Cleaning Up Sodium Silicate Dribbles?

[Rick_Benjamin]

Good evening Folks:

Well, for years my '27 block has had a gentle, intermittent coolant "weep" around the upper water jacket, left side. And about every five years I take the antifreeze out and run water with a little "Water Glass" (sodium silicate) and - problem solved for another five years.

However, this time apparently I did not put the radiator cap on tight enough, and when the motor got hot some of that H2O/Water Glass mixture dribbled down the front of my radiator. I saw it happening, shut everything down, grabbed a bucket, some car wash, and brush and scrubbed away. But I still have white streaks running down my radiator. (Fortunately, I had the hood off of the car.)

So, Water Glass is quite resistant to soap and water. And scrubbing. I'm thinking that maybe some diluted vinegar might make a good solvent, but before I turn create an even bigger mess, I thought it would be prudent to consult the experts.

(Any chemical engineers in the house?)

So - how would you clean up Water Glass streaks?

The good news is the weeping block is fixed....

Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,

Rick Benjamin
Lewisburg, PA

[jiminbartow]

Pure vinegar, being a mild acid, should do the trick. Try it on a small spot and see how it reacts. Mix a solution of baking soda and water to neutralize the vinegar then rinse with a water hose. If it cleans the spot, to your satisfaction, do the entire radiator. You can paint the vinegar on with a paint brush, or spray it on with a spray bottle for maximum coverage. It may take several applications. Keep the vinegar off the plated shell. Acid May have a detrimental effect on the plating. Jim Patrick

[John kuehn]

Use some lacquer thinner or mineral spirits on a small area and see if it will help dissolve the “dribbles”. Maybe use a small paint brush to apply it and clean out the areas between the fins. Or maybe some type of paint remover to see if it will soften the “dribbles”.
Be sure it’s not the radiator that’s leaking.