So, it happened. My 97 Cobra’s o-rings in the oil cooler finally gave up after 27 years. With that, your typical mixing of oil and coolant and a lovely brown smoothie in my oil pan and radiator.
Today I drained the oil and radiator. Removed the oil filter and luckily my local Ace had a 1/2” Allen socket so I could remove the huge bolt through the cooler.
I rigged up a PVC to garden hose adapter so I could pressure flush the radiator and the block. Hooked up to the upper radiator hose on one end and blew out the radiator til it was clear. Then the other end of the upper hose and blew out the heads and block through the crossover pipes as best I could til clear.
That’s where I’m at now. My o-ring kit is supposed to arrive from LMR Monday so I can put it all back together and add fluids back in.
That said, how should I proceed from a fluids standpoint? There’s remnants of oil in the coolant passages, and remnants of coolant in the oil pan.
I’m in GA, no risk of freezing for a while. Should I even bother with antifreeze? Or just fill it with distilled water to save money? How many times should I expect to have to drain and refill til it’s clean?
As for the oil pan, should I even drive it? I was think about buying the cheapest two 5qt jugs of oil I can find and cheapest 2 oil filters I can find. Just so I can crank it and let it idle and heat cycle, then immediately do an oil change. Do that twice, then the 3rd time put in a good synthetic and Motocraft filter.
Thoughts? Experiences? I’m open to any advice to save money AND my motor.
Today I drained the oil and radiator. Removed the oil filter and luckily my local Ace had a 1/2” Allen socket so I could remove the huge bolt through the cooler.
I rigged up a PVC to garden hose adapter so I could pressure flush the radiator and the block. Hooked up to the upper radiator hose on one end and blew out the radiator til it was clear. Then the other end of the upper hose and blew out the heads and block through the crossover pipes as best I could til clear.
That’s where I’m at now. My o-ring kit is supposed to arrive from LMR Monday so I can put it all back together and add fluids back in.
That said, how should I proceed from a fluids standpoint? There’s remnants of oil in the coolant passages, and remnants of coolant in the oil pan.
I’m in GA, no risk of freezing for a while. Should I even bother with antifreeze? Or just fill it with distilled water to save money? How many times should I expect to have to drain and refill til it’s clean?
As for the oil pan, should I even drive it? I was think about buying the cheapest two 5qt jugs of oil I can find and cheapest 2 oil filters I can find. Just so I can crank it and let it idle and heat cycle, then immediately do an oil change. Do that twice, then the 3rd time put in a good synthetic and Motocraft filter.
Thoughts? Experiences? I’m open to any advice to save money AND my motor.