cleaning out a radiator

Terry NJ

Terry NJ

Well-known member
No problems that I know of, but who knows what the future will bring. So I'm thinking about what I'd when the trouble starts and I came up , I believe it's sodium Bisulphate, which is sold under the Iron Ike, Iron Mike, Iron Out, and various other names. We've flushed out pipes and well points with this stuff. It's not a drill, there's always some left behind. So. Jersey is a mountain of Liminite or Bog Iron ore mixed with sand. Over the years we get a lot of iron in the well casings and pipes themselves, I have seen 1/2 galvanized pipes that are so clogged that almost nothing gets through. It's bad! My question is, can we safely use this type of product, or will it harm an engine? Since it does "eat" iron you can't leave it in the block long I'm sure.
Terry
 
I don't think it is iron that plugs up old radiators. I got out black gunk that was very hard to wash off of your hands.. It's mostly goop.
 
A local rad shop suggested leaving it filled with CLR cleaner overnight if it's off the car. Picture what ends up in a humidifier or dehumidifier.
 
Been home all of this week. Found out it is much easier to clean out a refrigerator than a radiator.

I have always used vinegar to clean out the engine and radiator. I drive it until I start getting used to my car smelling like a pickle. Then drain and back flush engine and radiator separately. The last one I did several weeks back, I got out a couple of cups worth of rust flakes. My newly acquired 29 CCPU runs much cooler now!!!!

Be warned that when you do drain it out that it doesn't overflow your collection container underneath the vehicle that you drain it in. The vinegar that comes out is colored just like Iron Oxide Primer paint and it will stain your cement and blacktop driveways. Don't ask me how I know so much about this....:eek:
 
I once tried the vinegar thing and while it worked well enough, I suddenly got a couple of pinholes where there weren't any before.
Terry
 
I recieved a tip off line about a product called "Iron Ike" that I mentioned above. I had not seen this ad before, but it's recommended for radiators. I guess you just type in "Iron Ike" in your search engine. and go to it. It can also be used for small parts.
Terry
 
Be aware that vinegar comes in at least two acid strengths 5 1/2 and 7 % percent used for pickling. Wayne.
 
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Lye (drano) works really well. Radiator must be off the car, plug the bottom outlet, wear googles and gloves, 20-30 strong solution, back flush well repeat for stubborn or realy clogged radiators.
 
RonC said:
Lye (drano) works really well. Radiator must be off the car, plug the bottom outlet, wear googles and gloves, 20-30 strong solution, back flush well repeat for stubborn or realy clogged radiators.
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And get ready to see lots of pin holes !
, Wayne
 
modela@aol.com said:
Been home all of this week. Found out it is much easier to clean out a refrigerator than a radiator.

I have always used vinegar to clean out the engine and radiator. I drive it until I start getting used to my car smelling like a pickle. Then drain and back flush engine and radiator separately. The last one I did several weeks back, I got out a couple of cups worth of rust flakes. My newly acquired 29 CCPU runs much cooler now!!!!

Be warned that when you do drain it out that it doesn't overflow your collection container underneath the vehicle that you drain it in. The vinegar that comes out is colored just like Iron Oxide Primer paint and it will stain your cement and blacktop driveways. Don't ask me how I know so much about this....:eek:
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That pin hole was probably clogged up with rust and the vinegar ate it. I have a gravel drive I do it over.
 
If your radiator leaks after a thorough cleaning, especially with vinegar or Sani-Flush, it was bound to start soon somewhere out in the middle of the desert.
 
Top tank leaks after cleaning with vinegar. Did not leak before cleaning. Would a radiator stop leak fix it instead or pulling the radiator? There are no radiator shops anymore around here.
 
My original radiator was just damp in the upper fin area, so I used some stop leak, and it's been dry for the past 16 years, even after the vinegar treatment.

Pulling a radiator isn't too bad a job, and if the leak is easy to reach you might be able to fix it yourself with solder. I scrape the area with an Exacto knife, then use flux core electrical solder. I don't like acid core solder, nor lead free solder.
 
captndan said:
Top tank leaks after cleaning with vinegar. Did not leak before cleaning. Would a radiator stop leak fix it instead or pulling the radiator? There are no radiator shops anymore around here.
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Next time use evaporust..the negatives of going the cheaper way out with vinegar has been discussed here.
 
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Question for those who have cleaned:

If using vinegar do you use straight vinegar? How long do you let it sit?

If using draino do you do 50/50 water draino or? Again how long do you let it sit?

I have an old pool pump I can connect to the radiator outlet to back flush with.
 
All the above is good for the lime/calcium/rust type of clogging. For grease and gunk I used a gallon of straight Simple Green in mine for a few days sloshing it around a few times per day. Worked very well for me. Truck runs nice and cool.
 
Just in case someone forgets to use distilled water in their radiator first, Oxalic Acid removes mineral deposits and rust. It does not harm metals, and it doesn't touch paint.

OA is the active ingredient in commercial wood deck cleaners, and also in Bar Keepers Friend.

You can buy it through Amazon and other locations.

Its cheap, safe, easy to use, and effective.

When you're done, dump it in your garden, your plants will love it!

Who knew?
 
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