Cleaning Engine found rusty Sludge

[pvienneau]

While replacing a freeze plug noticed some orange sludge in the block below the freeze plugs. Any suggestions on how to flush this stuff out while the engine is on the engine stand?

Thanks

Pat

[Kim57]

Use a hose and lots of water. It's going to make a big mess on the ground.
Kim

[pvienneau]

thanks

[Denee007]

If you have it out, maybe it should be sent out to be cleaned? steamed? Boiled? I wouldn't think you'd ever get it all out with a water hose
dne'

[pvienneau]

Here is the current status of the engine out of truck. Can I clean the block of sludge thoughroughly or do I need to further breakdown the block? Please advise.

Thanks

Pat

[Rufton]

I cleaned 305E bare block coolant passages w/ pressure washer and water hose. I rotated on stand while cleaning. Finished w/ leaf blower, compressed air and flash light inspection.

I'd take common sense precautions to keep valve train and rotating assembly dry.

[Wheelie]

I just ran into this with a customer engine. The cooling passages had hardened contaminants in it and I tried flushing it numerous times. I filled the block cooling passages with Evaporust. It worked pretty well but I ended up having to get the block vatted at the machine shop because his was severly gummed up and it eventually caused the rings to melt. The crap in the passages actually cause hot spots and may even siamese the block not allowing proper flow over around the bores etc. The safest thing would be to tear down and get a machine shop to clean the block if it appears you cant get that stuff to break free. Its way cheaper in the long run!

[mr48chev]

I take it that you have already done the engine work you intend to do and are putting it back together or don't intend to take it further apart?

If that is the case I'd finish putting it back together and when I first went to start it just fill it with clear water and then after it is running run some cooling system flush through it or take it to a shop with a power flusher for cooling systems and have it flushed. If it were a 20 year old pickup that you had just bought as a driver and the cooling system showed signs of having corrosion (rust) in it you would flush it with out a second thought so this isn't really much different when you sit down and think about it.

If I was taking it apart to put rings and bearings in I would take it down and have the block hot tanked to get as much of the crud out that way as I could and then have new cam bearings put in and put it back together.

You live in MA so a high quality antifreeze/coolant is a must have and that will have anti-corrosion stuff in it.

[pvienneau]

Nope, I didn't pull it apart all the way and rebuild. It looks to good to do it. However, I want to make sure I don't build it and wish I flushed it.

[pvienneau]

I wrapped the engine in plastic then replaced the VC, Side Cover, and Oil Pan over the plastic, blasted the hose in the water pump holes. All kinds of good stuff came out. Kept flushing until clear water was coming out. Dried it all out with the air gun. Removed the VC, Side cover, oil pan and plastic. Sprayed her down with marvel mystery oil after she was completely dry.

[lazypineapple]

I would pull every freeze plug out and replace, if one was rusted, they all are liabally rusting,
Flush and inspec
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[pvienneau]

Lazy Pineapple, How do you pull freeze plugs if they are not blasted open?

[lazypineapple]

Jab a Big Screw driver in it and pop out, rip out, you will destroy it getting it out, just dont nick up the sides of the hole because its got to seal on the new ones.

i ran into this same problem on a 89 dodge with a 318, the truck had 30k miles 2yrs old , when i noticed a coolant leak from a Freeze plug behind starter,
poked it with a screw driver and the frezze plug just fell apart once i dugg the freeze plug out it was pack with sand. i dug a $hit load of sand out of this freeze plug opening, then i went to each of the other Freeze plugs i could reach and was able to poke holes on most of the other plugs,
i removed all the freeze plugs on both side of the motor, there was sand packed around the both sides, rear most plugs. WTF looked like play sand, casting sand is all i could guess it was. anyway i flush with a water hose and coat hanger till it ran clear, it was a mess and estimated 3-4 cups of sand came out on the drive way,
knocked in new plugs, i still own this truck with 170K on it now.
i didnt take it to dealer under warrantee because i had already been round and round with them over 3 trannys and 1 diff,
i just fixed it myself after that, the 4th tranny i built and it still going.

Originally Posted by pvienneau

Lazy Pineapple, How do you pull freeze plugs if they are not blasted open?

[pvienneau]

Thanks Lazy, all good information. Cant believe the sand in the block, That's jacked.