Radiator cleaner recommendation

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
csnailnrun
Posts: 218
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2019 9:05 am
First Name: Ryan
Last Name: Snellen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912, 1919, 20's FrankenT
Location: Nashville
Board Member Since: 2017

Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by csnailnrun » Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:05 pm

My '12 radiator needs a good core cleaning... It's too hot too quick :(
What recommendations do y'all have?
Thank you!

User avatar

Ruxstel24
Posts: 2345
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:25 am
First Name: Dave
Last Name: Hanlon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Touring car
Location: NE Ohio
MTFCA Number: 50191
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by Ruxstel24 » Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:32 pm

I had pretty good luck with CLR.
I would avoid getting it on the brass.


gelfling
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 9:39 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Gelfer
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 roadster
Location: Milwaukee WI

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by gelfling » Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:41 pm

If the fins are not tightly bonded to the tubes, cleaning will not help you much. This happens with antique radiators. If cleaning doesn't improve the situation, you will have to either re-core it or buy a new radiator. I think that old radiators are the biggest reason why people can't drive their Ts more than a few miles without overheating.


Les Schubert
Posts: 1311
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:47 pm
First Name: Les
Last Name: Schubert
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 roadster 13 touring
Location: Calgary

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by Les Schubert » Sun Jun 30, 2019 11:25 pm

Plain vinegar works well and doesn’t cause any damage


Erik Johnson
Posts: 850
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:25 pm
First Name: Erik
Last Name: Johnson
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by Erik Johnson » Sun Jun 30, 2019 11:32 pm

Other causes of overheating worth mentioning:

- not enough oil in crankcase
- fuel mixture too lean
- retarded ignition timing
- poor driving technique

User avatar

George N Lake Ozark
Posts: 324
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:15 pm
First Name: George P
Last Name: Clipner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '26 Touring
Location: LakeOzark,Missourah
MTFCI Number: 18665

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by George N Lake Ozark » Mon Jul 01, 2019 2:27 am

I've used Cascade dishwasher soap to degrease, Flush with water then an overbite soak with CLR . Rinsed with baking soda to neutralize.s it would also work if very careful not to spill on exterior Rinse again and fill with coolant of your choice. I haven't done this on an all brass radiator. Guess it would also work if careful not to spill on exterior.

User avatar

George N Lake Ozark
Posts: 324
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:15 pm
First Name: George P
Last Name: Clipner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '26 Touring
Location: LakeOzark,Missourah
MTFCI Number: 18665

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by George N Lake Ozark » Mon Jul 01, 2019 2:29 am

Also check what Erik said

User avatar

thom
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:48 pm
First Name: Tommy
Last Name: Coffey
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Touring
Location: western NC

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by thom » Mon Jul 01, 2019 8:27 am

CLR labels now say not recommended for radiators. Must be a reason.

User avatar

TWrenn
Posts: 3388
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Wrenn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
Location: Ohio
MTFCA Number: 30701
MTFCI Number: 24033
Board Member Since: 2019

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by TWrenn » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:19 am

My best luck, and best advice to cure an overheating 100+ year old radiator was, and is, to get a NEW one!
Been there, done that. 4 vehicles worth, out of 6!! Not too bad an average eh?? :lol: :roll:


Scott C.
Posts: 805
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:44 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Clements
Location: Waynetown Indiana
MTFCA Number: 49592

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by Scott C. » Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:35 am

I tried all sorts of things on my 26, vinegar, Dawn dish soap, Purple Power, Simple Green, Macs radiator cleaner, after multiple times each, none of them did the trick. Then I bought a bottle of Thermocure. It is a radiator cleaner that is made by Evaporust. It did a very good job. I have since used it on another radiator and again, it did a very good job. I did have to due it a few times. I reused it a couple of times, then used a fresh bottle. The radiators came out very clean and they cool fine. I picked it up at Walmart for about $20 a bottle.


Lutz T Guy
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:43 am
First Name: Phillip
Last Name: Maurici
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 touring, 1917 runabout, 1917 Touring, 1927 Touring
Location: Lutz, Fl

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by Lutz T Guy » Mon Jul 01, 2019 1:41 pm

Put a box of Arm and Hammer which is dissolved in water in. Run it that way for about 50 miles and grand and flush. This a old trick my dad used on his trucks.


Scott_Conger
Posts: 6428
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
Location: Clark, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by Scott_Conger » Mon Jul 01, 2019 4:46 pm

Phil

my guess is that he used Arm and Hammer Washing Soda...most on this forum would guess Baking Soda which is a good acid neutralizer, but not so good on radiators
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured


Topic author
csnailnrun
Posts: 218
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2019 9:05 am
First Name: Ryan
Last Name: Snellen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912, 1919, 20's FrankenT
Location: Nashville
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: Radiator cleaner recommendation

Post by csnailnrun » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:47 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions y'all. I had it off while I put a new cam and reset the valves. There was a bit of 'gunk' sitting in the bottom of the lower spout. I suspect the cores are quite dirty.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic