The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Radiator Flush

I am going to try to use the original radiator from the 1928 project. The radiator looks very good, but it has been sitting for several years at least. Has anybody come up with something to clean/flush it without throwing in their billfold? Would something like CLR work? Vinegar and let it sit for a day? Commercial flush products? Any and all advice welcome and appreciated.

Be aware that cleaning an old radiator is risky- - - - -sometimes you dislodge the crud that's plugging up pinhole leaks, particularly if yours is a low-pressure or no-pressure system. There are two basic types of radiator flush, strong detergents that remove dirt and grease, and mild acids that dissolve lime and rust deposits.

Your best bet is to find a radiator shop that's been in business for at least a couple of generations, and ask the gray-haired old man in the shop to do a boil-out, flush, and leak check. The young guys all want to do a recore, or replace that good old copper radiator with a piece of aluminum junk!
Jerry

Jerry brings up some good points. If you want to chance it Dupont makes a two part radiator flush that comes in a card board can. I have had success with, but it will remove some deposits.

Larry

As most of the others have said, if you want to do this on your own, try and remember to do the flushing in reverse. From the bottom up. Helps to break out any of the larger scales. And also try and use as hot as water as you can get. Strong detergent seemed to do the best for my task, but I did use some LimeAway added to the mix. So far...not troubles.