Oil in antifreeze - how not to flush the cooling system
Content
One of the main systems of a car engine is the lubrication and cooling system. In normal and good condition, they are closed circuits, so the oil and antifreeze circulating in them do not mix. If the tightness of some elements is broken, oil can enter the coolant. If this happens, it is necessary to urgently establish and eliminate the cause, as well as flush the cooling system with high quality.
Consequences of oil getting into antifreeze
If you do not pay attention to the fact that oil has got into the coolant and do not eliminate the cause, then the following consequences will appear:
- wear of bearings, as they are destroyed by the resulting aggressive environment;
- the diesel engine can jam, as water enters the cylinders and a water hammer occurs;
- the lines and pipes of the cooling system are clogged, and it stops working normally.
Flushing aids
As a means for flushing, car owners resort to the following methods.
Water
It is necessary to prepare distilled or at least boiled water. This option can be used only if the cooling system is slightly dirty. Water is poured into the radiator, after which the engine is heated to operating temperature and everything is drained. To get rid of the emulsion, you will have to repeat the procedure 5-6 times. This is an ineffective way of flushing the system from oil, but it is the most affordable.
Milk serum
You can use whey. Before use, the serum must be filtered through cheesecloth to remove any clots and sediment present in it. Craftsmen recommend different periods of whey in the cooling system. Some drive 200-300 km with it, others fill it in, warm up the engine and drain it.
If, after draining the whey, it contains a lot of clots and oily formations, then it is recommended to repeat the cleaning procedure.
Fairy
Use Fairy or a similar dishwashing detergent. 200–250 grams of such a product is poured into a large amount of water, depending on the degree of contamination of the system, and stirred. The motor is warmed up and left for 15–20 minutes.
If there are a lot of impurities in the liquid after draining, then the procedure is repeated. During flushing, the detergent begins to foam heavily, so the condition of the expansion tank must be monitored. This option helps to effectively remove oil from the system, but its disadvantage is the formation of a large amount of foam. It is necessary to flush the system several times with water until the remaining detergent is removed.
Automatic powder
This option is similar to the use of dishwashing detergents, so it does the same job of clearing oil out of the system. The advantage is that less foam is generated when using the automatic powder. When creating a solution, add 1 tablespoon of powder per liter of water.
Diesel fuel
This is the most effective folk method. Diesel fuel is poured into the system, the engine is warmed up and the diesel fuel is drained. The procedure is repeated at least two times, and before pouring antifreeze, it is washed with water.
Some people fear that the diesel oil could ignite or damage the pipes. Craftsmen claim that nothing like this happens and the method works very effectively. In order to warm up the engine faster, it is recommended to remove the thermostat when flushing with diesel fuel.
Video: flushing the cooling system with diesel fuel
Special fluids
In the store, you can purchase special fluids for flushing the cooling system. This is the best option for cleaning the cooling system from oil, but more expensive than using traditional methods.
Each such tool has instructions on which to act. A certain amount of a special liquid is poured into the system. Let the engine run for 30-40 minutes and drain, and then flush the system with water.
Video: how to flush the cooling system from the emulsion
Flushes that don't work
Not all folk methods are really effective from the trapped oil:
- Cola, Fanta, Sprite is an effective way to remove scale and rust, but it does not do well with oily deposits. In addition, it will be necessary to then rinse the system well with water to remove sugar residues.
To flush the cooling system, mix 1 part soda and 1 part water or antifreeze. - Rinsing with citric acid effectively helps to remove rust, but the method does not cope well with oily deposits. In addition, prolonged contact with acid of metal parts leads to the formation of corrosion.Per liter of distilled water take 50-100 grams of acid
- Previously, "Whiteness" was often used to clean the cooling system. However, it contains chlorine, which causes corrosion of aluminum parts, and most modern cars have an aluminum radiator. The higher the temperature of such a composition, the more actively this non-ferrous metal is damaged."WHITENESS" damages aluminum, so it is not recommended to use it to clean the cooling system
- Soda - it will not help to effectively deal with oily deposits, but this method is suitable for removing scale and rust. It is recommended to dilute 100 grams of baking soda in a liter of water and flush the cooling system with this solution.Baking soda cannot effectively fight oily deposits
Precautions and nuances of flushing
When self-flushing, it is best to use special products that are selected depending on the contamination (oil, scale, rust). Most traditional methods will not be as effective as using special fluids.
Please note that folk remedies are not always cheaper than special ones. In addition, their application takes longer. For example, to remove foam from the system after using dishwashing detergents, you will need to rinse it at least 10 times.
Distilled or boiled water must be used to flush the engine with any means. If you take tap water, limescale forms during heating.
There are many ways to flush the cooling system if oil gets into it. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. In order to prevent serious consequences, it is necessary to periodically monitor the state of the antifreeze and, when the first signs of oil get into it, eliminate the causes and flush the system.
