Rusty water jackets. Engine sitting for 7 years

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SRT_DSTRHOLC

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I have a friends car whose engine has been sitting for 7 years, in the car. Looks like it was never completely flushed before sitting and now there is probably some rust build up in the jackets. I wanted to hear opinions on filling engine with vinegar for a week and letting it sit and then flushing with water and washing baking soda to neutralize it all or any other better ideas before starting her up
 
Just pull the pipe plugs out of the water jackets and drain it. Might be able to flush it through the thermostat housing opening after that.
 
There is a over the counter engine flush that I used couple years age and it worked . It can be left in system for several days but I didn't . Caution: this stuff will kill grass in a heartbeat . I'd use it again . I paid a repair garage twice to flush my block and heater . Beats them every time .
 
I had the same issue with a motor once. I took the thermostat out and filled it with water and ran it at high and low rpm's then pulled the lower hose to drain it quick. It took 5 times or so to do mine before it stayed clear then I added straight antifreeze to mix with the water that was left in the block.
 
stripped some wheels with pool acid, worked great but flash rusted in about 5 minutes. If you use it follow up with antifreeze ASAP. Vinegar would be safer over a week or molasses or any de-ruster on the market.
 
A good friend of mine used vinegar on a 66 289, it had a lot of crap in the block (it was nasty!!). It took a few rinses with the vinegar (letting it sit in the block overnight). Make sure you "clean" rinse real good. After he got the majority of the corrosion/rust out of the jackets he sent it to the machine shop for overhaul. When he installed the engine and got it all hooked up he installed one of those clear tubes (with a screen) into the upper radiator hose. As the engine was running the tube/screen caught all the remaining junk, he removed and cleaned the screen every 2 weeks. He's had that tube/screen installed for about 2 months now and it no longer is catching anything so he plans to remove it pretty soon.
Just get on Google and you'll find many explanations on how to use the vinegar....



treblig
 
I guess no one reads my posts anymore... I'm trying to do this before starting the car. I appreciate the tips for when the car is running, but I would like to know what to do BEFORE starting the car
 
I guess no one reads my posts anymore... I'm trying to do this before starting the car. I appreciate the tips for when the car is running, but I would like to know what to do BEFORE starting the car

Just an FYI if you are interested.
You can knock out the two front freeze plugs and use a section of fuel line with the end bent connected to a garden hose to rinse the entire block out.
That way you can direct the stream and it gets the chunks that settled around the cylinder bases that vinegar won't remove.
 
Just an FYI if you are interested.
You can knock out the two front freeze plugs and use a section of fuel line with the end bent connected to a garden hose to rinse the entire block out.
That way you can direct the stream and it gets the chunks that settled around the cylinder bases that vinegar won't remove.
Thats a good idea, I'll wait to see if there are any easier ones without having to remove freeze plugs
 
The water jacket taps are down low on the oil pan rail. you can open those (pipe plugs) and drain the block but they are pretty small and undoubtedly clogged with rust. Punch then through once you remove the plugs and coolant will run out. Run some motor flush and use these to drain.
 
The water jacket taps are down low on the oil pan rail. you can open those (pipe plugs) and drain the block but they are pretty small and undoubtedly clogged with rust. Punch then through once you remove the plugs and coolant will run out. Run some motor flush and use these to drain.
How do i run motor flush... If the car isn't running?
 
Several years ago, I was advised by a fellow car nut to use Borax. I don't even know if they make it any more. It used to be in the same section and laundry soap. I mixed it in hot water, poured it in the thermostat hole (all other plugs and holes blocked), let it sit for a while, opened side plugs and rinsed with hose under pressure through thermostat hole. I did that several times, and I got a BUNCH of stuff out of it.
 
How do i run motor flush... If the car isn't running?
you are making a big deal out of nothing. just drain the block, radiator and remove Tstat, add fresh water and quart of CLR.
Start engine, run until thoroughly warm, shut down and let sit for 24hrs. run engine again until warm, drain, then flush with clean water, replace all hoses and refill with antifreeze.
 
you are making a big deal out of nothing. just drain the block, radiator and remove Tstat, add fresh water and quart of CLR.
Start engine, run until thoroughly warm, shut down and let sit for 24hrs. run engine again until warm, drain, then flush with clean water, replace all hoses and refill with antifreeze.
The water pump was rusted stuck... The water pump passages in the block were blocked by rust... Let me know how I'm making a big deal out of a date coded rare engine for a numbwrs matching car
 
The water pump was rusted stuck... The water pump passages in the block were blocked by rust... Let me know how I'm making a big deal out of a date coded rare engine for a numbwrs matching car
7 years ? after neglect the previous 20. if the water jackets are that rusty, the cylinders and the rest of the internals are probably wasted.
save yourself and engine some grief. pull it and do it right.
FWIW firing up old engines is my pastime.
 
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After neglect the previous 20? Owner just wants to get car running to move. Engine turns over freely, not other issues seen.
 
If the motor is in the car use the vinegar not strait but 30 % water let it set a couple of days. Drain flush with washing soda. You may have to change the hoses and freeze out plugs any how. Just flush well
 
After neglect the previous 20? Owner just wants to get car running to move. Engine turns over freely, not other issues seen.
if you are sure of no internal damage. Remove old water pump, flush engine with water, install new water pump and do what is said above.
 
CLR, Borax, acid (vinegar) molasses...use whatever you want. no need to run motor. Just fill to brim, soak and drain out of Post #2 pipe plugs (my post too) Running motor would just get things hot and moving. Id pull the pump if its still in the car and direct a hose into one side of the timing cover. Youll eject some stuff but most stuff will be on the bottom at the drains. Once you get the motor running (rusty jackets or not) then you can get some caustic stuff churning in there for a proper in the car cleanout. Squirt some oil in the cylinders prior to starting to help seat the rings again. and check oil prior. No use cleaning a motor that will seize if its started with no oil.
 
Popping those two front facing plugs and rinsing isn't looking so complicated after all is it? :D
 
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