paul0075
I've done 4x cooling system flushes on the 144 now. I am finding less stuff coming out, but still getting some muck out, which seems to be mostly old hose degradation.
The heater is working slightly better than before, but still pretty much lukewarm.
The main concern now is getting this heater to proper Volvo standard.
Should I continue the flushes further, or see what happens when the new hoses go on, as well as the new feeder pipes, pump and thermostat?
BradC
I forget, does the 1 series have the same thermostatic valve as the 2? I'd be tempted to suspect the valve more than the core, but if your system was that grunged up it's entirely possible the core is blocked. I remember the heater in the 1 series felt like it was trying to set fire to my hands at one point.
When I did my 144 from hazy memory I disconnected the core and reverse flushed it with a garden hose. Rough and ready. If its a thermo valve though, it wouldn't surprise me if the valve is had it.
paul0075
I have the standard thermostat in the top of the engine as usual, but I am not sure about how the rest of the cooling system operates.
How did you do your reverse flush? My block doesn't have the usual drain cock on the side of it, it's buried in deep but I suspect it is an Allen key plug or something similar. You can't actually see it, just the opening it is in.
BradC
The thermostat I refer to is actually in the heater valve, not the engine. It has been so long I don't recall the specifics of the 1 series heater valve or how it is plumbed.
I didn't reverse flush the block. I reverse flushed the heater core. So disconnect both hoses that connect the motor to the heater and poke a garden hose into one. You should get lots of brown snot out of the other which gradually becomes clear water.
Ex850R
I used aluminium cleaner , heavy duty chemical in my radiator as it is out for the R rebuild/renovation/onedayitwillgetfinished.
It sat there for days , not much came out of it...
Got at Supercheap I think.
Looked up bulk chemical supplier and they have stuff like it too. So next I will get that , rig up a system to flush the block with a 12v pump cos its not ready to run yet.
I want to use Water Wetter so the cleaner the better.
Haven't thought about heater core at all. This is the v70r so the chemical is only applicable thing here.....
paul0075
I have the feeling my heater core may have pipe particles in it. If I was to flush just the heater core in both directions, would I cause any issue doing it from the firewall hoses?
BradC
Nope. That's exactly how I'd do it.
egads
Firewall hoses ftw!
Tree
You could continue to get frustrated if you want it perfectly clean. I reckon get it to 80% clean then flush once every 3-4 months and thereafter til it's clean as you want.
paul0075
Thanks @Ex850R, @BradC, @egads and @Tree for the help and ideas. Guess what I will probably do tomorrow? LOL.
Question is, how difficult will it be to access those hoses?
BradC
Usually easy to access, but it's very likely they will be seriously stuck on the nipples so be very careful getting them off.
paul0075
Got the hoses off, one had to be cut.
Loads of rubber sludge in the heater core, from the 41 year old hoses. Took 3 hours to unblock it to a flow I was happy with.
Tomorrow, replacement of water pump, water pump to bottom radiator hose pipe, water pump to heater pipe, plus all cooling system and heater hoses. Waiting on replacement L-shaped pipe from head to top heater pipe. Mine has a hole in it. Gonna be a bitch to get the old one off - very limited work space and the old one is very fragile.
Also made the last of the big parts orders tonight, which marks the last stuff I hope I need for rego.
Tree
Gigidy Gigidy alright!!!
BradC
Score. Yeah, cutting the hoses is often the way to do it, you just need to be super careful not to put a scratch or score in the nipples or they're almost guaranteed to leak later.
I bet you get heat now!
paul0075
I hope it heats up now. Still need it for a few more weeks here in Canberra, mostly at night or early in the morning.
So much work to do to and so little time till the OzVolvo meet.
BradC
Don't rush it, there's always next year. Rush the chef you get a lousy meal.
paul0075
Very true. I will see how we go. I have this morning and tomorrow morning plus this Sat and Sun.
Parts are still coming in the post.
Just spent $750 last night in less than 10 min with 3 different suppliers.
But the OzVolvo meet deadline did get me motivated to finish the car LOL