Vinegar

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

I see that a few guys have filled there cooling system with vinegar and run the car for a couple of weeks then drain it out to clean the rust out of the engine. Would it work just to clean the radiator, say I plugged the inlet and oulet and filled the rad with vinegar and left it for a few days then drained it out and flush it with a garden hose? Would it clean the tubes and not hurt the sorder? Thanks Walt

[Ken/Alabama]

Hey Walt, I did just that a few weeks ago before I reinstalled my new engine in my 40. I didnt block off the inlet and outlet, I just laid it across a pair of sawhorses with the inlets and outlets sticking up . Filled it up with white vinegar and let it sit for a week then I dumped it out and flushed it with a mixture of water and baking soda . A good bit of rusty water flushed out when I finished but it didnt do as good as I had hoped. Maybe running it and getting it hot with the vinegar in there would do better.

[joe plumber]

Use Lemon juice

[thirt4]

I found this in a food recipe forum -
Quote "What's the difference between lemon juice and vinegar?
The most significant difference between lemon juice and vinegar is the type of acid. Lemon juice is on average five to six percent citric acid. Vinegar, on the other hand, is comprised of acetic acid. In terms of percentage, it depends on the vinegar. White vinegar tends to have seven percent acetic acid, which is a higher level than other vinegars. Slightly milder vinegars, such as balsamic and red wine vinegar, have about six percent, and a relatively mild rice wine vinegar is around four and a half percent (none of which you would use for ricotta). In terms of PH, vinegar is slightly more acidic than lemon juice."

To me it is bit confusing but to those who understand acids, it might make reasonable sense. I would use muriatic acid myself. MHO

[19Fordy]

Would it better to use a substance with high alkalinity instead of vinegar or any acid?

[thirt4]

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19Fordy, by no means am I a chemist or kemest, so what is the difference, for my understanding if no one elses, between vinegar and alkalinity liquids?

[1937pickup]

There is a scale for acidity and alkalinity. If I remember right 5.5 is neutral where life will exist. Less than 5.5 is acid-greater than 5.5 is alkiline you neutrilize acid with alkiline (base). Have you ever put baking soda on battery terrmanals to clean them? That was neutralizing the batery acid with a base. The scale is not arithmatic it is logrymic.

[CBoz]

Just a side thought: If I filled my radiator with vinegar and it leaks onto my lawn, along with the slight amount of oil coming through the cotter pin hole on the back of my oil pan, would that constitute making a salad?

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by CBoz

Just a side thought: If I filled my radiator with vinegar and it leaks onto my lawn, along with the slight amount of oil coming through the cotter pin hole on the back of my oil pan, would that constitute making a salad?

Well, I think that would depend upon what kind of 'greens' your lawn consisted of. For instance, my lawn is full of dandelions....yummy in a salad with vinegar/oil!

[bmwillia]

I used vinegar in my system and it worked great. I would think it would work well in just the radiator and not do any damage.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by bmwillia

I used vinegar in my system and it worked great. I would think it would work well in just the radiator and not do any damage.

I clean out my system with Epsom Salts. It's thorough but mild, and doesn't taste bad at all.

[J Franklin]

When I was in auto shop in school in the 60's our teacher said to clean out rust from the cooling system use a product that used to be sold as a bathroom cleaner "SANI FLUSH". He said you better have a good radiator!

[Ronnie]

Walt Google cascade dishwasher soap to clean cooling systems,lots of info.

R

[paleot]

I used saniflush or Bowl brite to clean rusty river water inlet screens on fire pumps at the refinery I used to work in.They were stainless and came out looking new! I dont think I would use either product in a radiator, they are pretty harsh.
Tony

[Old Henry]

Here's what I have used on many cooling systems that is not acid and is specifically made for cleaning cooling systems:


Read more about it here: http://www.prestone.com/products/print/379?popup=1

Just did mine before my recent Rocky Mountain High Road trip (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966) followed by back flushing as demonstrated here: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83557. Cleaned it up good.

[mrmoose]

Henry, just when everyone was having a good discussion, you had to go and get sensible on us!

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by mrmoose

Henry, just when everyone was having a good discussion, you had to go and get sensible on us!

This discussion always reminds me of one about, "Which is better to brush you teeth with? Salt or baking soda?"

Duh. Ever heard of toothpaste?

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

Here's what I have used on many cooling systems that is not acid and is specifically made for cleaning cooling systems:


Read more about it here: http://www.prestone.com/products/print/379?popup=1

Just did mine before my recent Rocky Mountain High Road trip (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966) followed by back flushing as demonstrated here: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83557. Cleaned it up good.

Old Henry ....................
Remember when you used to be able to buy small cans of radiator cleaner, just about everywhere ? The EPA has put so many restrictions on these cleaners, that they are almost useless, now days. Maybe, two gallons of the new stuff has enough cleaning solutions in it to do the job.
That is why, people have been going to alternative methods to clean their radiators.
If you have your parts off, a power washer is great for rinsing.
MIKE

[Wily Kyote]

[QUOTE=Old Henry... Here's what I have used on many cooling systems that is not acid and is specifically made for cleaning cooling systems...]

In my opinion, this reasoning fits the physcian's code... "first do no harm". If I had applied that test to my (hobby) car work for a half-century, I would have happier memories today. (And less ruined old Ford pieces. Ouch! The failures still pain me.)

If there is a hereafter, too many flatheads await me, hands in hips, a look of disgust or pain in their eyes. Maybe I'll just skip that and go below, where flatheads do not exist.

[IVT1]

I was sitting on the back porch drinking a vinegaraid & it hit me,what would lemonaid taste like ( whoa maybe I'm on to something