Leaky head gasket

[vdesigner99]

All, just wanted to share some recent fiat experiences, I recently discovered that my 84 had a small coolant leak near piston 4 and below dizzy at the head gasket. Took car to shop since I didn't what to spend weeks working on it. Found out the the gasket had damage near the piston ring seal on the gasket. Also the head had a pit at that point also. Had to have a machine shop weld in aluminum and re-surface. I was told that because I was using standard Preston 50/50 and because I had aluminum head/ radiator there may have been galvanic reaction and caused the pitting to the head and other aluminum surfaces. He suggested using phosphate free coolant or reduced phosphate. I'm a prior member of the US Coast Guard so I know the cause and damage of galvanic corrosion can do. I decided to make and add a zinc anode somewhere in the coolant system in the near future.


Happy driving.

Victor

[vdesigner99]

Sorry folks created in wrong forum, should be in engine forum. Not sure how to move it.

[spidernut]

That's a creative approach Victor. Ever consider this? Peak claims it is phosphate and silicate free. I'm glad you posted this. I've been using Prestone 50/50. Time to switch.

https://peakauto.com/products/antifreez ... ife-50-50/

[DieselSpider]

There are several different formulations of Prestone 50/50 with a Universal, Toyota, Honda/Nissan, European, Conventional Green, etc, etc formula so you do have to choose the right one.

Critical too is a complete flush of the cooling system to remove any contaminants followed by a good rinse out with distilled water before adding the new coolant since you will not get the full 2 or 5 years of service from your coolant if you do not start with a clean system.

A 50/50 mix of distilled water and plain white vinegar is what I use for a flush now on all my cars, trucks and motorcycles.

I lean toward using the non-toxic formulations such as Engine Ice mostly because of their better cooling performance in the Deep South. I was a skeptic until the first 100+ degree day on a motor cycle and instead of the cooling fan starting and running the whole time I was at a stop light and not turning off until I had ridden a few blocks it turned on and cycled off in a few moments with no more upward swings of the temperature gauge.