Ed W Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Does anyone know what I can use to clean the expansion bottle on the cooling system? It is coated in a layer of sludge! I have tried filling with hot water but it does not touch it. Will try neat vinegar next! Thanks Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Seem to recall a suggestion of filling with a mix of water and sand/rice or similar to act as an abrasive agent on the film coating the inside. Never tried it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Dishwasher or washing machine tablet, fill with boiling water and leave to soak for 20-30 minutes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Cleaned mine with a mixture of water and uncooked rice. Worked a treat. Just make sure you get all of the rice out of the expansion bottle before refitting it!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Uncooked rice I added brake cleaner, a dab of petrol & some turps to help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colindavies56 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 there's some wet wipes on the market called GRIME BOSS, these wipes are for the garage/workman,and are single ply,but one side is smooth,and the other is ruff for stubborn grime,hence,grime boss.these wipes come in a black packet. buying these help keep me employed,so buy 2 pack's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooh_R Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I'll support TomB's suggestion. Uncooked rice and some brake cleaner does a great job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discovolante Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 *thumbup*uncooked rice works really well. (be sure and get it all out afterwards tho) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Ultrasonic cleaner - with some mild detergent in it's come up like new, inside and outside. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keybaud Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Quoting Ed W: Does anyone know what I can use to clean the expansion bottle on the cooling system? It is coated in a layer of sludge! I have tried filling with hot water but it does not touch it. Will try neat vinegar next! Thanks Ed This usually means that your head gasket has gone or your cylinder head is cracked, if the 'sludge' is emulsified oil and water. The best way to remove it is to use biological washing liquid/powder, but make sure it is thoroughly rinsed afterwards to remove any salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydragon Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Mines always developed a thin layer of sludge/gunk on the upper half of the expansion tank and I've had the engine/head rebuilt several times and it's always been like that, so don't think it's a sign of HGF.... I use brake cleaner to clean. Pour some in (having taken expansion bottle off car!) and swill round vigorously. Repeat to clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed W Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Thanks for info! Dish washer tablet, followed by rice! Job done Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keybaud Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Quoting skydragon: Mines always developed a thin layer of sludge/gunk on the upper half of the expansion tank and I've had the engine/head rebuilt several times and it's always been like that, so don't think it's a sign of HGF.... I use brake cleaner to clean. Pour some in (having taken expansion bottle off car!) and swill round vigorously. Repeat to clean. You can get the emulsified oil and water sludge after a head rebuild if the coolant isn't flushed through properly after the build. It took me 4 or 5 flushes with washing powder to remove all traces; however, if you get the same problem when there isn't an obvious point at which the coolant could have been contaminated, you may want to ask how the sludge got there. This assumes that the sludge is emulsified oil and water and not just crap from an engine that's never been cleaned through properly. Edited by - keybaud on 19 Apr 2013 20:03:13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lynch Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 Replaced with later round one Mine was coated with neat coolant rather than diluted (not my doing). Didn't have a clue what the level was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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