Rusty coolant after being stored ??

[mx3twinturbo]

So buying an 87 conquest, poped of the cap and all i saw was rusty cooalnt, I know it was stored for a long time and driven rarely, but how would rust collect could it be somthing with the turbo? thaks Jesse

[laserjpb]

Popped what cap? Radiator/thermostat? If so, probably deteriorating radiator, if you meant oil cap, then maybe bad headgasket and bad radiator. (There was rusty coolant all over when my radiator blew)

[JET]

Obviously it is the radiator cap. You won't see anything under the oil cap if it has been sitting. All fluids oxidize as they sit. I would change all the fluids, drive it 500 miles and change everything again. That should give them a good flushing. I would bleed the brakes and clutch too. That fluid accumulates water.

[Kracka]

ALL fluids and lubricants should be changed after extended storage as they deteriorate over time. I'd say the rusty coolant would be normal, especially on an older car.

[mx3twinturbo]

Thanks Guys,
Thats what I was Thinking But wanted to check with some others what do you think its an 87 w/ 55 thou. and its compleatly rust free from top to bottom!!!

[Black97civic]

Well, coming from a fellow conquest owner, I guarantee you it will give you a lot of headaches, but it is a low mile car with no rust, so you are off to a really good start.

Just take really good care of it, oil changes regularly, don't beat on it when the engine is cold, give it a chance to cool down after you beat on it, things like that are more important with these cars than most typical cars.

Also, if you are looking for any information on starquests, I would recommend these websites.

www.starquestclub.com
www.tristarion.com
starquest.i-x.net
26liter.us

[Kracka]

Got any pictures? Where did you find it and for how much?

The coolant has "corrosion inhibitors" that wear out after 60k. I don't know how long they last just sitting around but I expect they have failed in your car's coolant, which accounts for the rust you have found.

The engine and cooling system is made of different metals so if they are electrically connected(and they are because the coolant is a conductor) small electrical currents are caused to flow due to "Galvanic action." This goes on whether you drive the car or not. Green coolant lasts about 60k then it looses most of its corrosion inhibiting properties. The ornage coolant lasts 150k before it looses its corrosion inhibitors. (You can blend green and orange cooants but you will have proportionally less corrosion inhibitors in the blend when the green portion reaches its 60k limit.

You should have the system flushed professionally and a new thermostat and radiator cap installed. You may find that the radiator will develop a leak sooner than you wish simply because corrosion has been eating away at things.

Nice car! Good luck with it!

Rick