rusty brown water out of radiator...

  1. Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Pickering Posts: 303 129.05bhp mk2 Silver VTS
    #1
    Hi

    Basically, went to my VTS and drove 8 miles to town, got a call off my dad saying to check my radiator cos there was water on the drive that i hadnt noticed.
    i opened my radiator cap and it kinda exploded and loads of rusty brown water came out,

    also my temperature guage rarely works on my dials,

    do i need my radiator bleeding?

    and why would it be rusty brown water coming out of radiator?

    thanks
  2. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 gateshead Posts: 807 vw golf GTI citroen saxo forte 02 plate vw polo
    #2
    lack of antifreeze, its all the rust from inside the cooling system, ya better off flushing it out and putting fresh antifreeze in mate
  3. Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Pickering Posts: 303 129.05bhp mk2 Silver VTS
    #3
    ok mate thanks, ill bleed it and fill it with new water and antifreeze
  4. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 gateshead Posts: 807 vw golf GTI citroen saxo forte 02 plate vw polo
    #4
    double check there is no leaks mate
  5. Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Pickering Posts: 303 129.05bhp mk2 Silver VTS
    #5
    pritty sure there isnt, but there seemed to be loads of pressure built up when i opened the radiator cap as loads of water pissed out, so im guessing why it leaked the first time, but ill have a check in the morning see if its leaked again, hanks
  6. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Sep 2008 Nottingham Posts: 3194 Fabia vRS + Miata
    #6
    Lol if you drove 8 miles your radiator would of been boiling like a kettle hence it exploded! Just take bottom hose off and fill radiator with water until comes out same colour, then fresh anti freeze//water and bleed it. Job done.
  7. Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2011 Truro, Cornwall Posts: 124 Mk2 vts
    #7
    yeh the "explosion" was just you driving it 8 miles, i made the mistake once and never again, burns all over my hand is not a good look. but next time wait for your engine to cool before removing the cap.
  8. Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Poole, Dorset Posts: 447 Mk1 VTS
    #8
    Sorry to say it but your headgasket has gone. Compression is leaking in to the cooling system and super-pressurising it. If you intend to carry on using it keep an eye on the temperature gauge as coolant will be ejected past the radiator cap by the very high pressure being created within and coolant will be lost whilst driving. I'd get it sorted without delay.
  9. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2009 Jonathan Tonk's yard. Posts: 4232 '85 Opel Manta '88 Manta GT/E '87 Rayleigh Roadi
    #9
    Use a hose pipe to flush the cooling system.

    While doing this block the bottom hose so water cannot come out this will fill the engine part of the cooling system with water then after a few seconds let your hand off the hose. All narstie stuff will come out. Do this as many times as you need to before you are satisfied with how clean the water comes out.

    OOOO and a chap I spoke to who rebuilds engines says to use a conditioner which you use in your house radiator heating system. Only in the summer though.

    Hope this helps

    EDIT: PS dont forget to flush the rad as well! Pointless flushing the engine if your dont do the rad.
  10. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0
    #10
    Shocked you didn't cook your engine.
  11. Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Pickering Posts: 303 129.05bhp mk2 Silver VTS
    #11
    should i get a compression test done to check its not the head gasket?
  12. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2009 Jonathan Tonk's yard. Posts: 4232 '85 Opel Manta '88 Manta GT/E '87 Rayleigh Roadi
    #12
    try flushing and refilling the system first.

    Check for white residue in the coolant or under the oil filler cap.