To clean my Rad.

[Mtn Wudy]

I Gotta question for everybody that's cleaned their radiator,and block in the car.I was thinking of running some "dishwasher powder " first then run vinegar for a couple days ....Then flush and double flush with clear water....The guy I got it from had that "Waterless Coolant" in it before...I didn't care for that stuff at all...
I had a little incident last Monday in 90+ degree heat heading up home...I live In the Mtns. Of SoCal. at 6500 ft elv.....She was doing great on what is doubed "The Highgear Road" till I got in a construction traffic jam halfway home....I kept it idling high,but she just couldn't handle sitting there....Puked a gallon of yucky brown water all over the firewall ,and even running off the fenders....New Drake pumps,160 stats,a gallon of coolant ,with the bal. water....it put a damper on the day for sure.....48/59AB........Carl

 

[ford38v8]

I don't see the point in dish soap other than to further damage your firewall.
Use full strengfth white vinegar, and rinse with distilled water.
I'm thinking maybe some baking soda to lower the PH after the vinegar???

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Up your timing on the vinegar to 2 weeks. It is a very mild acid and takes time to work.

 

[31chevy]

Go to search on this site & type in vinegar & you will get a lot of information. I used dishwasher detergent first for a few days & left my vinegar in for 3 weeks & either drove it or warmed it up almost every day. Worked very well for me.
Gary.

 

[Mtn Wudy]

Thanks guys...Lots of good info in the "Search"...I'm armed and dangerous now..I should have checked there first I guess....I want to get it so I don't need to keep one eye on the gauge all the time...We get spoiled with our modern Iron....Carl

 

[donald1950]

after you get the crud loose with vinager, and get the coolant running clean, i would suggest pulling the radiator and taking it to a shop and have them pull the tanks off and rodded out to get all of the debries from the tubes...... back flushing will only get what is loose and you could still have many of the tubes clogged with old and new debries from the vinagar...