Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-23-2020, 01:41 PM   #1
jerbo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: n. cal [Monterey Bay]
Posts: 116
Default How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

Anyone know which is the best way to clean our radiator & engine water? I heard of using either "Washing Soda" or "Caustic Soda." Anyone have experience with these or know of a better chemical that wont damage the radiator but dissolve old buildup? Tks for looking, Jerbo
jerbo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 01:46 PM   #2
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,318
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

I haven't tried this yet but I plan to.
https://evapo-rust.com/thermocure/
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 12-23-2020, 01:50 PM   #3
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,548
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

I have used the evapo rust and it worked well. But be prepared to filter it and/or replace it often.

Mike
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 01:56 PM   #4
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,318
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930artdeco View Post
I have used the evapo rust and it worked well. But be prepared to filter it and/or replace it often.

Mike
You mean, because it pulls a bunch of stuff out of the system and you have to go through several batches to get it all?
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 02:07 PM   #5
jerbo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: n. cal [Monterey Bay]
Posts: 116
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

since i have not yet tried any products, i hope others can share their experiences with what works and does not damage the radiator in the cleaning out process, j
jerbo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 03:47 PM   #6
ryanheacox
Senior Member
 
ryanheacox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northwest CT
Posts: 1,092
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Thermo-cure made by evaporust works great. The inside upper tank of my radiator was covered in years of rust. After using thermocure it was clean brass, I imagine the inside of the block was cleaned to a similar level. I would not hesitate to recommend using it.
ryanheacox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 08:39 PM   #7
Big hammer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Lincoln
Posts: 3,109
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

Check out overheating many threads and fixes it will make your head spin !
__________________
Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap
get a bigger hammer tap done
Big hammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 09:08 PM   #8
Ranchero50
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Hagerstown MD
Posts: 224
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

I would feel across the radiator core while it's running and if it's evenly warm and the engine doesn't overheat I'd leave it alone. I cleaned my original round tube radiator with CLR and it started leaking. First time in 35 years that I dumped stop leak in a cooling system. It worked and I learnt my lesson.
__________________
Building a '29 Speedster, the hard way...
Ranchero50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 09:41 AM   #9
Gary/IA
Senior Member
 
Gary/IA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ellston, Iowa
Posts: 247
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

I had problems with overheating when going up a long hill. I have an original round tube radiator. I drained the water and refilled with white vinegar, drove for a couple of weeks and then drained and flushed with a solution of baking soda. Drained the soda water and filled with 50/50 water and Prestone.


Going up same hill (three miles to top), temp gauge now reads about 180* when I crest the hill.


This was a cheap fix that worked for me.
Gary/IA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 10:52 AM   #10
Conaway2
Senior Member
 
Conaway2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 601
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

Second Thermocure mentioned in post #6. Several guys in our local club have used it with great success.

Jim
Conaway2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 11:39 AM   #11
Chris Haynes
Senior Member
 
Chris Haynes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
Posts: 2,830
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

I used RUST 911. It dissolves rust and rust flakes in the radiator. It left my engine and radiator squeaky clean. Flush and fill with a mix of RUST 911 and leave it in for 24 hours. You can drive your car with the mix in it. While the RUST 911 is clear going in it was black coming out the first time. The second time it came out gray. After the 3rd application it came out clear and was saved for de-rusting other parts.
https://www.amazon.com/Rust911-16-ga...s%2C235&sr=8-2
__________________
1921 Runabout
1930 Tudor
Early 1930 AA
Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?
Chris Haynes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 01:51 PM   #12
Dodge
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sonoma, CA.
Posts: 1,491
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

First I flushed several times until I got clear water, then I put cleaning vinegar in it and drove it for several days, then drained it again and used evaporust in it and it came out really clean.
Dodge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 03:46 PM   #13
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,444
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

There is only one way to do that job properly and I doubt any of you guys have ever heard of it. Check out Liquid Intelligence radiator and block cleaner http://liquidintelligence.com.au/pro...m-cleaning-kit
My brother in law has just used it and I've seen the results. Unless I had seen it, I wouldn't have believed it. The pictures on their website are not doctored.
I have absolutely nothing to do with this company. Any prices quoted are in Australian dollars. One $A buys about US75c
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2020, 12:11 AM   #14
CWPASADENA
Senior Member
 
CWPASADENA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PASADENA, CA
Posts: 1,879
Default Re: How to clean radiator & engine water jackets ?

I use RUST911 also with very good results. I buy it directly from the manufacturer.

rust911.com

It works the same as EVAPORUST but is a lot cheaper.

My experience,

Chris W.
CWPASADENA is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:14 AM.