Cascade Crew

aaron_sK

Working on a beater Buick. Car sat for years. Somebody dumped a bunch of sealer or some crap into the coolant. Rust colored, and comes out with the consistency of clay.

Backflushed the radiator with tap water, and it flows fine now, but the engine kept acting like a stuck t-stat (upper rad hose hard as a rock). Pulled the stat out of it and ran water from the tap straight into the intake. Backed up right away and only came out as a small trickle from the water pump.

What's the best quick and dirty way to flush all that crap? Is there a preferred chemical, or should I just pressurize the intake off the tap and try to force it all out?

chevymad · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:23 pm Post subject:

There used to be a powder you could add. Stuff would foam and get real hot.. Radiator and everything would be hot from the reaction. Cleaned things up excellent. I don't think you can get it now. Most all of the different flush's i've seen are just soapy water now. At least over the counter stuff.

Maybe a truck place or radiator shop might have it?

chevymad · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject:

BTW if its true bars leak.. I dont think you'll get rid of it. It's basically a silicate coating.

Just read that some people are having success with cascade dishwasher crystals. Might be worth a try. Cheap enough.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject:

I found the thing on using Cascade on Google just now. Just crazy enough to work, and I happen to have some right here (name brand too Razz

).

iansane · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 6:38 pm Post subject:

Al Hasse · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject:

chevymad · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 7:14 pm Post subject:

Well the bottle did warn you it would eat through the radiator if you left it in too long! Laughing

RSFreak · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 10:01 am Post subject:

Just like that exhaust manifold dressing you used to be able to get from Giote's Garage. One of the chemicals used to make the stuff is no longer available 'cause it was environmentally unfriendly. Sad

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:40 pm Post subject:

So I suppose I should report back on this madness.

I did indeed try the Cascade automatic dishwash gel, and it totally worked. Shocked

I didn't even use that much either, maybe half a cup at the most.

No suds from it (seeing as it gets aerated through the dishwasher's pump anyhow). It broke the bars leak stuff apart; previously it had come out like small clumps of clay. After the detergent went through it came out all sluiced and looking like dirty dishwater.

After that, I ran a hose into the bottom of the water pump while the car was running and blew all the chunks out. Thing runs like a top now. Very Happy

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 6:08 am Post subject:

Oh yes the good ol "clog-leak". I hate selling that stuff to customers, but if their ghetto ass wants it by a means I'll be more than happy to take the commission.

Crazy side note, did anyone see that episode of myth busters where they clogged a hiker in a radiator with a raw egg? It worked like a charm! they also used soda as a coolant.

-jake

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 8:15 am Post subject:

Alumaseal

BluFbdy · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject:

man i hate that sealant crap, everybody wants to use it as a bandaid instead of actually fixing the problem lol Like my dad, hes got 300k miles on his powerpuke work truck, found out it had a leak and poured 2 bottles in O_o

Ive used the cascade thing before, except i used the power and not the gel, it sounds about right and it worked, and who wouldnt like lemon scented coolant?!

Ive heard of pissing in the radiator but not using soda that seems like a bad idea lol sugar and heat dont mix too well id imagine thatd clog some small holes tho?