While running the engine and flushing with clean water, the water flowed out of the engine with a little rust on the surface - not thick brown sludge.
After adding muratic acid and running for awhile, the mocha-colored water flowed out of the radiator. This too was only dross on the surface and not thick sludge. I see in the photo that there were actually bubbles in it so maybe that's an indication of exhaust gasses.
I dared to open the engine block drain cock and to my surprise it wasn't crusted up or corroded and it didn't break off. I opened it with my thumb and forefinger without pliers. Except for an initial few drops of rust water, it immediately flowed crystal clear and continued to do so.
The rust seen when I removed the T stat seemed only to be a small amount , probably from the cast iron T stat housing. No real thick crud was found. Even though the pictures look like a lot of sludgy rust in the housing, it actually doesn't come off on your fingers after flushing.
Th inside of the radiator is shiny copper/brass color with no slime or crap coming off on my fingers when I stuck them in.
Even though I couldn't see water flowing in the top of the radiator - even at higher rpm, plenty of water chugged out of the upper hose when removed from the radiator.
The radiator drained as this weentr on I presume due to the action of the water pump. Can a water pump be only working at partial capacity?
It sure would be easier to replace the pump than a head gasket.
Anyway, after closing everything back up and filling the system with water only, the temp stayed at 180 while idling but crept up to 195-200 wihile driving around.
I'll perform the test(s) to determine whether a head gasket is leaking. I have to decide whether to do it 40 mi away where I have no tools and equipment and have to remember to take out everything I need, or have it towed back to Rancho Relaxo and do it here.
I don't want to risk cracking a head by driving it, even if I can keep the temp below boiling.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
