Now that you have a forced open thermostat, it's time to do a citric
acid flush.
You will need a kilogram of food grade citric acid (should be able to
find that fairly easily without spending the money for analytical
grade). Dissolve in a gallon of water. Empty cooling system,
including draining the block through the drain valve or plug.
Close drain valve on block and radiator (or put drain plug back in),
pour in the gallon of citric acid solution and bring the cooling
system up to volume with water. If there is evidence of oil in the
cooling system, don't put the citric acid in, put in a half pound or
so of dishwasher detergent (without chlorine) or a couple pounds of
sodium carbonate -- "washing soda", available at the grocery store.
Fill with water.
Drive the car with the heater set on full heat. Might need to block
part of the radiator in this weather to get it warm, don't overheat
it. You want either the detergent or the citric acid to get warm and
circulate for a while.
Let it cool if it got warm, then drain, flush, fill with water, drive
it a while, and then let it cool and drain it. Keep filling and
emptying the detergent rinse until it's not slippery feeling, the
citric acid mixture until it's not acid (use litmus paper if you can
find it, or pH papers from the home-brew store).
You don't need the detergent flush if there isn't oil in the overflow
tank.
Chances are you fill have a ton of crud come out when you drain the
block, since I suspect you have a lot of carbonate scale in there that
cracked loose from the block when it got hot and dry.
And verify that you do not indeed have a "flap"in the hose! It
happens with brake lines too. A one-way valve in the wrong direction
isn't very helpful.
Peter
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