The Ford Barn

Clem Clement · 08-01-2011, 11:15 AM

I'm on day 8 with 5% white vinegar inmy repro aluminum radiator on my 39 peeekup. We went to breakfast this am and the engine temp stayed a cool 161.34 deg. The flluid has turned a tea color. I'm planning to leave the solution in a couple of more days and then give it a good flush. Nice run other than them women's trying to pile in the back. Ida thunk the vinegar woulda chased them away.
Clem, the hopeful

B-O-B · 08-01-2011, 01:57 PM

Clem you might want to give some thought as to what they want the vinegar for? heh heh he

Lawson Cox · 08-01-2011, 02:29 PM

Now B-O-B.!!!!

Coupe35 · 08-01-2011, 02:38 PM

That's unreal. 161 temp and it looks like you are in virginia where, like KY, it's in the upper 90's. I wouod not or thought aluminum would of made that big of a difference.

hombres ruin · 08-01-2011, 06:35 PM

What's the thought behind vinegar in a aluminum radiator . Does it reduce corrosion?

BrianCT · 08-01-2011, 07:45 PM

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I think checking temp to 2 decimal places is a bit of overkill.
But then I'm just happy to stay below 200'.

Shadetree · 08-01-2011, 09:53 PM

Clem,
Don't drain that vinegar on your driveway, or you will have tea colored concrete.

The womens that live there may not like it.

Shadetree

FL&WVMIKE · 08-01-2011, 10:17 PM

SHADETREE .....................
I drained my vinegar out onto my concrete driveway and I got RUST colored concrete ! Is that what you meant ?
MIKE

thendrix · 08-02-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hombres ruin

What's the thought behind vinegar in a aluminum radiator . Does it reduce corrosion?

Ya! Whats the deal?

OLD...BILL · 08-02-2011, 12:20 PM

Some of us use vineger to clean the water jacket area of Henrys old engine block, todays radiator flush in not worth didlie, (dose not work), it is said the vineger will desolve rust, scale, slage, and help move old casting sand up and out of the block. most of us will put a " catch screen " in the upper return hose, to catch whatever comes out, its part of the clean and refresh the new/old engine and keep the flathead running, we use white vineger for the flush. .... In Clem's case he uses womens panttie hose, for "catch screen" and you don't want to know how or where he gets em.....as for the cooling its questable, next Clem will run a test with GATORADE ?? when he gets his radiator back from the repair shop,,.. TEE-HEE-HEE..... OLD...BILL

Richard in Florida · 08-02-2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

I'm on day 8 with 5% white vinegar in my repro aluminum radiator on my 39 peeekup. I'm planning to leave the solution in a couple of more days and then give it a good flush.

I ran straight white vinegar in my 8BA for a solid week, driving it every day. Here's what came out! And this is just from the radiator petcock!

This engine has only 165 hours total time!

Next step will be backflushing the block and radiator separately.

Cecil/WV · 08-02-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard in Florida

I ran straight white vinegar in my 8BA for a solid week, driving it every day. Here's what came out! And this is just from the radiator petcock!

This engine has only 165 hours total time!

Next step will be backflushing the block and radiator separately.

Here's what the vinegar looked like after being in the engine for 2 weeks and then in the bucket a few days. 100% pure vinegar.

hombres ruin · 08-02-2011, 11:23 PM

So if I am reading this right and I think I am, you run vinegar and ONLY vinegar no water etc in the flathead for about a week. So with the vinegar in how does the engine run in terms of temp?

Clem Clement · 08-03-2011, 08:13 AM

I used 2 gallons of cheap white vinegar from BJ's and added water to fill. Solution is like tea now. I start the car every day and get it hot. temp ran 160 on Monday when we went for eggs. Inside of the filer cap still has a little scum. That maybe from cooling as I can't check it hot. A few more days and I wil drain and flush the system including a thorough back flush. The back flush will tell the tale.
clem

Richard in Florida · 08-03-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hombres ruin

So if I am reading this right and I think I am, you run vinegar and ONLY vinegar no water etc in the flathead for about a week. So with the vinegar in how does the engine run in terms of temp?

I ran 100% white vinegar, and the temperatures were about the same as with straight water.

Tim Ayers · 08-03-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

I used 2 gallons of cheap white vinegar from BJ's and added water to fill. Solution is like tea now. I start the car every day and get it hot. temp ran 160 on Monday when we went for eggs. Inside of the filer cap still has a little scum. That maybe from cooling as I can't check it hot. A few more days and I wil drain and flush the system including a thorough back flush. The back flush will tell the tale.
clem

Clem:

Sounds like you are going in the right direction. That is some low temp. for a flathead in the summer time!

Could you clarify what you mean when you say "back flush"? Thanks.

Tim

BobM · 08-03-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Clem:

Sounds like you are going in the right direction. That is some low temp. for a flathead in the summer time!

Could you clarify what you mean when you say "back flush"? Thanks.

Tim

Yes, I would like to know how to "back flush," on my '36 I have two upper radiator outlets; would I place screen material over both outlets?

Richard in Florida · 08-03-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

Temp ran 160 on Monday when we went for eggs.

