The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Copper in the Coolant?

Well I'm having a bit of an issue with my 1951 235. I finished up a basic "bandaid" overhaul back in December, and have drove the truck about 15 miles with about 45 minutes of idle time in the past few months. It's always ran fine with no issues.

Today I checked the oil and antifreeze...everything looked and smelt good (I always smell the oil in case gas gets in the crankcase). It fired right up and I took it for a drive, about 10 miles. When I got home I crawled underneath and saw a few drops of antifreeze clinging under the truck. I opened the radiator cap, and the antifreeze level looked a bit higher than it was before. I looked all around and concluded the antifreeze droplets were coming from the overflow tube. Whew! After a little bit the coolant level seemed to go back down a little bit, so I'm a little confused there (unless my eyes were just deceiving me).

Now the big kicker...there's a lot of what looks like copper flakes swirling around on the top of the antifreeze that have never been there before (even before I took it for a drive today they weren't there). The only thing I could think of is that came from the head gasket, which I used Permatex Copper Spray-a-gasket on, like I do on all of my head gaskets I install. I've never had an issue. Just spray it on, let it get a bit tacky, install, and torque the head down in increments.

A while back I did have an issue of antifreeze seeping out between the head and block on the right side of the engine (just a tiny weep...it never would run down the side of the block), but it's mostly stopped itself from leaking. What I can't figure out is why the flakes started showing up just now, and not before. I used the Copper Spray-a-Gasket on the head gasket, manifold gaskets, and carburetor base mounting gasket, but I can't see how the copper flakes from the gasket sealer are getting in the coolant. I'm beginning to get worried. I checked the oil again and it hadn't decreased or risen any, and is still clean.
I will try to upload a photo of what I'm seeing in the radiator in a little while.

Any advice appreciated!

Sounds like normal expansion when the coolant gets hot

One possibility for the flakes might be if someone in the past added a stop leak to the coolant. Some may have broken loose from the heater core (if there is one) and moving around in the system, or maybe some dislodged from the radiator.

Maybe some had settled in the engine block and after driving it and running it a bit the sealer has been dislodged and moving around.

Sorry I missed your call yesterday. Busy with the farm. The copper flakes are nothing to worry about. The rise of coolant is fairly normal. You might want to install an overflow tank. Unless the temp is getting above the 220 mark I wouldn't worry about it. Since you have a few miles on it now and have gone through a few heat/cooling cycles you might consider re-torquing the head bolts. You got this.

Little specs of rust look like copper but they are not. I have little specs i mine that don't go into solution and they are harmless.

Unless there's a great deal of debris floating around, just ignore it. Chances are it's leftover leak sealer from a previous shade tree radiator fix.
Jerry

Hey guys...after reading how to post photos, I'm still a little confused, but here goes. Hopefully the link works. This album should include a photo and a short video of the copper stuff floating around in the coolant.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cryAJhhO7amGyxvf1

Fish out that gook with a teaspoon and keep on driving. Just residual stuff left in the block/head from the rebuild. Again, retorque the head.🛠

Thanks, Martin. I have an old turkey baster I can use to get most of it out. I did retorque the head after putting about 10 miles on the truck and after a few good heat up/cool down cycles. I might would do it again, but I actually just put the valve cover back on a couple days ago and got it good and sealed (so far). Do you think it's something I still need to do?

Nope, if you’ve already done it. All is well, drive it like you stole it!

Sounds good! Thanks! Hopefully it'll be ready for Small Town Weekend!