Any tips on cleaning a radiator?
Discussion
Morning All,
My Shoggie has been overheating recently. I've had the system fully checked, and there are no leaks - or at least there aren't now the water pump has been replaced - so the problem must lie either with a dodgy thermostat, or more likely with a somewhat mud-clogged rad.
Does anyone have any suggestions for getting the bloody thing clean without actually taking it out of the truck after each sortie off-road? The main issue is that the aircon rad sits right in front of it, and the fan and cowling right behind, so access is a real issue. I can get through to much of it with gentle use of a jetwash on lowest setting (anything higher starts to bend the cooling fins) but I'm still far from clear. Are there any wonder products I can use?
My Shoggie has been overheating recently. I've had the system fully checked, and there are no leaks - or at least there aren't now the water pump has been replaced - so the problem must lie either with a dodgy thermostat, or more likely with a somewhat mud-clogged rad.
Does anyone have any suggestions for getting the bloody thing clean without actually taking it out of the truck after each sortie off-road? The main issue is that the aircon rad sits right in front of it, and the fan and cowling right behind, so access is a real issue. I can get through to much of it with gentle use of a jetwash on lowest setting (anything higher starts to bend the cooling fins) but I'm still far from clear. Are there any wonder products I can use?
I'd buy/borrow an infrared laser dotted thermometer thingy first and and check where the problem lies.
Failing that,all I do is a hosepipe and a garden spray bottle of TFR and keep working it.It's also good practice to take the spray bottle with you, and spray your rad down before leaving site.It's also useful for a muli-tude of other things like cleaning lights/windows and checking beads for leaks,and your air brakes,but i guess you don't have that issue to worry about!
Failing that,all I do is a hosepipe and a garden spray bottle of TFR and keep working it.It's also good practice to take the spray bottle with you, and spray your rad down before leaving site.It's also useful for a muli-tude of other things like cleaning lights/windows and checking beads for leaks,and your air brakes,but i guess you don't have that issue to worry about!
Yesterday evening I had the grille off, the rad cowling off and the rad itself unbolted to allow me to move it around, and I've still got crap in there! I'll try the latest suggestions, as without 13' arms to get to release the pipes to the little gearbox cooling rad at the bottom, it's not exactly easy to get the actual rad out!
Has anyone ever produced a fine mesh screen to cover the radiator to prevent the ingress of mud, sand etc.? I've seen rad muffs, but do these do the job?
I had the idea of getting something like cooker hood extractor filter fitted with a very fine wire mesh/cloth to slide down in front of the radiator for those muddy situations where you know the radiator is going to get covered. I know it wouldn't stop everything, but should prevent any major clogging by keeping the fins clear of large particles. The screen could then be removed and simply hosed down. QUICK AND EASY.
In fact the front and back could be protected.
I went to Sibbertoft a few weekends ago and although I hadn't gone too mad around the site, the radiator still clogged from collecting slilt whilst wading around in the pools.
Any thoughts on this idea??!?!
I had the idea of getting something like cooker hood extractor filter fitted with a very fine wire mesh/cloth to slide down in front of the radiator for those muddy situations where you know the radiator is going to get covered. I know it wouldn't stop everything, but should prevent any major clogging by keeping the fins clear of large particles. The screen could then be removed and simply hosed down. QUICK AND EASY.
In fact the front and back could be protected.
I went to Sibbertoft a few weekends ago and although I hadn't gone too mad around the site, the radiator still clogged from collecting slilt whilst wading around in the pools.
Any thoughts on this idea??!?!
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