Vinegar for Radiator Flush?

[Bob In Missouri]

Fixin to winterize the ole 49 N fm. I saw in archives, someone used vinegar to flush radiator. That seems like a cheap way to do it if it does not cause any other problems. Your thoughts please. Getting that time of year around here. 36 this morning. Thanks, Bob P.S. Go get'm Cardinals

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 14:49:08 10/19/11) Fixin to winterize the ole 49 N fm. I saw in archives, someone used vinegar to flush radiator. That seems like a cheap way to do it if it does not cause any other problems. Your thoughts please. Getting that time of year around here. 36 this morning. Thanks, Bob P.S. Go get'm Cardinals

everal times successful. Left in as much as a week.

 

[elmersooner]

one of the best ways to do it. flush well with a hose before you put the vinegar in and run it to operating temp. good time to clean the fins in your radiator too.

 

[old]

Bob did you look at who said to use vinegar??? It is one of the other things I tell people to do all the time. Drain your coolant, fill with vinegar and run it till good and warm say an hour or 2. Let it cool down and then drain it. Rig a hose fitting to the block drain plug and back flush it with the garden hose for 30 minutes or so. Drain it all out and then refill with a good mix of antifreeze. Oh by the way I would wait till next week to do it since the weather guessers say back up in the low 70s next week LOL

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

How many gallons do you put in it?

 

[old]

As many as the system takes. So if the cooling system is a 8qt system I pour in 2 gals of vinegar or in other words full strength

 

[rustyfarmall]

I did the vinegar trick in a '76 Ford F100 with a 390. It loosened the crud enough that I had to replace a couple of frost plugs. A rusted out frost plug will not leak if the water cannot circulate behind it.

 

[Bob In Missouri]

I didn't notice who it was. I will follow your plan and be set for winter. I did notice this morning, cold snap was just a couple days, but who knows if I will be ready next time it gets cold. Hope it warms up some for the world series. Thanks for the procedure. Bob

 

[ZANE]

Check the coolant for what temperature it will go down to and add to get down to where you want it and leave it alone. I've got engines that have had the same antifreeze coolant in them for 40 years and to my knowledge they are doing just fine.

But if it make you feel nice and fuzzy then flush!

Zane

 

[MNGB]

Likewise my 8N had the same coolant in it for 23 yrs never had a problem, its going on 7 years now looks good.
GB in MN

 

[Bob In Missouri]

I just bought it in may of this year and had less than a week and the belt came off as using. Had been converted by previous owner to 12v with homemade brackets and belt was crooked. Son in law was using at the time and said it lost a little water. Replaced with new brackets and added plain water back and used all summer just fine. Do need to flush and add anti freeze as I am sure it is mostly just water. Thanks for the replies guys. Appreciate it. Bob

 

[Bob In Missouri]

I meant to say march of this year. Oops!

 

[old]

Ya the weather guessers say cold for the next 2 nights then warm this weekend then oh no cold again about the middle of next week. But hey it is almost Nov so yep it should be getting cold. Now I can hope but know it will not work but would love to see about 2 inches of snow on the ground the morning of Nov 12th

 

[old]

Ya I agree with you. I have a 1965 Ford 1 ton truck that has had the same antifreeze in it for I do not know how long but it is and has been ok for at least a decade that I know of and I know it has been a lot longer since it was my dads truck and I know all he ever did was make sure it said it would not freeze as per the little tester. I do a lot of years go out and top off things with fresh antifreeze but only pour in what it takes to fill and use it 100$ no water so just o keep it a tad bit better

 

[Bob In Missouri]

OK Now I have to ask. What is special about Nov. 12th?

 

[old]

The first day of many I get out of bed before the sun does. LOL The 12th of Nov is opening morning of deer season Gun that is and I do enjoy deer hunting if the weather is right. I bow hunt also if there has been a good hard freeze but not till then. Year before last I got 7 deer last year only one but that is why it is called hunting I guess

 

[old]

Draining and flushing one you know little or nothing about does not hurt. But after that you can in fact go for years with out doing much to them. Ya right now you can get by but we are getting close to the point that your lucky to see the temp over 32 for a few days in a row

 

[Bob In Missouri]

Gosh, feel so stupid. Of course should have known. Used to deer hunt but never even as much as seen one in missouri. Did kill one in mississippi and pennsylvania during their seasons. You have pretty good area for deer. Down here we have to drive west a good ways. Good Luck with a Buck! Bob

 

[36 Coupe]

A little washing soda will do a better job of cleaning.If you insist on vinegar the white costs less than cider vinegar.Both are 5 percent acid.

 

[old]

Have a friend who would go down your way to hunt deer till he found my place and now he just comes here to hunt. His shop has a number of deer heads on the wall from the ones he shot down your way