Thread: ATTN Farnsworth - tool info needed

Jason,

Did you post a link to a specialized tool to remove hard to reach spring loaded hose clamps? We ran into an issue tonight where coolant needed to be drained and the radiator drain appeared to be stuck. Not wanting to break the darn thing, I decided to pull the lower radiator hose. Nothing I had could reach the hose clamp tabs. So I thought screw that, we'll just remove the hose from the water pump housing. Crap same thing clamp tabs unreachable.

Did you post the link to that tool? If it wasn't you it would have been PRJ.

On here, no I have not posted that tool. But I know exactly what tool your talking about as I do own it, and love it to death. Its for use with the self adjusting clamps we have, and works wonders with that bastard of a lower hose clamp.

Here is the tool:

• New ratchet feature provides amazing control of jaws.
• Suitable for both standard & space saver clamps from 3/4" to 2 3/32".

They can run you anywhere from around $30.00 to $150.00

Not sure if local auto parts stores have them or not. (Autozone/O'Reilly's for example) I think I got mine off line. I know for sure ToolParadise.com - It's Paradise for Tools! Professional Tools for the Mechanic and Serious Hobbyist has them.

~F~

You the man Jason. Yep I knew the thread where I saw this wasn't here, and yes that is what I was looking for. I'll search that site to see if I can find them. What are they called? May help me find them quicker...time is of the essence.

Edit: Hose clamp tool*** going to order these tomorrow.

I wished I had bought this back when you first posted this info, back in the day.

You can search for Hose Pliers, or Hose Clamp Pliers, both will bring you to all they have.

~F~

Ordering a set tomorrow. Drews radiator hose was probably original so I just cut it off. However, putting a new hose back on may be a lot easier with a pair of these pliers.

I have that thing and I love it. Allows me to remove those dastardly clamps and install more convienient ones.

I sure could have used one of those last night. Cutting the hose is rather messy. Oh and fwiw. Drews dex didn't look too bad for a car with well over 100K miles. Right at the radiator cap there was a very slight amount of red slim. However inside of the water pump housing, cut up radiator hose, bottom opening of the radiator, and thermostat housing was very clean. Dex is definitely going back in. The only worry I have now is the potential air contamination from leaving the system open, until all of the work is complete.

If its a redish color, then there was some type of rust in the system. The DexCool itself when it gels up is more or an orangish brown color if not more of a light brownish color.

I also will add this to the mix. I have a test kit that will test the ph levels and additive concentration in coolants, including the so called long life coolants. I have yet to test one of them that was anywhere near being in good shape that long into the run.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

If its a redish color, then there was some type of rust in the system. The DexCool itself when it gels up is more or an orangish brown color if not more of a light brownish color.

I also will add this to the mix. I have a test kit that will test the ph levels and additive concentration in coolants, including the so called long life coolants. I have yet to test one of them that was anywhere near being in good shape that long into the run.

I'm color blind...it looked normal to me other than the little bit of slippery stuff on the radiator cap. The color is similar to the nice clear red/orange stuff that's in my daughters cavi. I totally agree, the extended life products are not as extended as people are led to believe.

We got the car with almost 100K miles on it, so I really expected it to look a lot worse. It's certainly nothing I would be concerned about, even with as anal as I am.

I see your point. But I revert back to an earlier statement that I made in another similar thread. In all the years I have drove (I learned on a Datsun pickup w/5 spd at age 11 and got my license at 15) I have never ever seen any other coolant do what DexCool does. I have seen the Yellow coolants, Red ones, Green ones, etc. and Dex Cool is the ONLY coolant that I have ever seen that gels like it does and deposits the crap it can into the cooling system.

I do believe there are other factors at play here that worked in conjunction with the Dex Cool chemistry to cause it to do as it has. Dex Cool is not solely to blame so much. But its chemistry enabled it to react in such a way that no other coolant has and is why it will never see light of day in any vehicle I own again. There is no disputing that some have went long periods with no issues, but the fact that it can occur, coupled with most peoples neglect of cooling systems is just not a good combination in my opinion.

Here is the filter I installed. I put this in to try and save my radiator.




Here's what it captured just after a few minutes of idle time:




This is just a very small portion of what was in my radiator:




I dont know about you, but any coolant with the potential to do this doesnt belong in any vehicle. None of my vehicles will ever again be without a coolant filter nor will any see Dex Cool again.

I understand your concerns. I'm not trying to steer anyone one way or another. Just giving my take on why I saw. Pre Dex back to the late 60's is as far back as I can remember messing around an engine compartment. the headaches caused by regular coolant. Or more precisely poor maintenance and not so much what was being used.

wow I've never seen crap like that in a newer vehicle.

Right. Prior to Dex Cool the only issue I ever ran into with regards to cooling system maintenance was scale and such build up in the radiator core, primarily due to neglect. I changed my green coolants out every other year. Dex Cool was the first and only coolant I ran across that showed issues even with regular maintenance.

Originally Posted by IndeedSS

wow I've never seen crap like that in a newer vehicle.

That was straight out of my vehicle and radiator. Prior to the radiator going bad and while on Dex Cool, I would have to open that filter up about two to three times a week if not more to clean it out to keep it from clogging up. After I got the new radiator and switched over to green coolant, I reached a point where I could go a month or two before having to clean it out.

My heater core is shot for the same reason I believe and I will eventually get to the point I pull it out and when I do I will cut that sucker open and take pics.

Again, I don't care what people run. I only mentioned what I found as information, good or bad. A smart person will research, not just the Internet, and hopefully make an informed decision. Now I wished I hadn't mentioned what we found last night, because it is crapping up a thread about a very handy tool.

We need a tool sticky for people to add things that are helpful. Maybe a book and tool thread, since books are tools.

Well I too am not meaning to detract a thread, but I am also just posting my experience with Dex Cool and the vehicles I have seen running that coolant including the Grand Am my wife had.

You have to keep in mind, that most are not going to do research concerning coolant. They are going to stick with what was in there until, as in my case, they have reason to run something else.

I would love to check all the vehicles that come to Branson and see how many exhibit the gel issue, would be an interesting experiment to say the least.

With regards to the book and tool thread, there is a section for Parts Best buys, maybe we could add a tool section useful for working on the GP.

Hey Jason...Thank you x100

That tool is fantastic. Although I didn't have the need beyond the tools normal operation, it would be cool if it could be adapted to a T so it could fit in tighter places. However the tool as it is is awesome.

...and since the thread has been tainted by Dexcool opinions, an update. I found NO sludge or anything else, that would be troubling on a 100K mile car with dexcool only. Even the LIM water jackets were clean, and those surfaces are rough from the casting. Anyway I picked up the stuff in a gray bottle made by prestone that has big bold letters, Dexcool in the upper right corner. Despite the failing original plastic LIM gaskets, the parts of the cooling system I could touch or feel looked very good. No reason to switch from what appears to work well. I certainly would not send my son off to college with something I felt would give him car problems later.

Obviously my findings are relatively common from everything I've been able to process. However, for whatever reason, some vehicle have issues in their systems. There are several reasons for why some systems, not just Dex systems, have cooling system have problems. I don't doubt their findings either.

After my sisters '98 Regal sludged up with only 35K miles or so...I drained mine and went green in my GTP. It looked good when I removed it, but why risk it for a car I plan on keeping for a very long time.

~F~