Replacement coolant hoses for a K series

[Adam Godfrey]

I've just had the cambelt and water pump changed on my recently purchased 1.6 k series, but the coolant has already turned a brownish colour (rather than pink).

I spoke to the mechanic and he said the hoses are in poor condition and need replacing - any recommendations of the best place to get replacements?

Is the fact the coolant is brown a sign the head gasket is going?

Thanks

[Jonathan Kay]

Private Messages sent.

[revilla]

On an iron block engine it would be a sign of corrosion. On an aluminium engine like a K a rusty brown colour probably indicates that somebody had previously used a radiator sealant like K Seal on it. If the hoses are I

poor condition maybe they had a leak and used that to seal things up? Unfortunately if that's the case you will never flush it properly clean again, and brownish coolant maybe something you have to live with. It doesn't indicate an imminent head gasket failure. If it starts to gat mayonnaise-like froth floating in it then that's a warning sign.

[garybee]

It could potentially be that they just didn't do a good job flushing it and some of the previous coolant is still in there.  As above, oil in the coolant would emulsify and have mayonnaise-like mess in there. Unless it dumps the lot in in which case it turns into a giant chocolate milk shake.  You'd know if that happened though.

I've had good luck with Forte engine flush for cleaning out cooling systems.  Manky systems that have been a mess of emulsified oil and water have run perfectly clear after running a bottle of that through them.

[TomB]

I changed my radiator, refilled with new coolant and it immediately turned mucky. So I dropped it again, and on the advice of Dave Gemzoe attached a hose pipe with jubilee clips to the long pipe that goes around the rear of the engine (or attach to a heater inlet hose), leaving the bottom of the radiator open flushed several buckets worth of water through until it came out clear. 

[Bricol]

Supposedly a dish washing tablet (or half of one) dropped in the expansion bottle - drive it - dump it and flush through.  Never done it, so no idea ifi t works.

I've never been too concerned if fresh coolatnt turns rusty colour pretty quick - its not exactly clean in there. 

 

[SM25T]

DW tablet maybe salt content to soften the water ? Perhaps not ideal

[7_Malc]

Here's my recent adventure in K-Series cooling:

https://www.lotus7.club/forum/techtalk/k-series-coolant-leak-puzzle

Hope it helps.

[Adam Godfrey]

Thanks everyone for all of the advice.

I'm going to get some new hoses and give it a good flush or two and see how it is then.