Car problems?
The antifreeze sputtered out of my car today. The car stopped heating a few days ago. The mechanic told me the coolant "baked" inside of the car and I would need a by-pass machine to get this baked coolant out (he showed me the brown crud in the resovoir) and said that maybe I needed a new water pump. Total cost? 1,000 to 1,500 dollars. Does this sound right? Does antifreeze "bake" instead of evaporates?
Update:Its an older car, with great senitmental value. I have a new car, but hate to see the old one go. I kind of feel the mechanic was trying to overcharge. Thank you for your answers!
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"Go to a Good Radiator Shop and Find a Real Mechanic!!" 1,000 to 1,500 for Replacing a Water Pump that from what was said May Not be the Problem. In Older Cars sometimes you'll see that "Brown Resadue" from Old Dried Up Coolant!!
Most Times if the Engine gets so Hot the Coolant Bakes your "Engine Will Seize" OK Now Lets Look at this:
1; You Should Replace the Overflow Tank because sometimes that Brown in the Tank will Break off and Get into the Engine Cooling System.
2; With the Engine Cold Remove the Radiator Cap, on the Underside of the Cap do you see a Pinkish Foam? (Broken Transmission Cooler lines in Radiator, Replace Radiator!) or Rust (Replace Cap.). Cap off Start Engine, after a short time do you Smell Exhaust from the Radiator? (Signs of a Bad Head Gasket, Replace!). Cooling May need to be Flushed/Boiled out and Filled with 50-50 Mixture of Clean Water & Anti-Freeze!
3; Install New Thermostat! If Belts are Warn or Cracked replace them! Check & Replace if Needed All Hoses & Clamps! There is a "Weep Hole" in the Water Pump, if it's leaking or Pump is making Noise Replace it?
4; Disconnect Heater Hoses at Block (Engine) and "Back Flush" the Heater Core through the Heater Return Hose! If Unable to Clear you may need to Replace the Core. "Before Starting this Back Flush Remove the Hot Water Control Valve for the Heater and then Replace it with a New Valve when Complete.
"Shade Tree mechanic's thoughts" A Woman that Knows nothing about Cars, Extra $$$$!!
Just find a handy person in your family or friends that knows how to flush a coolant system. I'm not really sure what you mean by what you wrote above, but I assume the car overheated, and spit out a bunch of coolant? If so, there is a reason it overheated in the first place, and flushing the system may not correct it. Also, if it overheated badly, there's a good change there's some big time engine damage too. Start with a system flush, if you do it yourself, its like $20 tops, for flush and new coolant. Don't change the water pump unless it's proven that the water pump is broken.
I've actually seen this when I worked at an oil change place once. It was in a Chevy Malibu that was no more than 5 years old, and the guy who drove it said he had been doing frequent and steady driving of 90mph between San Diego, Las Vegas, and Arizona (I'm sure it was in summer too, with the AC on). Your mechanic is right, and there is a special machine that's needed, so I think his price quote is not unreasonable, but if it has a lot of miles on it, is it better to rebuild the engine?
Answering your question seems tedious, I will need $300 to $400 to answer it.
Nah... but seriously, you need a new mechanic. Antifreeze lubricates the waterpump, and could also be called, anti-boil. Flush the cooling system, a few times. Then replace whatever parts need replacing.
The system is rusted from lack of maintenance.
HOW FOR WHAT IS NEEDED, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY FLUSHED OUT AND I MEAN COMPLETELY, THE RADIATOR THE HEATER CORE, THE HOSES, THE ENGINE AND REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND ANY OTHER PARTS THAT LOOK BAD OR HAVE A LOT OF MILES ON THEM LIKE THE HOSES.
FLUSH OUT THE SYSTEM MANUALLY AND DON'T USE ANY TYPE OF POWER FLUSHING, THIS CAN LEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS NOW OR AT A LATER DATE.