PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-576
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 576
NOVEMBER 2000
Finally, take the radiator cap off. If the cooling system is hot, open the filler
cap slowly until all pressure is gone. Use a rag or glove to protect your bare hand
from the hot cap.
The coolant should be at least over the top of the core. It should be almost
clear—and colored by the antifreeze.
If your coolant is muddy-looking or has bits of junk
in it, your cooling system needs draining and flushing,
maybe even cleaning. Report it.
If you see a rainbow of oil slime on
top of the coolant, you’ve
probably got a leak inside the engine. Exhaust gas or oil is getting
into your cooling system. Pull the crankcase dipstick and check for
water in the oil. Little blobs will show on the dipstick. Either way, report it.
Note, drivers, that air-cooled systems don’t need much attention. All they
need is a good flow of air—meaning all the airflow shrouds must be in place.
PS 576
13
NOV 00
PS 576
12
orrosion attacks Army equipment relentlessly. Rain, salt, wind and sand
take their toll. The destruction isn’t always noticeable but it’s enormous, and the
cost is staggering.
Your best weapon against that corrosion is rust inhibitor. Just wipe
or spray the inhibitor every 8 months or so to the inside and under-
neath your vehicles. It will slow the spread of new rust and clean
up old rust.
It won’t harm painted surfaces, plastics, rubber, glass
or wiring, but it will make them shine for a week or two.
If that ruins your camouflage efforts, keep it off the
outside of your equipment.
The inhibitor works by eliminating moisture that
holds
salt, dirt and other pollutants that eat up metal. It also
lubes moving parts and penetrates existing rust.
The inhibitor is petroleum-based and contains no
silicones, solvents, or anything else classified as
hazardous material. Even though the inhibitor
contains no hazardous material, the headshed
recommends that you wear a respirator,
goggles and gloves when applying it be-
cause of possible irritation to your respi-
ratory tract or skin.
Order the amount of inhibitor you need:
All Vehicles . . .
NSN 8030-01-389-1413 brings a 55-
gal drum of inhibitor, a spray applica-
tor and an instruction video. You can
get a copy of the video by itself for free
by calling (800) 856-6798.
As a rule of thumb, it takes about 2
gallons to treat a HMMWV and up to 3
gallons for a 2
1
/
2
-ton or 5-ton truck.
Quantity
NSN 8030-01-414-
16-oz bottles (12)
7423
5-gal container
8947
55-gal drum
7430
Water blobs on dipstick?
Any leaks or other cooling system problems?
Hose clamp
loose, broken,
missing
Seam leak
Belt cracked,
ragged, loose,
missing
Core
leak
Seam
leak
Bugs, leaves,
other debris
Drain cock leak
Hose connection leak
Hose cracked,
brittle, mushy
Coolant in
engine oil—
shows on
dipstick as
blobs of water
Plug
leak
Head
gasket
leak
Bolt
leak
Hose connection leak
Seam
leak
Wrong or broken
pressure cap
Oil or
fuel in
coolant
Hose
connection
leak
Check the radiator. Look for leaks on the top tank, front and back of the core
and bottom tank.
Leaks may not show up when your engine is cold, so look for rust and odd-
colored dribbles where coolant has leaked and dried.
Later, when you’ve got the engine running at operating temperature and
pressure, check those places again for wet spots. Use a flashlight during both
inspections.
this ought
to put a
stop
to
corrosion
.
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