MTFCA Forum

Over the years I think I've probably tried all the available radiator flushes. Even CLR, but now the instructions on CLR say not for cooling systems. What is the best one for a Model T?

Many of us have had excellent results from Coca-cola.
Flush with clean water & add 1 or 2 cans of coke. Run a few hours & look in the radiator. When you see nice clean brass, your done.
Flush & add fresh water & some water soluble oil or your preferred coolant.
Coke has phosphoric acid (metal prep). It will make a steak disappear, i am told.

I use Evapo-Rust Thermocure - check it out - good stuff.

Is a slightly less than a 7% solution of Coca Cola really effective ? (3.5% if you only use one 12 oz can)

Asking for a friend . . .

As far as the steak goes, I know for a fact that coke will actual dissolve a steak after about 24 hours. Someone told me that and I tried a small raw pice of steak in coke. Nothing but a gummy mess. An old plumber friend uses coke soaked rags overnight to eat away deposits to get a pipe fitting to turn! Wonder what it does to the stomach?

Tmooreheadf wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 07, 2024 9:27 pm

As far as the steak goes, I know for a fact that coke will actual dissolve a steak after about 24 hours. Someone told me that and I tried a small raw pice of steak in coke. Nothing but a gummy mess. An old plumber friend uses coke soaked rags overnight to eat away deposits to get a pipe fitting to turn! Wonder what it does to the stomach?

The stomach contains Hydrochloric acid. Don't think Coke would even come close to that!

Last week I finished flushing out the radiator, on a different car, 3x with bluedevil from AZ. The overheating stopped, had lots of mud.
In the past I've used vinegar.
After either one, I drain and empty into the septic system, flush with a garden hose with the engine running. Engine off, drain cock on radiator and block open until empty. Then distilled and green stuff.

Vinegar 50/50 with water. Dissolves corrosion without touching good metal. Excellent for all metal cleaning. Cheap!

What type of vinegar?

Grocery store “white vinegar” is cheapest, and in actuality is no more than a solution of acetic acid and distilled water. Works fine for the purpose. “Real” vinegar from apple cider, or rice wine is for salads and the kitchen, and costs much more.

I agree with Steve. Thermocure by Evaporust works great and doesn’t make you stink like vinegar!

While not as cheap as store bought white vinegar, I just saw at one of the national hardware chains (Lowes I think), a stronger vinegar. Don't recall what the strength was. Did a quick search, looks like many places have it, look for cleaning vinegar. If you use it or any acid to strip rust would suggest using baking soda to neutralize after cleaning.

Mark, that cleaning vinegar that I have is 30%. Household vinegar is 5%.

Tmooreheadf wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 07, 2024 9:27 pm

As far as the steak goes, I know for a fact that coke will actual dissolve a steak after about 24 hours. Someone told me that and I tried a small raw pice of steak in coke. Nothing but a gummy mess. An old plumber friend uses coke soaked rags overnight to eat away deposits to get a pipe fitting to turn! Wonder what it does to the stomach?

I don't know that answer to that Tom, but I can tell you what my stomach does to a steak!

thom wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 07, 2024 6:48 pm

Over the years I think I've probably tried all the available radiator flushes. Even CLR, but now the instructions on CLR say not for cooling systems. What is the best one for a Model T?

I wonder if that's due to modern cooling systems using aluminum? (Like a Z head maybe?)

Mark Nunn wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 17, 2024 2:22 pm

Mark, that cleaning vinegar that I have is 30%. Household vinegar is 5%.

Sounds about right, didn't look that close but recall the number was double digit.

Have been thinking of doing the vinegar radiator cleaning. From those who have had success with this, what concentration in the radiator is used and how long should the engine be run for a vinegar flush?

I believe 5% concentration (household) vinegar would be sufficient as have had success cleaning small parts with that, although it does take a day or two. The previous owner rebuilt the engine a few years before I bought it (so far it seems whoever he had do the engine did a good job). The block water passages looked clean when I replaced the radiator hoses. The radiator is not too good, but think flushing would be worth a try. The coolent gets pretty muddy/rusty after a run, but settles out clear in time.

It would seem that a neutralizing rinse with a bit of baking soda added followed by a clean water rinse would also be a good idea.

Just buy a jug of Thermocure. No guesswork involved. It was designed to do the job, just follow the directions.