Coolant Over Headers..!

[oz *sti*]

I recently put up a post to say that the top radiator hose had split and coolant went everywhere.

Well I have managed to get new pipes and have re-filled the coolant system.

When the pipe originally burst the coolant went all over the headers / up-pipe which are covered in heat wrap.

I went out this afternoon to start the car and bring it up to temp, to allow the water / coolant to burn off, but after about 55 mins to an hour the headers still had lots of steam coming of them, ( not nice as all I can now taste now is coolant ).

So my question is should I just allow the headers / up-pipe to dry the wrap? If so how long should this take?? and is it safe???

Or

Would it be safer and better just to take the headers off and take the heat wrap off and put some new wrap on???

Cheers,

Alan.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Oz *STI*

[b4z]

If a was u a would be trying 2 jet wash them first 2 get the coolant out the wrap.If u do this make sure the car is not roasting hot u dont want 2 crack anything

[oz *sti*]

Anyone else got any thoughts on the matter?

[wilky]

Anyone else got any thoughts on the matter?

Heatwrap on headers is always on borrowed time, eventually you are at some point going to have to replace it. Everytime you drive from cold in the wet the wrap will get soaked and you will get the steam scenario regardless of what you do.

Drive the car and dry it out, if its wet the road spray will wash away the coolant, I wouldnt say it was any great drama, I have done this several times and it didnt seem to shorten the heatwraps life any less than it is, IIRC it lasted a couple of years before it became tatty and I had to replace it.

Personally I wouldnt bother too much mate.

Callum W

[hi_jac]

Take the car for a good run. Don't see you doing any harm your just drying out the wrap.

You will probably find your wrap will be brittle and start to disintegrate when it drys out.

Edited May 16, 2009 by hi_jac

[fai17]

Don't worry about it mate...just go for a drive alan