installing coolant recovery tanks.
Thanks.
Don't want to introduce tap water due to possible scaling issues.
I bought some spin on coolant filter heads and some 30 micron conditioning filters w/ 1 oz time release DCA. Will install in heater hoses. May leave filter on truck and remove filters from Mustangs once satisfied solids are filtered out.
When DCA is expired I will introduce type 4 LCA as required per test strips.
To minimize O2 in systems I am installing coolant recovery tanks.
Thanks.