Radiator Cleaning tips wanted

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2016: Radiator Cleaning tips wanted
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matt Foye on Monday, September 12, 2016 - 09:43 pm:

Are there any safe products to circulate through the radiator and motor (entire thermo-syphon system) to free up any mineral or rust deposits that may be contributing to overheating? My 1913 car overheats always, and recently the radiator cap wasn't on tight and starting spilling over. What came out of the top boiled off into pure rusty stains all over the radiator. Got me thinking if anyone has circulated something like TSP, or CRL or vinegar, or anything else that would not harm anything during an engine run and would get things circulating and cleaning the radiator and motor jackets at the same time. Then dump it and flush with clean water, run it, and dump again before refilling with 50/50 antifreeze. Trying to figure out how to remove a restricted radiator as the cause of my over heating. I want to save a water pump as a last resort. Engine is new, old stock block with only my miles on it (Henry leftover)and was cleaned during machining process before assembly. Any pointers appreciated.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, September 12, 2016 - 09:57 pm:

Fix the problem and forget the water pump. If the radiator is OK, a vinegar soak and flush may be sufficient. Fill, let it sit overnight, and flush.

To be sure the block is clean, you can do this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ3nkPm87X0

If the radiator and block are clean and you still have overheating, it's time for a new radiator or a recore. This explains why: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG96.html.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Fedullo, Milford MI on Monday, September 12, 2016 - 10:37 pm:

I did a vinegar soak for about a week. I did not drive the car when filled with vinegar. It was very effective at cleaning, but I had 2 subsequent issues.

One of my freeze plugs started to leak. I suspect the vinegar ate the rust that was sealing it.

I developed a slight seep at my radiator top tank to core interface. Again I probably cleaned some crud that was sealing it.

In the end, although everything was much cleaner, it did not solve my cooling issue and a new radiator is on order from brassworks.

Joe


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Monday, September 12, 2016 - 10:51 pm:

People look at the brass radiator and get scared! I would not [rod one out] but use a round wire brush with a drill motor and open the lower tank!! No one looks at the lower tank!! Bud.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George n LakeOzark,Missourah on Monday, September 12, 2016 - 11:30 pm:

Also run a thin coat hanger threw your overflow tube. When that tube is plugged it can't relieve its self.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn-Monroeville OH on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 - 07:59 am:

Matt, a good radiator should void it's fluid in 4 seconds. A fairly easy test is to put one of those rubber plugs on the bottom outlet of course, plug the top inlet also, fill 'er up with water (okay, duuuh), then remove the bottom plug and start counting as soon as it starts flowing. My '15s previous radiator which really wasn't that old in the first place, took about 7 seconds to empty, so out it went! The new one cools her nicely!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matt Foye on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 - 07:10 pm:

I ran a few cups of oxyclean through the system today. drained and flushed. added two gallons bottled water and one gallon 100% antifreeze. Watched what came out as best I could. Looked like some snotty type algae that may have plugged some tubes. After flushing completely, I ran the car pretty hard and far. The moto-meter entered the circle once! The rest of the time it was below. I figured oxy-clean was pretty safe for everything else and not acidic. seems to have done the trick.


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