can't flush out "rubber glue type" coolant additive... what to do?

[rich121]

I have a 91 Seville, that somewhere someone has used a coolant additive that is brown in color, has the consistancy of rubber cement, and sticks to everything.
I have drained the radiator over and over, but still does not go away. I want to add Bars to the coolant, but first want to try to get rid of as much of this gunk as possible.
The cooling system boils off coolant pretty quickly, a 50 mile drive down the freeway uses a gallon of coolant... I know, I need to add the bars..
Is there a safe cleaner I can use to dissolve this gunk, or should I just add the bars?

Thanks,

Richard

[noahsdad]

Sounds like the old 'rabbit-turds' Bars Leak in a can. Nasty stuff. I wouldn't flush with any chemical agents - try running a few gallons of distilled water up to temp, let it cool, drain, and repeat.

What's more worrisome is a gallon of coolant every 50 miles. That's probably more serious than the GM sealant will handle, and may explain why somebody dumped in the Bars Leak gum. Is it leaking externally?

[rich121]

No outside leaks... just drive it around town.. found out after a long trip, about the overheating and boiling off.
Around town it is ok, but still have to add coolant at least once a week.

Richard

[noahsdad]

If it's not leaking outside, it could be leaking inside. I presume you've been reading here about the tendency of 4.x's to lose intake or head gaskets. Keep a close watch on your oil. If it turns a mushroom soup color, or gets a milky streaky look, you probably need one or the other. Don't drive the car if that's already occurring - coolant turns oil into acid and destroys crank bearings. Also, overheating can be really catastrophic to these engines.

[donwon]

Somebody may have use one of the HeadGasker instant repair from a can.
The directions say that this stuff will cause your coolant to Jell.
That sounds to me like what you are talking about.
If it were me I would try to flush everything out of the cooling system with water, then use a radiator flush and try to get all I could out of the system.
I don't know that this would be the right thing to do but it is what I would try.
Hopefully someone will come along with the right answer.

[NickySantoro]

Originally Posted by rich121

I have a 91 Seville, that somewhere someone has used a coolant additive that is brown in color, has the consistancy of rubber cement, and sticks to everything.
I have drained the radiator over and over, but still does not go away. I want to add Bars to the coolant, but first want to try to get rid of as much of this gunk as possible.
The cooling system boils off coolant pretty quickly, a 50 mile drive down the freeway uses a gallon of coolant... I know, I need to add the bars..
Is there a safe cleaner I can use to dissolve this gunk, or should I just add the bars?

Thanks,

Richard

The Bars Leaks isn't going to fix a leak problem of that magnitude. From the description of the crud you are trying to clear it seems like someone put in block or headgasket sealer as previously mentioned. You'll need to diagnose the origin before you proceed further.