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| | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 476 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 476 | My new radiator cap on my 46 COE is very rusty inside. What can I do to stop the rust? Should I not be useing antifreze? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 136 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 136 | You should always run antifreeze. You can flush cooling system to remove rust but in these old trucks you may never get rid of it all. Could be coming from heater core also. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
What is the pressure setting of your radiator cap?
A variety pf types of "anti-freezing" solutions were used in 1946 (methanol, denatured alcohol, ethylene glycol, and glycerine) and some of them were corrosive. Are you using any type of anti-freeze? Straight water would be more corrosive than a modern anti-freeze (which have anti-corrosive compounds added).
It is very hard to remove rust and sediments from an installed engine/block. Drain and flush the system as suggested by Old Dollar. Then add a modern anti-freeze (usually 50-50 with water). I try to find anti-freeze that does not contain silicates (it also is usually less expensive).
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 422 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 422 | Chris, are you using a cap from the vendors? If so, they are junk, made in China. They have steel rather than brass on the under side. If you are using one of these go to a auto parts store and purchase one to suit your radiator. I have been there, done that. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 476 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 476 | The presure on my cap is 0 like original. I'm useing 50% antifrezze. My engine was totaly boiled out and cleaned My radiator cap is NOS. It's like the steam is rusting the bottom of the cap, fluid never touches it. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 374 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 374 | Mine did the same... I cleaned it up and painted the bottom side with Rustoleum though even that doesn't last forever, but is a low dollar remedy. | | |
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