Those really low temperatures can be deceiving. I went out this afternoon to do a special thermostat test in my '53. The outside air temperature was about 90, heat index 99°.

For the first ten minutes or so the temperatures stayed around 160... just like yours. Most of this time was at 35-40 mph. However, after that the needles started moving upwards; after I'd been running at 55 to 60 mph, the temperatures were up around 190+.

After the run, back at about 35 mph, the temperatures came back down about 10° and stayed there until I was home again.

So a short run that looks like 160° may not be the whole truth.

V8COOPMAN · 08-03-2011, 09:36 PM

I think I'd have to question what that vinegar is doing to the inside of that ALUMINUM radiator. DD

Clem Clement · 08-08-2011, 10:45 AM

I checked with severalchemists who said that at 5%, no problem. yesterday I noted a little drip under the car. This morning I went to the post office and back.80 deg. outside and 160 on the temp glass. I'm now draining the rad and will flush it in a hour or so. Then it is fresh water and see what is leaking. I had only a slight weep from one of the WPs before.

08-01-2011, 11:15 AM	#1
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	vinegar somor I'm on day 8 with 5% white vinegar inmy repro aluminum radiator on my 39 peeekup. We went to breakfast this am and the engine temp stayed a cool 161.34 deg. The flluid has turned a tea color. I'm planning to leave the solution in a couple of more days and then give it a good flush. Nice run other than them women's trying to pile in the back. Ida thunk the vinegar woulda chased them away. Clem, the hopeful

08-01-2011, 01:57 PM	#2
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: vinegar somor Clem you might want to give some thought as to what they want the vinegar for? heh heh he

08-01-2011, 02:29 PM	#3
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: vinegar somor Now B-O-B.!!!!

08-01-2011, 02:38 PM	#4
Coupe35 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 226	Re: vinegar somor That's unreal. 161 temp and it looks like you are in virginia where, like KY, it's in the upper 90's. I wouod not or thought aluminum would of made that big of a difference.

08-01-2011, 06:35 PM	#5
hombres ruin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: san diego Posts: 518	Re: vinegar somor What's the thought behind vinegar in a aluminum radiator . Does it reduce corrosion? __________________ "I have built my organisation on fear"..Al Capone.

08-01-2011, 07:45 PM	#6
BrianCT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windham, CT Posts: 702	Re: vinegar somor Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I think checking temp to 2 decimal places is a bit of overkill. But then I'm just happy to stay below 200'. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS]

08-01-2011, 09:53 PM	#7
Shadetree Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cottageville, WV Posts: 1,535	Re: vinegar somor Clem, Don't drain that vinegar on your driveway, or you will have tea colored concrete. The womens that live there may not like it. Shadetree __________________ Son, you will never blow an engine up in high gear.

08-01-2011, 10:17 PM	#8
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: vinegar somor SHADETREE ..................... I drained my vinegar out onto my concrete driveway and I got RUST colored concrete ! Is that what you meant ? MIKE

08-02-2011, 12:20 PM	#10
OLD...BILL Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern California,coast Posts: 552	Re: vinegar somor Some of us use vineger to clean the water jacket area of Henrys old engine block, todays radiator flush in not worth didlie, (dose not work), it is said the vineger will desolve rust, scale, slage, and help move old casting sand up and out of the block. most of us will put a " catch screen " in the upper return hose, to catch whatever comes out, its part of the clean and refresh the new/old engine and keep the flathead running, we use white vineger for the flush. .... In Clem's case he uses womens panttie hose, for "catch screen" and you don't want to know how or where he gets em.....as for the cooling its questable, next Clem will run a test with GATORADE ?? when he gets his radiator back from the repair shop,,.. TEE-HEE-HEE..... OLD...BILL

08-02-2011, 11:23 PM	#13
hombres ruin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: san diego Posts: 518	Re: vinegar somor So if I am reading this right and I think I am, you run vinegar and ONLY vinegar no water etc in the flathead for about a week. So with the vinegar in how does the engine run in terms of temp? __________________ "I have built my organisation on fear"..Al Capone.

08-03-2011, 08:13 AM	#14
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: vinegar somor I used 2 gallons of cheap white vinegar from BJ's and added water to fill. Solution is like tea now. I start the car every day and get it hot. temp ran 160 on Monday when we went for eggs. Inside of the filer cap still has a little scum. That maybe from cooling as I can't check it hot. A few more days and I wil drain and flush the system including a thorough back flush. The back flush will tell the tale. clem

08-03-2011, 09:36 PM	#19
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,113	Re: vinegar somor I think I'd have to question what that vinegar is doing to the inside of that ALUMINUM radiator. DD

08-08-2011, 10:45 AM	#20
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: vinegar somor I checked with severalchemists who said that at 5%, no problem. yesterday I noted a little drip under the car. This morning I went to the post office and back.80 deg. outside and 160 on the temp glass. I'm now draining the rad and will flush it in a hour or so. Then it is fresh water and see what is leaking. I had only a slight weep from one of the WPs before. Last edited by Clem Clement; 08-08-2011 at 04:02 PM.