Making less of a mess draining the radiator

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Making less of a mess draining the radiator
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 07:47 pm:

I drained the water out of the T tonight to prepare it for winter storage. I used an old window screen and a gutter trough to improvise the water catcher shown below. The advantage of this is that it keeps all of that rust colored water from hitting the pavement and splashing up all over the undercarriage.

I actually got the idea from an old service station tool that my dad has which is basically a metal basin with a fine screen overtop of it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve McClelland on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 08:07 pm:

Dan great idea....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Conklin on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 08:27 pm:

It would be better if you had corrosion protection and no rust colored water. I do agree the screen is a good way to prevent splashing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 09:11 pm:

As you can see from the picture, it's mostly clear. I usually get a bit of rusty water when I first crack the petcock since thats a low point in the system.

I run water like they did when it was new.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 09:23 pm:

If you are running plain water it will rust the block and radiator pretty fast. Radiators are expensive - why not spend $15 on a gallon of anti freeze instead of $1000 on a radiator?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 10:29 pm:

Because my paint job cost more.

I'm scarred after being a passenger in another T when the fan belt slipped off at a red light. Antifreeze was everywhere. I only run water spring through fall. I put antifreeze in over the winter.

Anyways, there's lots of threads already on cooling medium philosophy. I just wanted to share something I thought was useful.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 10:47 pm:

Dan B. That water looks pretty good to me. I don't see any rust color to it. Thanks for the idea. Where is New Freedom? Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 11:01 pm:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 11:03 pm:

So Dan, Does your better half know you let Lizzie take a wiz on the kitchen window screen? :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 12:08 am:

So far as I can tell anti freeze has no effect on paint. Of course, I don't have a leaky radiator or leaky hoses. So I don't have rusty water stains on my paint either.

I don't understand how anti freeze or rusty water would get on your paint provided the hose clamps are tight and the radiator cap has a gasket.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 12:48 am:

First off I like the screen idea.

Second, I use water in the summer too. If I keep the level where I can see it I always loose 1/4 to 1/2 gallon before the next stop. That would be a lot of antifreeze in a summer. Maybe not the best choice but it works well for me.

Thirdly, I have cars and seen a lot of others that have stains or lightened color paint around the radiator neck where antifreeze has boiled out past the cap and gasket so I know what Dan is talking about. The point is well taken that better practices might keep this to a minimum.

Just my point of view.
Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 08:48 am:

Jim - New Freedom is a small town in south central PA, just north of the Mason-Dixon Line. It's perfect for T driving.

Jay - I think I was emboldened by taking an old cake pan to use as a parts cleaner basin. If I stop posting here, you know what happened.

Royce - Regarding paint and anti-freeze....http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/376283.html?1374840283

I actually did not know that there was supposed to be a gasket at the base of the radiator cap. What material and was this a factory practice? As Richard indicated, a gasket will likely not eliminate a boilover, but it's probably a good idea.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 10:01 am:

We just had our first cool, brisk night last night here in Florida (weather men called it a cold front. LOL!), so you should be experiencing much colder temperatures very soon, up there in PA. Time for the anti-freeze.

Radiator cap gaskets are available from Snyders, Lang's and the other parts suppliers. It is best to get several gaskest in case your cap does not screw all the way down, enough to make a tight seal between the cap and gasket, or if you have a dogbone or winged cap or a cap equipped with a motormeter that needs to be aligned properly from side to side. Your radiator should be equipped with an overflow pipe which will direct the overflow into the opening of a tube just under the cap that will direct the overflow to to ground. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 10:17 am:

A boil over is not caused by anti freeze. If you have a boil over, the coolant goes out the overflow, not the radiator cap. So I cannot see how you imagine that a boil over is going to get on your paint? More importantly, why is the car boiling over? Fix that.

The factory radiator cap gasket is made from (surprise) gasket material. A better idea is to visit your local home improvement store and buy a neoprene vanity sink drain gasket. At $1, it may be the last radiator cap gasket you ever buy.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 11:25 am:

Royce,

If Dan was not aware, until now, that there was a radiator cap gasket at the base of the radiator neck, boil overs he experienced in the past probably did result in the overflow of boiling water or coolant onto the radiator and hood. With a radiator cap gasket(s), that should be a thing of the past. Jim Patrick

PS. What Dan is experiencing does not necessarily require a fix. I have a brand new Brassworks high style radiator on my '26 coupe and have had it boil over (into the overflow tube) while sitting at a stoplight on a hot summer day, so, even with a new radiator, it happens.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 11:35 am:

I guess there is a reason that I do not have a PERFECT Paint job on any of my cars. It would drive me "Nuts" if I had to worry about a few drops of anti-freeze staining the paint.
I do run anti freeze the year round. It raises the boiling point and might prevent a marginal cooling system from boiling over.
Royce, a water pump might help a slight bit also in preventing boiling over.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 11:40 am:

Willie.

Uh Oh...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 11:57 am:

There are lots of things that I don't understand on the Forum. But the idea of using a screen when you are draining your radiator is near the top of the list. If you use a large container near the petcock there will be NO paint splashed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 12:02 pm:

Dave, I am glad that there is at least one person on this forum with a little common sense.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 01:30 pm:

Do you feel better about yourself now?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 02:00 pm:

I just stick a piece of clear plastic tubing on the end of the radiator drain fitting and run the tube to the bottom of my catch container. The container fills with no splashing or dripping.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 02:15 pm:

I just pulled into the yard and dissolved a monster dog turd. Itll be really green (politically correct???) In the spring. ws


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 02:21 pm:

I guess this thread has run its' course... Thanks again for the idea Dan. Ideas offered by members should never be ridiculed or they will stop being offered. Why bother if you know you're going to be ridiculed or insulted.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 02:26 pm:

Stay tuned for another exciting installment of Curmudgeons are us!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 02:30 pm:

Dan B,
Good idea! Thank you.
Drive carefully, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 07:32 pm:

Willie K Cordes - Would you answer my question or do you just hit and run?

Jim - You're a gentleman.


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