2005 S60 2.5T AWD - Vinegar & water flush?

MarcM · Post by **MarcM** » 31 Oct 2015, 20:49

I have a thread going (mostly me posting, per the norm) about overheating on hills then system catches up and drops... and no cabin heat really. In that thread I posted info from a diesel truck site that speaks of silicate gel build up in the radiator. I had noticed my Windex-blue Pentosin NF antifreeze has turned dark sea-greenish after a few weeks. This leads me to believe something was loosened in the system (eg. trapped antifreeze in the heater core or picked up residue, as the system was filled and flushed with distilled water before putting the proper antifreeze in it (well, an alternate). I decided to flush the system with Fleetgard Restore, but couldn't find any dealers that have it. Removed the thermostat from the housing to get full-on flow. Internal of housing (new a month ago) has a brownish, almost brown gunmetal color. Went with Bars 10-Minute Flush (ok, I made it over an hour). Heat in cabin is substantially better! Currently in the middle of the post-Bars all-distilled water flush. I have a lot of foaming going on in the overflow bottle, even with this current all-distilled fill that's in there currently. Thinking the Bars is soap, and a postmortem review check tells me it's not just me... BUT I have some decent heat now and the ECT sensor showing 190-ish and really doesn't climb. Still up in the air about a water pump replacement, as when the cap is tight and engine revved the radiator hoses swell and stiffen readily on the rev-up while the coolant level in the bottle drops and returns when back to idle. I used an infrared temperature gun and noted 192 at the upper hose and 140-ish at the bottom. Decent temp drop. Fan came on lightly for a short time (54 deg out). Heater hose differential temps became closer together as well.
To the point (sorry, Cliff Clavin moments at times): I also intend to do a vinegar & water flush next. Heard 30% vinegar / 70% water as well as 50/50. I intend to follow this with two water flushes. Anyone done this before? Results?

MarcM · Post by **MarcM** » 01 Nov 2015, 15:04

Into about the 5th flush lost count. This suuuuuucks. Flushed with straight tap water from a hose with both open. BTW: when doing a flush, back drain first, close then radiator drain... esp if you have a heater core issue.
Anyway, in process of second cool-down from vinegar flush. Did 1 gal of distilled white and topped with distilled water. Ran twice, second to uber warm. 200deg @ top hose. Revved up to get circulated and now in cool-down for a drain. Going to flush with hose... twice. 3rd will be with baking soda to neutralize the 5% acid in the vinegar. Double flush... maybe triple. I'm going to err towards 3 after the baking soda.
Heater core now with cabin fan *off*: 3-4 deg drop. With it on full it's a 20+ deg drop. Tells me it's clear. The incoming 200+ at top of radiator was coming out at about 90deg when fan kick on.
If you were my neighbor (other than complaints of vinegar smell), you'd have seen me doing a little touchdown dance.
Vinegar solution is tan colored. Definitely cleaned something.

MarcM · Post by **MarcM** » 02 Nov 2015, 09:19

Here are flush saves.

#1 is what was originally put in after a simple distilled water flush (heated, drains opened, then hoses pulled (lower radiator, oil cooler). This is Pentosin Pentafreeze NF mixed 50/50 with distilled water. This was done at the end of Sept where I bought the car.
#2 is a drain from what it ended up looking like 2,000 miles later.
#3 is a 50/50 with #4
#4 is yet another flush
#5 is the Bar's 10-min Flush
#6 is one of many flushes to get the soap out.
Not seen... the many other flushes.
Still trying to get the vinegar out... even post-baking soda.

Post by **regent** » 02 Nov 2015, 10:09

I flew over your house the other day and I could smell that vinegar, thank God I am not your neighbour

Your 'after' numbers look very good, nice cleaning job.
I hope you flush very generously after the vinegar; check PH if you can - you do not want any acidity left over in there...

MarcM · Post by **MarcM** » 02 Nov 2015, 10:47

STILL flushing. Just pulled the oil cooler line (left curved one). Got some visibly tan water. Got a close up when I got a face wash. With hose off, poured more water through. Wanted to get the vertical hose, but only way to get it off is to pull oil cooler. NOT happening.

So I opened rear drain, filled bottle quickly and blew through bottle. Now I've got a blown 2.5T!

Looking at the current water pump (WP) now as it's on the car, fairly new Volvo one. Little wear of black oxide coating, nothing in seep hole. Belt like new, WP looks recent. At one point there was an oil leak (gummy oil on covers. Thinking someone did the pump, seals and belt. Casting mark is 11/07. Procrastinating in doing it. I'm here. Should do it I guess. Might have to go to the Midwest/Sharon assortment at local hardware store. Looks like 8.8mm shoulder bolts. I'd run to Volvo now, but had to freeze my bank card. Looks like someone paid a bar bill at the Holiday Inn in Hannawa Falls, NY or something with my card #.... JUST after I ordered a new dipstick and upper mount for the car from FCPEuro (no, no connection).
Kit I bought a month ago was Dayco WP311K2A Kit and didn't come with WP bolts. Came with GMB WP & gasket, Dayco idler/tensioner with NTN bearings and a Dayco belt.
Side note:
Remove the dipstick before plopping the power steering pump on top of engine. Got one for $12, but still an annoyance. Broke it off inside tube, but a pair of needlenose and dipstick is removable.

Edit: decided to keep current pump. Ordered the Dayco kit 41 days ago. Anyone interested in a WP/Timing kit? Paid $154, reasonable offer accepted.

MarcM · Post by **MarcM** » 02 Nov 2015, 13:28

Done. Flush flush flush w/distilled. Checked water pump. Said a dismissive swear to it. Put it all back together. When thermostat was back in, poured fresh coolant into top radiator house about to the top and slammed the hose on thermostat housing and tightened her all up. Cleaned overflow bottle and put it back on and topped it off. Ran until thermostat opened while purging air from top hose (I call it the Love Squeeze Method). I also turned the hose a bit clockwise. Someone had it turned so that the bend was rubbing the hood insulation. Traps a LOT less air. Letting it cool. She likes to displace more air and coolant drops as it cools. Almost a 3-day project to save many hundreds on a flush and heater core / radiator. We'll see if it was for naught. I have cabin heat now. We'll see if the long slope uphill overheating still occurs.
(Seeing if I can set a record on post edits)