I have been dealing with a huge amount of silicate dropout, and gel, mud slime formations due to improper and old coolant, thus combating this with a pressure washer stuck in ever available place the coolant travels, the block drains, water pump, behind the thermostats, etc. This has been very effective in getting the garbage of the coolant passages.
Guess what happened? The color coded cap that denotes the spray nozzle type shot off into the top of the radiator! I suppose the question is, if this plastic part isnt buoyant, can I just leave it in the upper radiator tank? Is there enough coolant flow that this plastic part gets draw somewhere that I don't want? I'm trying to avoid removing the radiator just to get this little piece of plastic removed. Opinions welcome.
This is the plastic object in question (minus the brass spray nozzle).
It's inside the radiator? I'd try to get it out. I'd start with a endoscopic camera and then try a flexible grabber tool.
The endoscopic camera is what I was thinking about trying. I was thinking about adding a hook tool to the end of the camera, and trying hook it out (assuming I can find the plastic cap).
My camera, made by depstech and available on amazon, came with a hook. I'd definitely try to get the nozzle out.
I definitely don't want that thing finding its way down stream and blocking something. What I want to know is if the coolant flow goes from the bottom of the radiator to the top, or the other direction?
Here's a link to a youtube video that shows the inside of an MC9 radiator. I set the link to start right before the top comes off. This may help you in visualizing how to get it out.
https://youtu.be/m-wLSxjTQQ8?t=5m50s
This might actually show the bottom of the radiator and not the top.
Attached pics are from the manual. It looks like coolant flows from the top down to me.
Nice shot, and thanks for that! That cap should be laying on top of the tubing clusters for easy removal.
Indeed, that is what it says 'from thermostat to radiator' thus being top down flow. If thats the case, that piece should be safely captured in the upper radiator tank. To remove or not remove, that is the question.
I bet you can get the nozzle out without removing the radiator. Just be creative and patient. :)
If it's inside the upper tank there's no way for it to get into the lower tank and then sucked into the water pump, not unless it's A) very tiny, and B) you have larger-ID radiator tubes than the cap's size. When I recored my radiator I was surprised how small the water passages were inside each tube. If the cap is magnetic steel you can get it out with a rare-earth magnet on the end of something flexible.
Good luck, John
It will stay in the tank only problem it may move around with the engine running and close the top of some tubes,the water pumps on Detroit's are not wimpy when it comes to moving water
it isn't going anywhere.
does it float ?
Quote from: eagle19952 on July 17, 2018, 01:56:41 PM
it isn't going anywhere.
does it float ?
That's the first thing I tried, putting it in a glass of water to see if it floated and no, luckily it doesnt!
It will find a cozy spot and not hurt anything.
I lost a 9/19 wrench in the transmission of a D9H many years ago. Adjusting the shift spool..
Never hurt a thing.
Quote from: eagle19952 on July 17, 2018, 02:44:54 PM
I lost a 9/19 wrench in the transmission of a D9H many years ago. Adjusting the shift spool..
Never hurt a thing.
That makes my situation laughable by comparison.
Harbor freight also has an inspection camera that I've used with good results looking into engine. You may get lucky with flexible pick up tool with those little fingers. Good you mentioned the endoscope on Amazon. I was just looking at it contemplating getting one. Ordered!
I lost my Ex-wife in a poker game ... that caused me all kinds of problems.
Does it float? C'mon, are you guys for real?
BCO
If it can float, fill the radiator with water and float it out. It probably doesnt.
Quote from: brianzero on July 17, 2018, 03:47:57 PM
That makes my situation laughable by comparison.
Not really, it was a Snap-on Angle head... :( I wanted to pull the transmission to get my wrench back. Boss said no...
If you've been in the biz long enough you see worse...
Once I had an 8v brought to me that was "untunable''...
Turned out, there was a pocket protector, and a pack of cigarettes...tobacco gone, under the blower horn.
Another was a 345 IHC gas. wouldn't make it up the hill loaded...ran fine empty, well fine enough...
two intake runners had red rags stuffed in them...had been that way for 2 years before i got it in my shop.
there are many more.
It probably will lodge some place and be ok,why not remove it the MCI radiators are so narrow it couldn't be that big of of deal to get out .I left a 3-3/4 one inch drive socket in a the lower end of a 5500 hp Copper compressor one time after the boss told me don't worry we will get out on the 10,000 hr maintenance lol I never stopped worrying about that socket till it was back in my hand a year and half later
Yeah, it most likely won't cause an issue, but he wants to put it back on the nozzle.
After my engine overhaul, I pulled my radiator to reposition my oil filter and discovered a rag in the radiator (mechanic must have covered the opening and somehow slipped down in). Just pulled it out. As to your plastic piece, don't worry about it, the holes in the radiator are much smaller than the piece-isn't going anywhere. Good Luck, TomC
LOL I would remove it all I can think about is a spray can rattle, it should help with the build up from the dropout though :D, me I would have already removed it and not chancing a $2000.00 radiator where is all the plastic going when it breaks up from the heat ? these new radiators now the tubes are so thin you push a straight pin through one
Quote from: luvrbus on July 17, 2018, 07:16:50 PM
I left a 3-3/4 one inch drive socket in a the lower end of a 5500 hp Copper compressor one time after the boss told me don't worry we will get out on the 10,000 hr maintenance lol I never stopped worrying about that socket till it was back in my hand a year and half later
It must have a good socket, was it a Snap-on, Wright Tool, etc.? You had a good boss, not all of them would have been as understanding. :D
Quote from: DoubleEagle on July 18, 2018, 03:57:51 PM
It must have a good socket, was it a Snap-on, Wright Tool, etc.? You had a good boss, not all of them would have been as understanding. :D
LOL he was good boss and the socket was a Wright made in Ohio,Wright sent me another free of charge to use when I told them the story.I sold that set about a year ago to a railroad engine mechanic he hounded me for 6 years till I gave in
Quote from: luvrbus on July 18, 2018, 04:37:24 PM
LOL he was good boss and the socket was a Wright made in Ohio,Wright sent me another free of charge to use when I told them the story.I sold that set about a year ago to a railroad engine mechanic he hounded me for 6 years till I gave in
Wright Tools are good, one of the few US made brands left. I have a lot of their impact tools and a 600 ft. lb. torque wrench. When a 3/4 inch drive ratchet gave out, they fixed it quick with no charge, of course I forgot to tell them about the eight foot pipe I put on it. ;D