cleaning a radaiator n a dozer

[troy25]

whats the best stuff to use to clean a radiator.. iv de gresed it and washed it out and blew it out with lil improvement.. its got so much gunk in it and im thinking the inside is built up with rust to..someone said to drain it and plug off the hoses and fill with surfic acid.over night... the radiator shop want around 600 just to dip it and pressure check it... thats just crazy..i was thinking of pulling it and pressure wahing it but thats gonna be a pain in the but... anyone have any tips to clean it inside and out?

 

[showcrop]

I interpret surfic as sulfuric. I wouldn't use that, it is too aggressive. I would use phosphoric myself, or get some commercial flush at the auto parts store. You have to be careful using too aggressive a cleaner on the exterior as well. I would use a solvent cleaner, one that contains d-limonene.

 

[troy25]

were would I get a good cleaner to clean the outside then... I may try in flush it in the dozer if I can find something to cut threw all the gunk...I can get to the hole front so that shouldn"t be a problem

 

[dpendzic]

citric acid flush usually helps,commercial radiator flush products are available. It helps to reverse the flow on the flush--top down and then bottom up--reversing a few times. Some dozer radiator tops unbolt and you can rod the tubes.

 

[troy21$$]

yea these un bolt but im trying to do this without having to take it out..lol.. seen a fourm were they used Muriatic acid .. said to plug off the hoses and pour it in and let sit for a few hours.. and it should brake up all that"s in it.. this is in a d5 cat.. witch is like a mid 70s machine.. so its a copper and iron radiator.... thought of using that and also spraying it into the fins and washing it that way also.. idk.. any thoughts.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 13:07:22 04/10/13) yea these un bolt but im trying to do this without having to take it out..lol.. seen a fourm were they used Muriatic acid .. said to plug off the hoses and pour it in and let sit for a few hours.. and it should brake up all that"s in it.. this is in a d5 cat.. witch is like a mid 70s machine.. so its a copper and iron radiator.... thought of using that and also spraying it into the fins and washing it that way also.. idk.. any thoughts.

Muriatic is just another name for hydrchloric. It will work real well if you want to remove the radiator because it will be in pieces. It is too agressive.

 

[JoeM(GA)]

mix a couple of gallons of white vinegar with some water to fill up system, run it a couple of hours and drain and rinse. It will remove most all deposits, rust, and gunk in both the block and radiator

 

[steamnjn23]

Joel, would u suggest using white vinegar on a car radiator as a flush as well?

 

[troy25]

thanks for all the info.. iv found a rad shop that will clean it rod it pressure test it and fix any leaks for 175 bucks.. so im trying to pull her out...what a chore

 

[J.Wondergem]

Yes, white vinegar should work good in a auto too. After you clean it, use distilled water with your anti freeze. Also check the fins on the outside to see if they are attached good to the tubes. The chloride going threw the fins will rot them.

 

[T in NE]

Buy a case of B'laster. Soak it good, let it sit a half hour, rinse with a water hose. I won't use a pressure washer on a radiator, too easy to flatten the fins. I've heard guys say to use a pressure washer because air will flatten fins, but I've never managed that one.