[Chevelle-list] Black Radiator Water?

[John Nasta]

I would drain it, fill w/ water (assuming you live in a place where it  
doesn't freeze this time of year and are not taking any long hot trips  
with it), run it around for the afternoon, drain it, repeat a few  
times and see if it starts coming out cleaner. Could just be crud that  
was sitting in the block and got flushed out when you started running  
it. No point in putting anti-freeze in there until you flush the crud  
out. I would change the hoses too. You may as well do that while  
you're draining it. Can't hurt and they are inexpensive and easy to  
install.

Sounds like you found a fun car. What body style is it?


Quoting vincent dilascio <dobie360 at tampabay.rr.com>:

> does it look like oil?? then again from sitting and a fresh we.p   
> you've got some crap moving round  the flush idea and refill is a   
> great place to start--did you change thermostat-with flush would be   
> a smart thing to do.
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: bad66chevelle454 at aol.com
>   To: chevelle-list at chevelles.net
>   Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 1:52 PM
>   Subject: [Chevelle-list] Black Radiator Water?
>
>
>   Hey All,
>
>   A few months back I bought this 62 Cadillac. It had been sitting,   
> not running for roughly 7 years. Just about two weeks ago I got it   
> driving. I rebuilt the carb and water pump on it, and did a general   
> tune it. It runs like new, and I've driven it about 100 miles or so   
> this past week. Well this weekend I was checking the fluids on   
> it...I pulled the radiator cap, and the water was black. I stuck my   
> finger in there, and it looked like I stuck my finger in black   
> grease. The water was barely down. It doesn't run hot, on the gauge,  
>  from C to H, its only about a quarter of the way up. When I rebuild  
>  the water pump and all that, it wasn't black water.
>
>   What could cause that? The oil is nice and clean, no water in it.   
> The engine doesn't smoke. Could it be the old radiator hoses or   
> something? The heater isn't hooked up either.
>
>   Any ideas? I figure I'll flush it out, drive it some, then see if   
> it happens again.
>
>   Thanks,
>
>   -Tim
>
>
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