|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
02-03-2016, 05:00 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 114
|
Radiator cleaning
No shops on the Cape "tank" our old radiators anymore. That led to a bad scene last fall. Does anyone know of a shop in eastern Mass. that continues to use the tank process to chemically clean our old rad's?
Thank, Don, for Dave Nixon |
02-03-2016, 06:56 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,390
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Have you tried the vinegar ??
Paul in CT |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
02-03-2016, 09:06 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Manawatu, New Zealand
Posts: 1,416
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Do what I did -put a fan blade through the radiator -You get a nice brand new clean core ! When I don't feel that drastic I have had success with vinegar -Karl
|
02-04-2016, 12:09 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Clarkdale, AZ
Posts: 121
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
What ratio of vinegar:water is best? Thanks.
|
02-04-2016, 02:00 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Masterton, New Zealand
Posts: 3,832
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Is vinegar safe to use with ally heads?
__________________
Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit! |
02-04-2016, 10:31 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Marana, AZ.
Posts: 414
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
However, the water jackets still had a thick layer of what looked like wet yellow chalk. So I flushed with phosphoric acid paint prep. 50/50 mix with water and let it soak a couple days. MAN what a difference. Water jackets look new. Brass T-stats and inside radiator looked new. I took the radiator in for service since the tag on it showed it was re-cored back in 1996. It was 50% plugged according to the shop. They said rodding it out is the only way to clean them out. Brian, I don't think any acid would be good for aluminum. I also think it would probably take out water pump seals. I was changing mine so I didn't care. |
02-04-2016, 10:35 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Marana, AZ.
Posts: 414
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Here's my water jacket and T-stat after the flush and what I used. Radiator was still 50% plugged. The block was pressure washed out with the pumps off as well as down the heads at the T-stat housings to make sure no sandy stuff left behind.
|
02-04-2016, 10:39 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Marana, AZ.
Posts: 414
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
This was after vinegar flush.
|
02-04-2016, 08:19 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,871
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Hi Don
You may want to check with Dan Guertin at Starfish Radiator in Orleans if you haven't already. Dan will point you in the right direction. He is on his way to Florida right now, and will be back in 3 weeks. Russ |
02-05-2016, 03:08 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Leicester. UK
Posts: 404
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
I had some Hydrochloric acid left over from a concrete floor etching job. It does a great job of dissolving rust and limescale. The evil gas that comes off is presumably chlorine, so you need to do it outside!
I think the problem with radiators is that the tubes get blocked where they start in the top tank. That plug of gunge is quite thick, so takes a hell of a lot to dissolve it. I think that is why rodding is the only way to clear them. ie take off the bottom tank and rod them backwards. |
02-05-2016, 07:42 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 114
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Russ, Thanks. Dan does not have the "tank" anymore. I've been placing a few calls in the New Bedford and Worcester areas. I think the old process is the only way to go for these old copper rad's.
|
02-11-2016, 03:15 PM | #12 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Lake Norman, NC
Posts: 82
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
In my Dad's radiator repair shop back in the 60's-70's we soaked radiators in a hot solution of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) for 2 or 3 hours and then flushed them out with water/compressed air. This cleaned everything but rust/scale lodged in the tubes. That required removing tanks and rodding with flat steel rods which was very hard on old cores. We learned the hard way that aluminum Corvette radiators did not like the treatment after we put one end and found nothing left to take out.
|
02-11-2016, 05:16 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,634
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Any solvent strong enough to dissolve the deposits in the radiator usually results in damage to the core. If your radiator is so plugged you are have chronic overheating, it is almost always time for replacement. It isn't cheap, but allows you to drive in all seasons without worry.
|
02-12-2016, 09:38 AM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 756
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Quote:
|
|
02-12-2016, 11:16 PM | #15 |
Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 50
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Glen Ray Radiators of Wausau, Wisconsin has my 1941 flathead radiator right now to disassemble, boil, rod out and repair leaks. It was really plugged up after 50 years of mice living in it.
They looked it over and said they can clean it and repair it so it will work like new. The estimate is $350. So far they have been great to deal with but I haven't seen the end result yet. Check out their web site and give them a call. |
02-13-2016, 10:56 AM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: sw minnesota
Posts: 4,571
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
the radiator man i use said to never use acid as it will eat up the solder first. just sayin, skip
|
02-13-2016, 12:12 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 1,618
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
My thoughts as well. Seems if it eats up rust the solder could be lunched as well. Do st@ 2b corrected.
__________________
I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs. |
02-17-2016, 01:58 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,871
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Hi Don
Here is an Industrial strength product that may do the job. I sent you a PM on it also. I have not figured out how to post a photo on a PM |
02-17-2016, 02:53 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Dighton, Mass
Posts: 1,230
|
Re: Radiator cleaning
Dennis Costa in the City of Taunton lot closer than Worcester. Costa Repair Service
right across from the main fire station. He's still roddin out my flatheads. by removing top and bottom tanks rod em out, re solder pressure test cheaper that a recore, but he will recore. Then there is Modem might be spelled wrong they are in Weymouth they mfg. radiators. They do the brass ones to AC Macks. Short story my fan went wiped out radiator on 1959 Continental with A/C. found the place I say oh -0- modern plant industrial park. Bring radiator in to the counter 'I figure a waste of time. Guy says right off the bat thats 1958 thru 1960 Lincoln with A/C. Lets take a walk, I see model Ts early V8s name it. Fork lift goes way up brand new boxed radiator. sam think it was $180. So I don't judge books by the cover no more. |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|