Head gasket advice needed

[Skrapbob]

92 GL (automatic), 113,XXX miles.

I would like to start a new thread, to replace my previous thread: http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...A-New-Oil-Pump

Blew the upper radiator hose, engine overheated. Soon after I realized oil mixing into the coolant. Drove it to work for a few days out of necessity (9 miles) until I could get another vehicle.

Now that I have another car, I can take my time to work through this and hopefully get my Festiva back on the road someday. Work will be crazy busy until the end of the year, so I won't be able to work on it much until January or later. I miss my Festy!

I am thinking I can flush it out a little at a time, until I can do a thorough back-flush out in the driveway. I plan to install a new radiator, along with new hoses ect., so I would like to flush the system well before contaminating the new radiator. Then I will need to get some antifreeze into the block, to protect everything from freeze damage this winter.

The latest: drained the radiator


Rinsed the radiator twice, then filled the system with water to flush the entire system. With the fan unplugged, the thermostat opened and then the heater started blowing cold air a couple minutes later. Is this normal?

What is the best way to flush this crap out?

[FestYboy]

run some rad flush the next time (fill with water after pouring in the bottle of flush solution). having cold air from the vents with a warm engine is a sign of a blocked heater core, you'll want to look into pressure flushing that (via a flush kit and your garden hose), and enven if you had warm air, you STILL want to pressure flush the core to remove the oil contamination.

[04offroader]

You will not be able to do a full flush until the head gasket is changed. Otherwise you are just constantly mixing you're antifreeze and oil, depending on where it blew. In you're case it sounds like it blew on the edge of the cylinder. Once the head is done you can run a hose into the rad and run it without a thermostat for a full flush. As for the winter as long as the block is empty you are fine, water cannot expand if there is none.

[FestYboy]

^ you're very close to Rocketman, i recomend you give him a shout.

as far as the HG goes, yes, replacing it is a MUST. and since you have time on your hands, i'll recomend you do a few other little things while the engine is apart to get the most out of it. PM me if you're willing to put in a little time and elbow grease for a better running Festy.

[scitzz]

Is a little oil in the system after fixing the HG and a couple of flushes really all that bad?

[crazyrog17]

It will deteriorate your rubber hoses, yes.

[bravekozak]

If you aren't starting the engine, then leave the block empty of coolant. Nothing will happen to it over the winter.

[Skrapbob]

Is it possible to drain the block and heater core though the radiator, or is there a plug or plugs in the engine block to drain it? I am wondering if I should just fill the entire system with antifreeze before I start tearing it down...

[zoom zoom]

Just tear it down, there's no block drain plug. Freeze plugs are pressed in the holes around the block. Hard to find parts and not worth messing with unless absolutely necessary.

[04offroader]

Is it possible to drain the block and heater core though the radiator, or is there a plug or plugs in the engine block to drain it? I am wondering if I should just fill the entire system with antifreeze before I start tearing it down...

Once you remove the rad most of the fluid will drain. Mainly, since you have to remove the head, this is usually the time for changing the water pump and gasket along with the belts. When you purchase a top end kit from Napa or whichever store, it usually includes all top end gaskets, water pump, water inlet, thermostat, intake manifold, exhaust manifold ect. Its actually a simple job on a small engine like this one, only "special" tool required is a torque wrench.

[Skrapbob]

All of the advise is greatly appreciated. This is beyond anything I have ever done to a car, but this car has taught me a lot already, and I am willing to learn. I will use this thread to keep updated as well as pick the brains of this great forum. Thanks

[denguy]

Since you have run straight water thru it I would get some antifreeze run back thru the whole cooling system in case there are some low spots [ who knows what the inside of the block water passages look like anyway]. Same with your heater core and lines.

[bravekozak]

If you have a compressor, you could blow all the water out of the block through the heater hose. Just take out the thermostat.
I do the same thing whenever I do plumbing jobs. I screw my hose adapter to the laundry faucet and blow everything out the garden faucet. It is impossible to sweat when there is water in the pipes.

[scitzz]

It will deteriorate your rubber hoses, yes.

huh, I always thought of it as a little extra lubricant

[Skrapbob]

Bought a jug of antifreeze and ran it through the system, should be good for winter. Drained the oil (about 6 quarts of oil/antifreeze in the oil pan)

Now this! What does it mean?