this is what it looked like last night this morning i took all the radiator hoses off and washed them, flushed the radiator etc... now i just need to get rid of the water and put coolant in, is it bad to run on tap water for a couple of days? and how do i flush the engine block? i have no idea where the plugs are, any pictures please?
That looks very much like RUST to me! Given that it is already in this condition, flushing it out(and running it with tap water for a couple(2-3)days)is not going to make a lot of difference to what has already happened by now, IMHO. Put a garden hose in the header tank, turn it on low, then let the engine stand for a while(with the bottom hose disconnected)until the water runs clear. After that, follow the Tech Guide for refilling with a decent Coolant. Report back if things don't seem correct after that.:zlove:
Don't run it on straight water, flush it as we have suggested. Running it for a couple of days with nothing but straight tap water was a dumb suggestion...
i disconnected both top and bottom hoses from the engine, i shoved a garden hose in the top one but nothing or very little was coming out of the bottom one?
Gotta follow directions dude... Your trying to reverse flush it, most likely with the thermostat closed..., Do like I said; remove top hose and start engine. Water pump will circulate water which will work through the motor and out the top hose. Keep garden hose running in the top of the radiator so as the system doesn't run dry. And considering the state of your coolant is be using a flush like the nulon one I linked too. Oh and keep the heater on throughout the process so as you're flushing the heater core too.
FYI the latest auto one catalogue turned up in my letterbox this evening. Nulon flush is $9.95 and pre mix coolant $6.95 fit five litres -so no excuses for not doing it right!
I just realised your in WA, what suburb are you in? i could probly help you out if you wanted a experienced hand.
a garden hose flush is not going to do much good with that. take it to a radiator shop, first cab off the rank is to get a power flush (this is a pressuried hose flushing water with a chemical to get rid of that crap, the thermostat is also removed to clean it properly), next would be to rod that radiator or at least let it soak to get the rust and anything else out of it. then obviously new thermostat and a good 50/50 mix of tectaloy coolant. let us know how it goes