Concern with cooling system flush

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stangg01

New Member

Mar 17, 2006

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Mar 24, 2006

#1

• Mar 24, 2006

• #1

I plan to flush my cooling system this weekend. I read another thread where someone had the thermastat housing bolt break off. What should I do to prevent this? WD40 the night before?
Anything else?

 

03ghoststang

Well-Known Member

Jul 16, 2005

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Los Angeles, California

Mar 24, 2006

#2

• Mar 24, 2006

• #2

sure you can do that but it comes down to being careful if it's not buging dont force it just spray more wd-40

 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.

Jul 24, 2003

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StateCollege PA

Mar 24, 2006

#3

• Mar 24, 2006

• #3

he block the bolt, because he over tighten it or because it was rusted?

I would be more concerned about cracking water neck or plastic crop under it...

 

03ghoststang

Well-Known Member

Jul 16, 2005

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Mar 24, 2006

#4

• Mar 24, 2006

• #4

mity2 said:

he block the bolt, because he over tighten it or because it was rusted?

I would be more concerned about cracking water neck or plastic crop under it...

Click to expand...

that is correct he did overtighten it yup just be careful when tightening those bolts cause you can do some good damege that can be either cheap or expensive

 

jasonh_86

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May 20, 2005

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Arkansas

Mar 25, 2006

#5

• Mar 25, 2006

• #5

I would just go about it very carefully. I got mine off and on without breaking them, but MAN they were on there tight!

 

tomustang

Psychotic Member

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Jun 8, 2000

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McLean Hospital

Mar 25, 2006

#6

• Mar 25, 2006

• #6

Doesn't matter if he overtightened it before or not, they're known for being stuck on from coolant seeping through and drying inside the threads holes. Sometimes you have no choice but to snap it off, crap happens, just try to lube it up (WD-40) good before you go to town on the bolts

 

4.6_02_Black_GT

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Jul 26, 2002

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Charlotte NC

Mar 25, 2006

#7

• Mar 25, 2006

• #7

Just too make sure you dont snap the bolt you could aways break the bolt loose with your torque wrench, typically I dont use my torque wrench for loosing a bolt, but thats why the torque wrench do have a reverse. Torque on the themo housing bolts is 15-22 ft/lbs. So start at 40-50ft/lbs on the torque wrench. And hopefully you can break them loose before the torque wrench clicks. If they dont break loose, take it to the dealership if you are worried and have them change the themo for you. much above 50ft/lbs and you in the range of where you can shear off the bolt, especially if it has been weaked or rusted due to anti freeze. The torque wrench will keep you safe if it clicks befores the bolt break free, just go to dealership and them worry about. Then when you get home pull the bolts back out and properly apply anti-seize to them so in 24 months you dont have the same problem again. Bad news is the if bolts are really shot they can snap with less torque. Also just a suggestion rather then strain using a 12 inch rachet, use your toruque wrench assuming its a 24 inch model like most you will be able to apply a more consistent force on the bolts since your strenght is increased due to the 24 inch handle, you can more gently apply force to the bolts and break them free, just dont go gorillia on them.....use nice slow finesse. Good Luck

 

S

stangg01

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Mar 17, 2006

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Mar 26, 2006

#8

• Mar 26, 2006

• #8

Thanks everyone. I feel much more confident now
4.6_02_black_gt, I like the torque wrench idea.

 

Pearl02

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Nov 27, 2004

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Kansas City

Mar 27, 2006

#9

• Mar 27, 2006

• #9

After flushing, make sure you get all the air out of the system. I'm more concerned about that. Pearl02.

 

nyuk98gt

15 Year Member

Oct 10, 2000

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Chesterfield, MO

Mar 27, 2006

#10

• Mar 27, 2006

• #10

PB Blaster or other reputable penetrating oil is a better option than WD-40 (a lubricating oil). No slight intended against WD-40 but it is not the best choice in this case.

"4.6 02 Black GT" is 101% correct about using anti-seize and a decent torque wrench.

Good luck with the flush!

Chris

 

sgarlic

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Apr 21, 2001

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Mar 27, 2006

#11

• Mar 27, 2006

• #11

I know the military's rules don't usually apply to civilian life, or even make much sense, but we've always been told to never use torque wrenches to loosen anything.. furthermore, we're told the reason they have a reverse feature isn't for loosening, but for torquing reverse thread nuts/bolts.

 

K

kstang69

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Aug 14, 2003

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atlanta, georgia

Mar 27, 2006

#12

• Mar 27, 2006

• #12

so how does the military loosen bolts then?

 

sgarlic

Founding Member

Apr 21, 2001

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Mar 27, 2006

#13

• Mar 27, 2006

• #13

With breaker bars, larger drive socket wrenches, etc.

If torque wrenches were designed to break stuff loose, wouldn't they call them "untorque wrenches" ?

 

Mike97gt

it doe snot

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Mar 28, 2006

#14

• Mar 28, 2006

• #14

sgarlic said:

With breaker bars, larger drive socket wrenches, etc.

If torque wrenches were designed to break stuff loose, wouldn't they call them "untorque wrenches" ?

Click to expand...

your right tourqe wrenches are not for loosening bolts. this can damage the tourqe wrench..

get a breaker bar.