[Guest]

my Grand Marq overheated last night. The shop says the entire system
needs to be replaced? The main cause of O/H was nipple at back of block
worn and caused hose to fall out. A rust colored liquid was sprayed
all over the engine (from radiator). Can the coolant turn to a rust
color quickly or is it mainly do to time. Would a couple of flushes
clean the radiator out enough to call it good?

redbyrd

 

[Guest]

On 19 Jan 2006 12:56:18 -0800, "redbyrd" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>my Grand Marq overheated last night. The shop says the entire system
>needs to be replaced? The main cause of O/H was nipple at back of block
>worn and caused hose to fall out. A rust colored liquid was sprayed
>all over the engine (from radiator). Can the coolant turn to a rust
>color quickly or is it mainly do to time. Would a couple of flushes
>clean the radiator out enough to call it good?
>
>redbyrd

it is very possible that the rad can be flushed clean enough to
function acceptably.

I am assuming that the vehicle isn't under warranty, correct?

fill it up with an antifreeze mix,
Check for spongy hoses / breaking belts and run it. If it begins to
overheat pull over, wait 20 minutes and get another rad. If not,
drive the bugger, wait till the weather warms and put your summer car
on the road.

Used rad from a wrecker $30-$50, Used Antifreeze $10 a new hose $15
Continuing to drive your winter beater = priceless

 

[Guest]

what kind of antifreeze due you use? the new antifreeze looks like rust
color, could be that kind that sprayed all over your engine. i agree with
joe try flushing it out first.

 

[Guest]

By your description this sounds like a 5.0 powered G/M?
"redbyrd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> my Grand Marq overheated last night. The shop says the entire system
> needs to be replaced? The main cause of O/H was nipple at back of block
> worn and caused hose to fall out. A rust colored liquid was sprayed
> all over the engine (from radiator). Can the coolant turn to a rust
> color quickly or is it mainly do to time. Would a couple of flushes
> clean the radiator out enough to call it good?
>
> redbyrd
>

 

[Guest]

Year, mileage, use, service history.. these are some of the things that
would help form an opinion. Since your coolant was rust coloured, I would
hpld much hope.

With time and use, antifreeze coolant will loose it ability to protect
against corrosion... the Ph balance of the mixture will change and it can
become acidic. The coolant effectiely becomes "electrolyte", causing the
dis=similar metals to become the plates in an ad hoc battery. This also
means that material will start transferring between the anodes and cathodes
in the system.

Radiator core tubes will lose material and can become very thin and
brittle... solder joints can become weakened by thermocycling.. Indeed, the
nipple that signalled your current round of grief is most likely the victim
of corrosion and/or material erosion through electrolysis.

Patch-ups can be a gamble... for my part, I would study my situation and be
sure that I avoid having my smiling face on the 6 o'clock news as being the
driver at the very front of a major traffic jam....


"redbyrd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> my Grand Marq overheated last night. The shop says the entire system
> needs to be replaced? The main cause of O/H was nipple at back of block
> worn and caused hose to fall out. A rust colored liquid was sprayed
> all over the engine (from radiator). Can the coolant turn to a rust
> color quickly or is it mainly do to time. Would a couple of flushes
> clean the radiator out enough to call it good?
>
> redbyrd
>

 

[Guest]

.... $1300 later (that was the estimate for an entire cooling system
overhaul) Did I mention the year of the car '91. After talking with
the mech, we determined that yes the system could probably use an
entire overhaul, But in my case I just want to fix the major problem.
The cause was a "nipple" that sheared off. It somehow connects the
lower cooling hose from the throttle body to the block I think. I saw
the evidence. I asked that he replace the sheared "nipple" and two
throttle body hoses, run a pressure test- then call me. After that I
will probably ask that he flush the system and call it a day.

Q: anyone know the name for the part I referred to above - I called
Ford and it possible is a part of an EGR spacer? w/o seeing it he
could not be sure.

redbyrd

 

[Guest]

"redbyrd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> ... $1300 later (that was the estimate for an entire cooling system
> overhaul) Did I mention the year of the car '91. After talking with
> the mech, we determined that yes the system could probably use an
> entire overhaul, But in my case I just want to fix the major problem.
> The cause was a "nipple" that sheared off. It somehow connects the
> lower cooling hose from the throttle body to the block I think. I saw
> the evidence. I asked that he replace the sheared "nipple" and two
> throttle body hoses, run a pressure test- then call me. After that I
> will probably ask that he flush the system and call it a day.
>
> Q: anyone know the name for the part I referred to above - I called
> Ford and it possible is a part of an EGR spacer? w/o seeing it he
> could not be sure.
>
> redbyrd
>
That's what I thought. The original coolant is green, the heavy rust color
indicates it's now mostly water. It's very likely this is only the tip of
the ice burg. Expect the soft plugs to be a future problem. The radiator and
heater core are most likely filled with rust deposits, which I doubt very
much a flush of any kind will help. Look at the nipple very closely, I'll
bet you find it did not shear off, it rusted to the point that it fell
apart. The nipple is for cooling the EGR valve, there are two of them. They
are long enough that nothing is going to sheer them off. Fixing the major
problem is the whole cooling system. So $1300. dollars if the car is
important enough to you might be justified. But you have to look at the
hidden damage the rusty coolant has caused, something to think about.