Author Topic: Coolant crystals  (Read 4872 times)

Kelley W King

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1410
    • View Profile
Coolant crystals
« on: November 19, 2018, 08:17:03 PM »
Not my camaro but my 64 vette. It does not get driven much but green crystals form in the coolant when it has been sitting. It is hard when dry and mushy when wet. It seems to form on the aluminum intake and the aluminum expansion tank inside. Over the years it has been flushed and coolant changed. It also seems to corrode the aluminum. Both the intake and tank have been replaced and the radiator is a brass replacement. Any thoughts?
69 Z28 RS Scuncio Hi Performance
69 SS L78
67 SS Chevelle
64 Corvette
66 GTO Tiger Gold
77 Trans Am Special Edition

PURESS

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 226
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2018, 09:11:44 PM »
Do you use distilled water with the coolant?

Kelley W King

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1410
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2018, 10:02:36 PM »
No, I never have in any of my cars. This stuff looks kind of like the green stuff on copper pipes but it does corrode aluminum. Dry hard stuff looks like green rock salt. Same water as in my others.
69 Z28 RS Scuncio Hi Performance
69 SS L78
67 SS Chevelle
64 Corvette
66 GTO Tiger Gold
77 Trans Am Special Edition

PURESS

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 226
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2018, 10:12:28 PM »
and your other cars have any aluminum ?

bcmiller

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4012
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2018, 11:33:05 PM »
Are you using copper head gaskets?
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

Kelley W King

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1410
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2018, 11:57:44 AM »
2 of my other cars have aluminum intakes. And it has been a long time since I installed the heads but I am pretty sure that the gaskets were the blue Felpro. A friend suggested some kind of electrolysis. It is a fiberglass car and grounds are a problem with them. The battery cable is attached to the block but when the car sits with the positive disconnected the battery will go dead after a few months.
69 Z28 RS Scuncio Hi Performance
69 SS L78
67 SS Chevelle
64 Corvette
66 GTO Tiger Gold
77 Trans Am Special Edition

lakeholme

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2497
  • 68-12D L30/M35
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2018, 02:44:12 PM »
Sounds like worn out coolant or stray electric current or both. There are plenty of wesites that tell you how to check with a volt meter.
Phillip, HNR & NCR-AACA, Senior Master, Team Captain, Admin.,
Spring Southeastern Nationals chair, AACA National Director

PURESS

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 226
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2018, 09:45:04 PM »
Just for giggles...I would disconnect the negative cable from the battery also..and see what happens in a few months..if battery kept it's charge...no more green crystals...How long does it take to make the green crystal?

maroman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1067
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2018, 11:08:00 PM »
Try a low level volt meter in the coolant and a GOOD ground. I agree, you have a voltage problem or/and old coolant.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

Everett#2390

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 148
  • ^Bess
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2018, 04:37:13 PM »
As Puress suggests, run a ground wire from radiator to ground as this action put radiator on the same voltage level/ground as the rest of the system.
Change coolant also and use deionized water.
A flashlight is a case for dead batteries.

Kelley W King

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1410
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #10 on: November 26, 2018, 12:27:52 PM »
Thanks guys, I am going to check all of your ideas. Think I will start with long flush and clean and new coolant. Corvettes being plastic cars have a lot of ground wires to corrode. I am definitely going to make sure the radiator is grounded. Most all electrical parts up front have ground wires to them. The radiator support is metal but I need to see what grounds it. My thoughts lead towards that electrical gremlin. I had an all new fiberglass front clip installed several years ago and I installed a front wiring harness, seems like this might have started about then.
69 Z28 RS Scuncio Hi Performance
69 SS L78
67 SS Chevelle
64 Corvette
66 GTO Tiger Gold
77 Trans Am Special Edition

bcmiller

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4012
    • View Profile
Re: Coolant crystals
« Reply #11 on: November 26, 2018, 04:01:31 PM »
Yep battery going dead is a sign to me that it could be a ground issue.
« Last Edit: November 26, 2018, 05:10:10 PM by bcmiller »
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

 

anything