Page 1 of 1
Strange crystalline substance in coolant
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 4:57 pm
by GPO_Van
Hi, has anyone seen this before, a strange crystalline substance building up in the engine.
I have had the radiator re cored and had anti freeze in, could this relate to my previous topic on poor quality parts disintegrating.
Thanks for reading
Reg[frame]

[/frame][frame]

[/frame][frame]

[/frame][frame]

[/frame]
Re: Strange crystalline substance in coolant
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:32 pm
by amgrave
Has the car been standing for any length of time. I have seen this before, it is a reaction from the water on the aluminium casting of the thermostat housing (poor quality ones of course) and normally a strong solution of proper anti-freeze stops it forming along with the circulating coolant.
Re: Strange crystalline substance in coolant
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:27 pm
by JOWETTJAVELIN
Likewise I have only come across this in cars which haven't been run for a while. As far as I know it doesn't build up in the rest of the cooling system but it won't do any harm to flush it out.
I have had it on cars with the factory alloy castings so it applies to any car.
Re: Strange crystalline substance in coolant
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:39 pm
by Big Jim
Mine had stood for a few years and had exactly the some stuff in the thermostat housing , so much that the housing had corroded away under the rubber pipe . A good flush and all ok
Re: Strange crystalline substance in coolant
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:56 pm
by GPO_Van
My Traveller has been standing for 2 years since I rebuilt the engine, I just start it occasionally and move it up and down the drive (I have just a few bits of weld to finish but the person who I was introduced to, to do it has been ill with cancer, but is now in remission and we have just started the work again)
The AF is a blue ethylene glycol, and says it is ok with Ali.
Thanks for all your replies.