Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I have a raditor that I have flushed out with a hose for a good hour, I have shaken it, used a radiator flush, but one that you have to have it running to use. I was wondering if there is anything that may disolve the crud in the rad, that I can leave to soak in for a while. The rad isn't bad now, but I think with a good soak in something it will come up quite good.

Does bicarb of soda do anything?

Also is there any retail products that work in this way, that people have used and can recomend?

Cheers

Dave

[bob2]

I had this problem with my minis, tried various radiator flushes but non worked so removed the rads and took them ta a specialist, one was the original 2 core so Idecided to make it 3 core therefore putting new core in and the other one was cleaned, It was the best thing cause now they r both excellent though I also added an electric fan to aid cooling but then over here we have lots of sunshine (and heat) whilst u over there surely can't say so

[Uncle Joe]

I would agree with bob2 on this point, get it recored, first as last....saves a lot of grief in the long run...

UJ

[The_ Yellow_Ardvark]

Before you re-core the radiator. Try this.
You have nothing to loose, if the radiator is borderline, this will highlight any week spots. So as I said:
Nothing to loose.

Get some Caustic Soda mix up in hot water a very very strong does. Plug the hose tails, fill, and leave over night.
Flush with plenty of cold water and carry out a pressure test.

If leaks fix or re core, if not re fit to wheels and happy motoring
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Wibble I am an orange.

[euronerd]

I had good results with dishwasher powder: just a scoop, more or less, depending on the capacity of your cooling system ( I think a dishwasher takes about a gallon) and tour around for about the same length of time as a dishwasher cycle, then flush. A note for those with a car which doesn't have a water pump - you'll need to dissolve the powder in some water first.

Geoff.

[Jim Walker]

The_Yellow_Ardvaark wrote:-

Get some Caustic Soda mix up in hot water a very very strong does.

Which is a very good way to blind yourself if you do it wrong!

Also, "a very very strong does" (dose?) left overnight seems very extreme, I would think a couple of hours would be plenty. If left too long Caustic Soda may eat away at Brass, Copper, Tin (Solder?), Zinc and MOST DEFINITELY Aluminium. Iron is unaffected.

AND KEEP IT OFF YOUR HANDS and more especially some other parts of your body!

Jim.

[peter scott]

I guess it depends where the car spent most of its life but if it lived in a hard water area then surely the main problem will be calcium build-up and the agent you want is not a strong alkalai (like caustic soda) but a strong acid, maybe Hydrochloric Acid. The caustic soda will of course remove greasey deposits.

I've used Hydrochloric Acid to de-scale water heater heat exchangers in Spain and it works very well. They call it Agua Fuerte (strong water ) over there. Everything gets hot and it boils away with spouts of foam.

Kettle de-scalers should do the trick.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon