adam_knox Posted December 8, 2009 Report Posted December 8, 2009 (edited) Hey gang! Local town idiot here, during the spring I swapped out my exhaust manifold, which, suprisingly, to me, dumped out some of my coolant. So I added water thinking, hey, I flush the radiator in July, haven't done it in two years to the car. July came and went, and now a mess of snow is on its way in about an hour! So here's what I'm doing, draining from the bottom radiator spout my diluted coolant, waiting a few minutes (car is running with the radiator cap off), and then pouring in straight concentrate. Well, it seems like I'm getting now where, because after a bottle and a half with the car idling at its normal 180 degrees its still about the same concentration (three floating balls). If I test the concentrate straight from the jug, 5 balls float. I totally get molarity and mixing concetrations.. My question is, when I'm draining the fluid from the bottom of the radiator, its cold. At the top, its warm. Is my coolant that good that it literally turns the water I'm draining cold or is the water not circulating. It's getting dark out and the car is sticking halfway out the garage, any tips or pointers would be gladly appreciated! BTW, I have the heater on, the tube from the heater is warm, the tube from the water pump to the heater is not warm... Okay, I'll be waiting for someone to point out something obvious I've overlooked:o, thanks! Edited December 8, 2009 by adam_knox Quote
james curl Posted December 8, 2009 Report Posted December 8, 2009 I did mine last week but I also drained the block with the pitcock valve just in front of the distrubtor. I added two gallons of straight anti freeze, not 50/50 mix and I can float all of the balls. If the water at the bottom is cold and not warm I would bet the thermostat is not all of the way open. You should have drained the entire radiator before adding any anti freeze. Quote
adam_knox Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Posted December 8, 2009 Thanks James! Yeah, it was the thermostat wasn't open, so I put some cardboard in front to get the temp up. Got it circulating right now. Hopefully when I turn it off it'll be good. I thought about draining the radiator completely first, but I was afraid I would get an air bubble or something stuck... The first time I replaced a water pump in the Mercury Topaz I had an air gap that overheated the car. I sometimes seem to learn the hard way, rather than the smart way.. Thanks for the tip! Quote
greg g Posted December 9, 2009 Report Posted December 9, 2009 The problem with modern cars that causes the air bubble deal is that the radiator is mounted so low in relation to the engine. with our old cars with the radiator expansipion tank well above water pump, and a non pressurized system the air bubble is not a concern. 3 balls at 170 degrees = 35 to 40% antifreeze good to -20 C, sronger math heads will need to interceed, but I thinks it pretty darn cold. Quote
Don Coatney Posted December 9, 2009 Report Posted December 9, 2009 Is there not a themperature correction for the number of floating balls? Or am I thinking about battery specific gravity? Quote
Normspeed Posted December 9, 2009 Report Posted December 9, 2009 Adam, once the thermostat opens, rev it a little and the old and new coolant will mix together. You'll know because both the upper and lower hoses will be warm to hot. Careful of the fan when you're checking the hoses, don't ask me how I know. It will take a while to open the thermostat at idle in cold weather, even with the cardboard blocking the airflow. If your old stuff was 50/50, I'm guessing that filling the entire rad with 100% mix will be stronger than a 50/50 total mix. Quote
RobertKB Posted December 9, 2009 Report Posted December 9, 2009 As long as there is some antifreeze in there you are good to go. Even if it is weak it will not freeze solid but gel instead. You wouldn't want to run the car that way as it will not circulate but you also will not crack your block as gelling is different than freezing solid like water. This is info that an old time mechanic gave me who was a John Deere shop foreman. I accept no responsibilty for information that I post as it is only my two cents worth and we all know that now-a-days that doesn't buy much. Quote
greg g Posted December 9, 2009 Report Posted December 9, 2009 specific gravity is effected by temperature of the fluid being checked. Your balls will remain the same. Quote
adam_knox Posted December 9, 2009 Author Report Posted December 9, 2009 Yeah, I'm just a little confused, as when I check the coolant from the top of the radiator, 3 balls float (so no change after 3 hours in the garage and 36 bucks of coolant). However, when I drain from the radiator, its like a party in the tester, all five balls are floating and having a blast! All the hoses were hot, so I'm hoping the gel theory is correct. I would have drained from the plug by the distrubuter, but I couldn't get back there. Can you guys make sure to remind me in spring to get that piece of cardboard out that's stuck behind the grill? Now I just have to hope my halogen lights have dried my backseat. They had a nice dusting of snow on them by the time I got the car back into the garage. You Southern folks have no idea how lucky you are! Thanks for clearing up about the air bubbles. Makes sense! Quote
knighthawk Posted December 9, 2009 Report Posted December 9, 2009 usally the radiators hold about the same as the eingine itself, so , just by deaining the radiator and refilling it with straight antifreeze, will give you a 50=50 mix. Just remember that pure antifreeze will jell up and not flow when it gets cold Quote
Don Coatney Posted December 10, 2009 Report Posted December 10, 2009 Your balls will remain the same. I cant tell you how glad I am to hear that! Quote
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