I have the new Oreily cap. They didnt have the hoses. Autozone didnt have them either, so I am waiting until a hub can deliver them tomorrow morning.
I have already done this a year ago. Maybe I need to try the Prestone flush stuff and do it again? That is basically what I was finding in my reservoir tank in small amounts. Felt like a hairball like you are describing.That's some weird looking gunk..Looks like a hairball a cat would yak-up, very strange.
Maybe gasket material? But there's sure a lot of it.
I think a complete flush is in order.
Me, I would pull the radiator, pump, water neck and flush everything with a garden hose while it's open.
That being said, you seriously need to find out where that crap is coming from.I have already done this a year ago. Maybe I need to try the Prestone flush stuff and do it again? That is basically what I was finding in my reservoir tank in small amounts. Felt like a hairball like you are describing.
I really dont think belt tension is any issue. That would put the strain to the bearings if anything. The seals and bearings do go eventually, just part of mechanical life. The gurgling may not really be a issue but without being there to see or hear Its hard to speculate. The thermo passage isnt that big really and if its closed and you have one with what is a little passage on top of the body(which should be at the 12 position) it may make sounds as it allows air and coolant to pass by it. The chemical flush would be nice but if ya cant,ya cant. As mentioned before with the hoses off the rad,thermo out and a a good long blast into the block it should knock anything out. The heater core can be done the same once the hoses are disconnected too. Just dont put the 50+ psi water pressure to either, just a good flushing. Might sound screwy but if your OCD like me after its flushed you can take a leaf blower to the top rad hose and blow out the water in the block to get rid of whats left in. On the thermostats I typically set the thermo into its recessed edge, set the gasket with a very light film of RTV over it, put light film of rtv on the thermo housing and make sure everything is in place correctly and then put the bolts in with a nice coast of anti seize on them. Just make sure the poppet on the thermo is into the block, not the housing and if the new thermo has a bypass chingadera make sure its at the 12 O clock position.Looks fairly simple to change. Ill go ahead and order my radiator too and do both. I want this to end.
It is possible I had my belt on too tight.
I like this^. I have always wondered how to get the extra bit of water out the block so you can get a good mix of coolant and distilled.Might sound screwy but if your OCD like me after its flushed you can take a leaf blower to the top rad hose and blow out the water in the block to get rid of whats left in.