Radiator Question - not typical

[FuzzFace2]

Radiator is brass / copper.
It has the typical "white crust" on the upper tubes.
I have not seen any flow out of the tubes, but do feel the lower ones have flow (hot) and why the question.

We know the flush products you can get, either 1 part or the 2 part ones, don't do crap on cleaning the crust.
What I am thinking of doing is pull the radiator laying flat with the cap on and filling it vinegar and letting it sit for a few days.
Being a mild acid I think it would work on the white crust and break it down and then I could flush it out.
If it did not work after a few days I could do it longer and try flushing again.

Or do you have something else you would use and if so what is it?
and no I don't want to take it to a radiator shop, or know of one, to have them tell me it's no good and try and sell  me one.

So what you say?
Thanks a head of time.
Dave ----

[grumpin]

Sounds like a good plan, in research I have done, some suggest vinegar.

I think that's a good idea because it's mild as you said.

I always use distilled water now, didn't when I was younger and always in a hurry! (i.e ignorant!)

[Ford F834]

If your shop won’t do what you are asking (un-solder, rod out, re-solder) then consider a different shop. The problem is this once common practice may now cost more than a new unit. It certainly won’t hurt to try vinegar, and there are stronger “cleaning strength” bottles available, but I wouldn’t hold my breath that it will open up clogged tubes.

[PetesPonies]

If you can find oxalic acid . . it will clean
 your radiator.

[Rembrant]

Ford F834 wrote

The problem is this once common practice may now cost more than a new unit.

Ain't that the truth. I had no idea until recently. I was checking around with radiator shops to get mine cleaned up and painted, etc. My rad was the original 1984 unit, and the local shops wanted $400 to rehab it. (I think a brand new one was around $200).

One guy told me that the only people paying to have them redone anymore are the classic car guys that want the 100% period correct radiator.

In any case, the replacement turned out to be a decent unit, or at least it appeared to be. It's all metal, same as my original. Only difference was that it had actual ports (plugged) for trans cooler lines, and my original did not.

[FuzzFace2]

Ford F834 wrote

If your shop won’t do what you are asking (un-solder, rod out, re-solder) then consider a different shop. The problem is this once common practice may now cost more than a new unit. It certainly won’t hurt to try vinegar, and there are stronger “cleaning strength” bottles available, but I wouldn’t hold my breath that it will open up clogged tubes.

Its not that the shop will not do it I don't have one or know of a shop around here as I am some what new to the area and never needed to look for one.

The other thing is most shops are only open M-F 9-5 and when you are out the door 4am and not out of work till they are long closed. Truck driver so cant take an hour to run out either.

Up north the radiator shop I used was like you said, cost more to rod  then for new and why I replace a radiator in a car 2 times because of low flow.

I got nothing to lose but a few $ trying the vinegar.
Thanks,
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

Give it a try and let us know.  How much vinegar will it take?

[FuzzFace2]

PetesPonies wrote

If you can find oxalic acid . . it will cleaning your radiator.

I Google Oxalic Acid and it looks like I can get it thru Amazon.
Will see if the wife can order some.

The other thing that came up was TSP? I have used it to wash cement floors before painting but I cant see it doing any cleaning of the crust inside the radiator.

Will let everyone know how it goes.
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

Gary Lewis wrote

Give it a try and let us know.  How much vinegar will it take?

Will do.
As a start I picked up 2 gallons.
I have also been tossing around using a small pump and back flow it from the bottom outlet up and out the top outlet.

Stay tune
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

A pump would probably help as it would cause flow, and therefore agitation, at the top where you know there are deposits.

[FuzzFace2]

Gary Lewis wrote

A pump would probably help as it would cause flow, and therefore agitation, at the top where you know there are deposits.

I will have to take a picture but I pulled the radiator and to keep it safe laid it flat in the bed of the truck.

It took just under a gallon of vinegar to fill it up to the just below the top of the 2 hose outlets.
So far it is not looking like it will do much after being in for 2 hours. I will most likely keep it in for a week or more till I get back out to check & drain it.

I am also going to have wife order the Oxalic Acid thru Amazon and give that a try if the vinegar don't cut it.
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

I wouldn't think that 2 hours would show any signs of change.  But over time and with some agitation it should.

[Whisler]

I will bet the reaction will take at least a week. Vinegar is only 5 % acetic acid; that is a very low concentration of a very weak acid. Given time it will probably work; set it in the sun to warm up and it will happen faster.


If the vinegar doesn't work to your satisfaction, try citric acid, available where canning supplies are sold (Walmart). A solution of 1/2 tablespoon per quart of water will clean the grunge off of brass in short order. That is how I clean my pistol cases for reloading.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, heat will help a lot.  Good point.  

[FuzzFace2]

Well yesterday it was 98* in the garage and I had both 9' wide doors, a side walk thru door open and 2 box fans going with an outside temp of 91*

Today it was 92* outside, the garage has been closed up so had to be hotter inside the garage.

I will see what I can do of heating it up to help it along.
Dave ----

[PetesPonies]

Oxalic Acid used to be sold as a radiator cleaner. It is also used as a cement cleaner, concrete.

[FuzzFace2]

Little up date.
I checked on it yesterday and saw it had the white stuff sitting at the bottom but still had it at the tubes.
I did take make pick and the white stuff at the tubes and kind of came off.

Because I am lazy it will sit another week before I do anything to it.
Thinking pour out the vinegar (saving the old) and back flush it and see how it looks and go from there.
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

Another week might be all it needs, especially if it sits out in the sun.  And back-flushing is probably a good idea anyway as lots of stuff may be ready to break loose in there.

[FuzzFace2]

Update:
It's still soaking been working crazy hours and when I get home being tired and hot out, 90*+ so hotter in the garage.
Then being lazy on the weekend I just left it soaking.

I have also given thought to using CLR if this soaking does not work out but will cross that bridge when I get to it.
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

No reason to hurry.  Just let it work and then rinse it well.