Vinegar in the radiator...

Franchise_24

Franchise_24

Well-known member
I'm running vinegar in my radiator for general cleaning. How long do you recommend to keep it in and run it in the car before removing it? Thanks.
 
I think that depends on the condition of your motor and radiator. When I first tried it, I was a little timid and only kept it in for three days. Then next year I got braver and kept it for a week. Others report 30 days.

I've been doing it every year, usually for a week each time.

Each time I do it, I get root beer that stains the gravel beside my driveway. It takes 6 - 10 flushes with water before it comes out clear. Others report a single flush with water comes out clear. So I think it really depends on the condition of your system.
 
I left mine in for 30 days, but my engine block had a lot of rust.

BTW, I used an inspection camera to look inside the top and bottom radiator tanks, and it's nice and clean.
 
You could also try Evaporust or diluted molasses. If you are using vinigar I would suggest using a Baking Soda flush follow up.
 
I'm not putting vinegar into my radiator for longer than one startup and short trip anymore. The last time I put it in for a week and wound up with pinholes.
Terry
 
Terry said:
I'm not putting vinegar into my radiator for longer than one startup and short trip anymore. The last time I put it in for a week and wound up with pinholes.
Terry
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Terry .....................
The vineger did not cause your pinholes, you already had them. You just cleaned out the rust, that was blocking the pinholes.
MIKE :) (mikeburch)
 
Bill Cal. said:
How much vinegar do you put in the radiator? Bill
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When I did mine, I put in 2 litres, about 1/2 a gallon, and then filled the rest with water. I ran it straight away to mix it all together, and left it in for 30 days or so. Then drain, fill with water, drive about a bit, then drain and refill again.
 
I used straight white vinegar, which is 5% acidic. I used 2 1/2 gallons and ran the car for 30 days. Note that this will take out the grease from the water pump, and make a big mess on the engine. I wonder how it would work without running the engine? I would nuetralize with baking soda as soon as you flush out the vinegar. Winter set in so quick and hard last fall, just as I drained the system of vinegar, and I didn't get a chance to nuetralize the block, so now I have rust again. I have EvapoRust in the block right now and will drain it in another day or two.
 
I just did it the other day with bout 2.5 gallons of vinegar. the inside was filled with disgusting rust colored slime. almost like grease. i put it in ran it for an hour and flushed the hell out of it. the reason i did it was the temp guage wasn't functioning at all, I removed it altogether anyhow. seems to run cooler now not pushing water out the cap in 3rd anymore at least.
 
Drain it some place that you don't care about staining. I drained mine at the curb last sumer and there is still a brown spot on the pavement.
 
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