Re: [xj-s] Plugged Rads

["Kirbert" <palmk@mailer.gadcomm.net>]

> From:          Jim Isbell <jisbelljr@mail.utexas.edu>
> >1)  Just why would you think these screens would be "small area"?
> 
> They would be 2" in diameter.  Thats small area when compaired to the
> entire vertical crossection of a radiator.

And why would you think they'd be 2" in diameter?

> >2)  Just why would you think these screens would plug up any faster 
> >than the radiator itself?
> 
> Because they are designed to plug up.  Thats what screens are for, stoping
> debris, i.e. pluging up.

That's funny, there are screens and filters everywhere in my life, 
and nearly all of them are designed to catch debris WITHOUT plugging 
up, at least not anytime soon.  There's a real doozy in the freon 
line into the expansion valve, and another in each fuel injector.  I 
suppose we would all be better advised to pull these out?

> If they dont plug up they are passing the debris,
> so why have them?  The radiator is not designed to stop debris unless its
> huge.  Otherwise it passes it.

Ideally, the screen grid size should be only slightly tighter than 
the radiator tubes, so anything that goes through the screen will 
also go through the radiator.  This is conventional screen theory, I 
think.

> >3)  Even if they DID plug quickly, the fix would only involve 
> >disconnecting the upper radiator hoses, taking the filter assemblies 
> >out, and backflushing them with a garden hose.  
> 
> Try that on a back road when the temperature is 105 degrees and your engine
> is hot already.

I don't find the thought of pulling a radiator and having it rodded 
while on the back road pleasant either.

> A radiator gives you enough time, months, to do something
> about it and there is a guage in the dash that tells you when it is
> plugging up.

Mine gave me a matter of minutes, and apparently it was too late by 
then.  Perhaps something needs to be pointed out here: the temp guage 
does NOT indicate that the radiator is getting plugged.  It indicates 
whether the cooling system is working right or not.  If the system 
will work with the radiator 50% plugged, then at 45% plugged the temp 
gauge reads EXACTLY THE SAME THING as when it's not plugged at all, 
and if it's 55% plugged you've dropped a valve.  There is no gradual 
indication of trouble here; either the cooling system will keep the 
temp within the thermostat control range, or it won't.

> All you need is for a sudden release of matter from somewhere in the engine
> and the whole frontal area of the filter would be plugged in just a few
> minutes time and you are running through the back woods of Bung Fk arabia
> in a 110 degree heat wave.

Careful!  We have members from that area!

I'm still not seeing a problem.  The exact same thing would happen if 
all that crap went into the radiator, except that I'd have a MUCH 
harder time correcting it!

> NO THANKS, I think the auto manugfactuers knew what they were doing when
> they left the filters off the coolant line.

I don't give them that much credit.  They didn't put adequate oil 
filtration in, they didn't provide ANY filters in the ventilation 
system, why should I conclude that they do anything that isn't 
strictly necessary to get the car past the warranty period?

 -- Kirbert      |     If anything is to be accomplished,
                 |     some rules must be broken.
                 |          - Palm's Postulate

---

Follow-Ups:

• Re: [xj-s] Plugged Rads
• From: BRIAN SCHULTETUS <bjs@eosinc.com>

References:

• Re: [xj-s] Plugged Rads
• From: Jim Isbell <jisbelljr@mail.utexas.edu>

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