Block/Radiator Cleaning

[jcheshire31]

Last weekend my fan blade cut a whole in my brand new radiator (4 core 10 fin). It cut 2 of the tubes so in a desperate attempt to get it home I crimped off the tubes at the top and bottom and poured cinamon two bottles off stop leak in it. (The cinamon and the first bottle of stop leak didn't work) I finally had to plug the hole with silicone. While mine is out getting repaired, my friend, or should I say best friend now, is letting me use his BRAND NEW Brassworks radiator for the weekend. My question is, I used all of that stop leak and cinamon on top of the countless amount of rust that is already in that engine, how would ya'll clean all of that stuff out? I've seen many threads about the subject and heard of people using detergent and what not. I just want to make sure I don't hurt this radiator in any way, shape, or form.

[RonC]

open the petcock and top cap. Put a garden hose in the top and adjust the water rate so that the radiator is always full. Run the car for a little while until the water comes out clean.

[1931 flamingo]

Many guys on the V8 forum run vinegar for a week or so and then flush, caution, it will stain concrete.
Paul in CT

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Many guys on the V8 forum run vinegar for a week or so and then flush, caution, it will stain concrete.
Paul in CT

1931 flamingo ....................
It's not the vinegar that stains the concrete, it's the rust. Vinegar will, actually, clean your concrete, if used by itself.
MIKE

[1931 flamingo]

Okiedokie Mike, but if he does do the vinegar and drains/flushes it on a concrete drive it's going to stain.............
Paul

[hardtimes]

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Any auto supply store will have coolant system cleaner product , which is used (as directed) to clean the coolant system prior to installing 'rust preventative' product. I usually stick with these two products made by SAME company...for compatibility..
BTW, after cleaning agent was used, I installed rust preventative product (instead of 50/50 antifreeze that I usually install) and my B block liquid has remained clear for a year now!

[peters180a/170b]

I have a question....does anyone think by using a rust preventative product screw up a leakless water pump Its like a oil base...

[Milton]

Dawn for the grease, drain and flush in a week or two, then vinegar 50/50+ for the rust, drain and flush in a week or two. The Dawn, just a squirt, kills the grease so the vinegar can do the job on the rust. If the system is oily the vinegar doesn't work so well.

[FL&WVMIKE]

hardtimes ............................
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has made the radiator flushes, so weak, that they are almost useless, nowdays. You used to be able to double up on the flushes and do some good, but they even to weak for that, anymore. Save your money and do it as others, have suggested.
MIKE

[JoeWay]

Check out this thread, in particular posts #11, #26, and #32.

Joe

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

hardtimes ............................
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has made the radiator flushes, so weak, that they are almost useless, nowdays. You used to be able to double up on the flushes and do some good, but they even to weak for that, anymore. Save your money and do it as others, have suggested.
MIKE

Hey Mike,
I know what you're saying.
My B block/head are NEW. Therefor, no scale and no heavy rust. In my case the flush worked great and the rust preventative worked great. BTW, I have a 'leakless' water pump which has not been affected thus far.

I quit using the anti-freeze from concern about possible/eventual leaks and the effects of anti freeze on bearing surfaces.

[john in illinois]

Here is a post about GM service bulletin using oxalic acid to clean coolant system. Note- Wood bleach and Washing Soda-not baking soda.Also much about this in Hamb archives.

See post 17. I used this method after I accidentally got a lot of rust in block and it cleaned it all up.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ner-flush.html

John