Dorks and radiators

[SuperSix]

Decided it was time to flush the cooling system in my 87 Regal.. I pull a 21' boat and hopefully a Waverunner with it, and it gets hot here in Florida. I picked up a handy-dandy Zerex back flushing kit, (Great unti @ $4.95) and went for the radiator petcock as indicated in the instructions to drain the radiator. First I noticed it wasn't on the bottom, in the stock location, so I searched, and found a bolthead on the right-hand side, facing rearward. I figured it was a drain plug, and put a socket on it to take it off. It basically fell off, after only one-two socket turns, and fell into the radioatr support tray. The radiator still had coolant on it, and it was warm, but nothing came out. I figured it was a spare fitting for something, and realized I had to take the lower hose off to drain it. I did so, flushed it, filled it with 1/2gal Dexcool, 1 bottle of Red Line Water Wetter, and topped it off with water. Put it all back together, cleaned up, washed my hands, and was ready to go in. OUt of the corner of my eye, I see orange fluid (Dexcool) shooting out under the right-hand side of the car, I pop the hood, the new coolant mix is spewing out where the plug/bolt had been, all $10.00 of it. :|
I still hadn't looked at the plug that came out, and after draining and remnoving the radiator, I realized what had happened. Whoever had the car before me had replaced the radiator, and didn't have a brass petcock to put in the drain hole. THey decided to put in a steel bolt to seal the drain plug hole. Well, steel in a brass radiator in a corrosive environment doesn't work. Looks like the bolt had just "rotted" away in that environment, to the point where there was only 2-3 threads left on the bolt. I went to the aotu parts store, got a 1/4NPT BRASS petcock, wrapped it with teflon tape, and installed it. Put the radiator back in, filled it with yet another 1/2gal Dexcool, and Water Wetter, and all is fine now..

Moral of the story kids, don't use steel bolts to seal off a radiator drain hole.

Argh..

 

[IGBT]

Hope ya hosed off the spilled anti freeze other wise all the night critters will come along and lick it up and die...flush the drive way pleeeease.

 

[geno]

<< Hope ya hosed off the spilled anti freeze other wise all the night critters will come along and lick it up and die...flush the drive way pleeeease. >>


yeah, don't want animals hangin around your car, they might poop on your hood or somethin

 

[tdog44632]

No way an 87 Regal can pull a 21 foot boat safely. It might do it but your brakes are just asking for trouble. get a vehicle with a frame, if you want to tow boat and waverider.

Tony

 

[SuperSix]

<< No way an 87 Regal can pull a 21 foot boat safely. It might do it but your brakes are just asking for trouble. get a vehicle with a frame, if you want to tow boat and waverider.

Tony >>




Ummm.. WRONG!

87 Regals have a full frame. My trailer has surge disc brakes, and stops well. I have a class 3 hitch, tranny cooler, 4BBl V8, and a posi rear end. I love watching the macho guys with their pickups trying to pull a 21' boat out of the water.. "Hey buddy! Can ya come over here and jump on my tailgate so my tires don't spin?"

Thanks for playing..

 

[SuperSix]

<< Hope ya hosed off the spilled anti freeze other wise all the night critters will come along and lick it up and die...flush the drive way pleeeease. >>



I always had a hose flowing over the area..

I had to shoo off a dove that stopped for a drink..

 

[slag]

hmm, I thought dexcool wasnt used till post 1994 gm vehicles..

Could be wrong, but thought I read it somewhere.

 

[yakko]

<<

<< No way an 87 Regal can pull a 21 foot boat safely. It might do it but your brakes are just asking for trouble. get a vehicle with a frame, if you want to tow boat and waverider.

Tony >>




Ummm.. WRONG!

87 Regals have a full frame. My trailer has surge disc brakes, and stops well. I have a class 3 hitch, tranny cooler, 4BBl V8, and a posi rear end. I love watching the macho guys with their pickups trying to pull a 21' boat out of the water.. "Hey buddy! Can ya come over here and jump on my tailgate so my tires don't spin?"

Thanks for playing.. >>

hahahaha
Nice smackdown.

 

[SuperSix]

<< hmm, I thought dexcool wasnt used till post 1994 gm vehicles..

Could be wrong, but thought I read it somewhere. >>



It wasn't, but it's great for all cars. Cool color too!