Radiator refurb

[Sandgrounder]

There was definitely antifreeze in there, so wasn't expecting to see this?

[GreenV8S]

From the colour, I guess that's rust. Perhaps the antifreeze has been left in too long at some point in the past so that the corrosion inhibitor has been used up.

[Sandgrounder]

Its definitely rust. Thick deposit on garage floor. The antifreeze that was in (put in by a mechanic a couple of years ago I think) was the orange colour stuff.

Once my Rad has been re-cored, I will fill system with water only a couple of times to flush out the rest. Then fill with good old traditional blue stuff!

[phillpot]

While the rad is out shove he garden hose pipe up every hose you can and flush out as much crap as you can. Don't forget the heater matrix, a lot of sediment can sit in there.

[Sandgrounder]

Mike, do you mean disconnect heater pipes (at valve) and hose through from there?

[phillpot]

Yep, that would do the trick and flush both ways.

Ideally to flush the engine remove the thermostat, but that can lead to snapped bolts so might be you don't want to risk that

[v8s4me]

I've discovered a "miracle cleaner". It's white vinegar! It removes rust and limescale and costs less than 4 quid for 5lts. Not sure how it would react inside your rad but if you're going to have it re-cored anyway it might be worth an experiment. After flushing out you need to neutralise the vinegar by using a solution of baking soda. I've got a bit of filthy and limescale coated 2" copper pipe in to soak over night to see what happens.

[v8s4me]

Unfortunately I didn't take a "before" picture so it's hard to show how this had transformed. Imagine the copper tube so caked in limescale and crud that it looked like a really dirty white plastic pipe. The left end was soaked for a couple of hours and the other end overnight....


Pretty good, eh? The inside of the tube is just as clean so it could work well on the inside of a clogged rad.

I'll soak some rusty bolts tonight to see what happens.

[v8s4me]

This lot makes for a good experiment...

Now soaking in vinegar and sitting in the sun to add a bit of heat to the mix

[Sandgrounder]

My radiator is now with a Heat Exchange specialist for refurb. When I spoke to them today, they commented on the 'contaminants' that were clearly evident around the inlet/outlet.
He suggested putting a couple of Dishwasher tablets in some boiling water to break them up, then running that solution in the cooling system for a couple of hours.

I think I will just get some solution from a motor factors that is designed for the job.

[phillpot]

Sandgrounder said:

I think I will just get some solution from a motor factors that is designed for the job.

Put that on your chips and the vinegar in your rad

[88S1]

How did the bolts come out. Did the vinegar do the trick?

[v8s4me]

Soaked for 24 hours, washed with tap water and a light brush with a wire brush (hand held) and hey presto...


I haven't brushed the the copper tube, that's how it came out. The final stage is to rinse in a bicarbonate of soda/water solution to neutralise the vinegar. Impressed? Well I am even if you're not

Next part of the experiment is to solder something to the copper tube and see if a 24 hour soak affects the bond. I reckon that if the bond is not affected the vinegar would be ideal for unblocking a heater matrix (Or a rad). If anyone has a heater matrix knocking around and want's to test the theory then please let us know what happens.

After that the next project is to make a batch of vaccines for the States using a carefully balanced combination of Domestos and Jayes Fluid. This should improve the gene pool over there for future generations.

Edited by v8s4me on Saturday 25th April 16:04

[v8s4me]

As you can see, the vinegar has not affected the solder...



So if had a blocked rad or heater matrix I'd be quite happy to fill it up with white vinegar and leave it overnight before shelling out on a re-core. Worst case scenario is the vinegar doesn't work and you still have to have the unit re-cored. At £3.69 for 5L that's not much of a loss

[Sandgrounder]

I hear what you are saying, but my rad is leaking. I don't think it will cure that!!

[v8s4me]

Donald Trump would be sure that it could cure a leak, as well as CV-19

[Sandgrounder]

Looks like new!
Now to get the orange crap out of the system.

[88S1]

Sandgrounder said:

Looks like new!
Now to get the orange crap out of the system.

Very nice.

[GreenV8S]

Sandgrounder said:

Now to get the orange crap out of the system.

That's no way to refer to the commander in chief of an important ally.

[Sandgrounder]

Anyone know what the Header/Expansion tank is off?
Thanks