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VNPete
Starting in the driveway
2 Posts
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 Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 3:33:45 PM
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Hi Everyone,
Im new here, stumbled on this site after trying to do some Google research about my 89 VN Calais, err Commodore with old fancy bits :)
Its given me great running over the years, but its getting long in the tooth now and will probably need more tender love over the forseable future. Cant get a new car, as Im far from wealthy.
Ok here goes,
Ive had the radiator flushed early in 06. Never had a problem with cooling issues over 10 years of ownership.
Noticed a week ago that the temp guage was high up. Checked the coolant levels..almost dry.
I filled it up with water (as I dont know what type of coolant was in the car, and Ive been told mixing coolants is a disaster), car hasnt lost much of this water at all.
How long can I run the car on just water? Is it safe for a couple more weeks at least until I can afford to get it flushed? Car does about 20 mins of driving a day. Only shopping center trips mostly :)
thanks
Pete
Great site!
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 4:20:45 PM
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ok welcome 2 the site VNpete now firstly stop right there...
VN'S DONT LIKE PLAIN WATER being a aliminum head the water tends 2 eat the sh#t outa the block and heads, valley cover ect... mixing coolants is not the best idea, and mixing water with coolants is not the best either..
but in sayin that u do wat u gota do! as for the coolant leval dissapearing in a week is most likley a leaky welch-welsh plug (not sure on correct spelling) they used steel as a cheaper alternitive insted of brass.. y who knows.... also if your car is running hot it may be due 2 a sticky thermostat, when they stik they will cause bak pressure causing coolant to find away out !!! post bak on this 1 m8 and let us know how u go !! ;)
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VNPete
Starting in the driveway
2 Posts
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Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 5:32:26 PM
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thanks Trizo, appreciate the reply!
Temperature since putting in only water has been fine, and the level of water doesnt seem to have dropped very much...so hoping that the leak through the plugs is slow.
I'll definitely heed your advice and go coolant instead of water..but was hoping I could run it with water for the next 2 weeks just to I get the $$$ together to get the thing properly flushed etc.
Reckon that will be ok?
Thanks
VN Pete
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 6:27:19 PM
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ok VNpete now that you said that it might pay 2 give your thermostat a look at....
2 me it sounds as if your thermostat has crapped it self and time 4 a change. 
since u had it flushed out recently, the thermostat housing should b a peice of cake 2 get of..(if it was done right) otherwise it's a real prik 2 get off... but in all honesty get a new thermostat and change ,and all should b sweet !!!! 
m8 nearly 4got, water will b fine 4 2 weeks! But another radiator flush may be in order!!!! |
3 can keep a secret if 2 are dead |
Edited by - trizo on 04 Jan 2007 6:29:41 PM |
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mouce
National Driver
1525 Posts
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Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 10:07:54 PM
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To do the propper flush you can use clean water running through it and to re-fill you'll need to mix 50% coolant CONCENTRATE (I like to use Castrol) with 50% clean water. Allow for about 10L to do a FULL re-fill. (I did mine recently when hose blew). You should also get three cooling system 'pellets' from your local Holden dealership, these get crushed up and poured into your cooling system, these prevent 'scale' forming on the water pump.
Running straight water in the VN's causes a few problems, trizo managed to cover most of them, but the largest one is that the boiling temperature of the plain water is lower than the mixture. Because it's a pressurised system the boiling point of WATER will be about 105degC, the boiling point of the coolant mixture is about 112degC. This might not sound like much, but it's enough to cause you problems if you ever run on a hot day in traffic.
For the next two weeks, I'd keep a VERY close eye on the temperature gauge, and the water level, if the water level is dropping, top it up with STRAIGHT coolant CONCENTRATE. It'll be better in the long run. |
Bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell - Peter Brock (1945-2006) |
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 11:58:59 PM
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damn!!!!! U GOT ME AGAIN !!
memory slip!!!! hehehehehe
c at least some 1 on this forum can understand me lol!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
3 can keep a secret if 2 are dead |
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driveacarsideways
Fully Licenced
105 Posts
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Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 9:40:13 PM
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| ok, so whats the technique on flushing the coolant system? |
don't rush me, I get paid by the hour |
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MILD50
Fully Licenced
850 Posts
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Posted - 06 Jan 2007 : 3:59:38 PM
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| Got a number or if I ask for cooling system pellets will the Dealer know what I'm on about? |
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 06 Jan 2007 : 6:56:16 PM
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| w.t.f???? |
3 can keep a secret if 2 are dead |
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johnny cade
On a small holiday
338 Posts
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Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 11:24:56 AM
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| w.t.f is a cooling system pellet? |
He sees an old man and says “See we’ll part with your hard,
Earned cash or rest in peace we can start with your heart.
Some girl steps not afraid she’s gonna cop it sweet,
And gets decked before she made it even on her feet,
The old man leaped to her aid and to his horror he’d,
Thrusted his chest into the blade of his robber s piece,
He grabbed the wallet, dropped the knife as he fled the car,
Concerned about the loss of life he’d never went this far,
What’s done is done, he’d got the prize and he’d spent his half,
Of two dollars in change and a pension card. |
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 2:48:35 PM
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cooling system pellets go in to your resivour bottle and act as a concentrate coolant also have unblocking agents in them (I think)...
