Foaming water in rad? the cause?

[mike22l]

I have a dirt circle track engine that has developed foaming in the water.

I run straight water with DEI rad relief additive.

Never had this problem before and the engine is getting warm.

[MODNROD]

Air from somewhere no doubt.
Hoses, pinhole in radiator, radiator cap, thermostat housing gasket........head gasket?
The usual suspects.

[hornet340]

is it a new build?

[mike22l]

No. It was put together at the first of the season. Dirt circle track 358. It ran cool.

It was fine until I got teched and had to take the intake off. After that i had the water foaming up. (The car owner said it always foamed up but i doubt that)

I had the intake planed and i am going to put it on tonight.

Just filling the rad with water it starts foaming.

Looks like time for a cooling system flush with water a couple of times.

[Kevin Johnson]

Could be biological activity somehow. This might have consumed a surfactant used to emulsify an antifoam. Your water source would be a suspect as well as the conditions (dusty?) when the manifold was removed. Your idea to flush the system is a good one. I know the engine heat would appear to act as a sterilizer.

Take a sample and send it to Dow Chemical -- they might be willing to test it gratis as a plug for their Dowicides line.

[Rizzle]

Someone put dish soap or something in it? I heard at one point years ago it was supposed to work like water wetter, all it did for me was make it bubble like crazy. Lesson learned.

Yeroon