Thought I would share my bad luck! I have had the ST170 motor running in the car but decided I best drain the water system because I did't have any anti-freeze in it... Bad news is that the water feels as if it has some oil in it... The motor has not been running since it was taken out of the car in 2004 ish having only done 50 miles before the car was written off! So I have a nice new engine but may have a head gasket problem. I suppose it could be that the motor just needed flsuhing but I think I am clutching at straws. The water was pretty brown with some bits floating around in it!... Anyone think they can cheer me up?

Dave B

Don't worry yet. Re-fill try again, you can use a gases check thingy to look for combustion gases (15quid or so on ebay)... Brown bit is just rust (prob because you did'nt have any anti-freeze as this stops corrosion) , a good flush will sort it. Oily feel might just be a small amount of anti-freeze..

Dan

[Edited on 7/1/10 by Bluemoon]

Yep that has cheered me up! I do hope you are right!

thanks
Dave B

KEEP ANY PETS YOU HAVE WELL AWAY FROM THAT COOLANT >>>>OR IT WILL BE A BAD DAY.....

decent antifreeze has a slippery feeling to it

tony

It will be fine. If the engines only done 50miles!

The brown will be rust out of the block as they are iron on the St170 (zetec) engine.

Unless there is a really oily film on the water I wouldnt worry.

David

Also if the engine has sat for a while you can get mayo like crud developing....

flush it, re-fill it and try again

fingers crossed BTW

quote:

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Originally posted by mad-butcher
decent antifreeze has a slippery feeling to it

tony

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^^^^^^^^^^
What They Said!

oil shouldn't mix with what, ask the penguns and it shold feel different than normal water.

after 50 miles and standing, it is unlkley to be head gasket.

refill it with correct amount of anitfreeze and all will be well.

I'm with everyone above! Your worrying about nothing!

I've had the exact same thing and the engine was scrap. However, you're lucky because I'm in a position to swap your totally scrap engine for a 1600 x-flow........