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3 can keep a secret if 2 are dead |
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VNSVLE
Forum Moderator
1316 Posts
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Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 10:45:34 PM
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| Just be careful with the cooling system "unblockers". I used one in my 1st engine(up to the third now. long story ) it did not turn out very good as i dont think it had ever been done. The car had around 340000 km on it at the time of death. Anyway i used a reputable cooling system flush and did exactly what it instructed me to do(which i think was run it in the system for about 200km). Well i was on the way back from my drive(just under 200km round trip) when i went to accelerate. There was no power so i checked all guages, nothing out of the ordinary but when i put the clutch in to change down and pull over the engine died and the temp guage went screaming to the top. Anyway long story shorter there was that much crap in the system that it blocked the radiator and blew a hole in it. One side of the radiator was cool to touch and the other side i was unable to touch it was that hot. I ended up cooking the engine and cracking the block. |
What's the difference between understeer and oversteer?
Understeer is when the driver is scared.
Oversteer is when the passenger is scared. |
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driveacarsideways
Fully Licenced
105 Posts
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Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 10:54:01 PM
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| ^^^that is not what you want to happen. I wanted to flush mine out. it has about the same ks on it. What do you recommend doing? I really don't want to replace the engine. I was just going to flush the cooling system through with water, then fill it back up again...is that going to be enough? |
don't rush me, I get paid by the hour |
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VNSVLE
Forum Moderator
1316 Posts
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Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 11:03:47 PM
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| If your car is not haveing any cooling problems a quick reverse flush will probably be the best way to go. Also when filling your cooling system the best coolant to use would be the long life holden coolant(a little more around $50 for 4 or 5 litres but worth it). When filling with water a demineralised water or distilled water would be the best way to go(no additives will not cause as much build up/scale). I am not sure where you would purchase this from as my father gets it for me. |
What's the difference between understeer and oversteer?
Understeer is when the driver is scared.
Oversteer is when the passenger is scared. |
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driveacarsideways
Fully Licenced
105 Posts
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Posted - 07 Jan 2007 : 11:06:04 PM
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| Thanks m8, will keep that in mind. i've only use castrol to top up previously and this will be the first time i've done a full flush. It will give me a chance to start anew and keep the cooling system in check. |
don't rush me, I get paid by the hour |
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 08 Jan 2007 : 7:56:28 PM
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| just a thought if any 1 wants 2 get adventerous,,take the valley cover of (the thing with 3800 written on it) by hand and very carfully I might add ,unblok the water jackets on the blok ... u will be surprised at the amount of crap that has built up , it is not uncommon 4 two or more ports 2 be bloked shut!!!! I must say USE CAUTION WHEN DOING THIS U DONT WANT CRAP FALLING IN THE OIL!!! I managed 2 do it and all was well ,,,, just a thought! ;) |
3 can keep a secret if 2 are dead |
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driveacarsideways
Fully Licenced
105 Posts
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Posted - 13 Jan 2007 : 2:21:36 PM
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| That sounds like a bit job and a lot of extra gaskets...i might wait till i'm ready to replace some of the other gaskets and seals. |
don't rush me, I get paid by the hour |
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 13 Jan 2007 : 7:40:56 PM
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nah if your gental and not a hot head like me its a peice of cake!!! I didnt need 2 change the gaskets! ;)
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3 can keep a secret if 2 are dead |
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driveacarsideways
Fully Licenced
105 Posts
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Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 9:07:08 PM
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you're lucky. I know it would all go wrong if i tried it...lol
I'll may do try it....(keeping fingers crossed) |
don't rush me, I get paid by the hour |
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VNSVLE
Forum Moderator
1316 Posts
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Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 10:36:21 PM
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It is highly recommended not to use gaskets more than once. If you are going to the trouble of removing the inlet manifold you may as well pull the heads and get them dipped in an acid bath(or equivalent). To do this a 1/2, 3/8, 1/4 inch socket set, a torque wrench plus a VRS (Valve Regrind Set i believe is what it stands for) gasket kit and a little bit of mechanical know how will be all you need for this job. Also a manual such as a Gregory's or Max Ellery's wouldn't go astray for the correct proceedures and torque settings. An ACL VRS kit which includes all gaskets needed will set you back about $170 - $200 if memory serves. Also i forgot that you may need a valve spring removal tool. There are a couple of variations of this tool but it should not set you back anymore than $20 - $50.
Anymore info needed just let me know and i will be happy to help. |
What's the difference between understeer and oversteer?
Understeer is when the driver is scared.
Oversteer is when the passenger is scared. |
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trizo
Forum Moderator
3091 Posts
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Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 10:56:26 PM
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| huh!! I supose I was harping on about using the right tools and doing things right insted of 1/2 arsed! So every 1 listen 2 vnsvle!!!! And thats not bad 4 the gaskett kits I thought they would be alot more! |
3 can keep a secret if 2 are dead |
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mouce
National Driver
1525 Posts
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Posted - 16 Jan 2007 : 11:21:32 AM
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| The dealer would know what the cooling system pellets are, they don't do anything in terms of being a coolant concentrate, they stop 'scale' forming on the inside of the water pump. If the water pump scales up, then you can kiss your engine good-bye. |
Bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell - Peter Brock (1945-2006) |
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