Cleaning a cooling system question

[shaune]

The 59 F100 has some scale build up in the rad, it might be rust from the engine but it is affecting the efficiency of the radiator. Last summer was hot and on the highway the temp kept climbing unless i went slower than highway speeds.
Soooo, since i am trying to sell the truck i want minimal effort and $$$$ for a fix. I have read where people have used vinegar, muratic acid, Tide, or CLR to get ride of scale. I guess the Tide doesn't get rid of scale but grime and grease instead.
Any thoughts..........any experience

[..77.]

In my 56 Chebby truck with a 331 sbc in it .Original style rad . I used a crystal type powder from Canadian tire to flush out cooling system . I did everything the instructions said , and doubly flushed out the stuff cause I wanted to do a good job . A day or two later in any low spot where some of the stuff might have sat in a hose . Ie : heater hoses and lower rad hose , the stuff ate right thru the hoses . I wont be doing that again , insert smiley here . I dont remember the product name but it was maybe white crystals and strong smell to it ..77.

[shaune]

Hmmm no additions other than 77............:(

[Rochie]

shaune,
What engine are we talking about???
Check the timing of the engine. Retarded timing will cause it to heat. Do you have a thermostat in the system??? If not get a 180 degree stat and put it in. IF the problem persists then pull the rad and take it to a reputable rad shop and have it rodded(cleaned by them), or you can find cheap universal aluminum rads on the net.

[dustyrustee]

The 59 F100 has some scale build up in the rad, it might be rust from the engine but it is affecting the efficiency of the radiator. Last summer was hot and on the highway the temp kept climbing unless i went slower than highway speeds.
Soooo, since i am trying to sell the truck i want minimal effort and $$$$ for a fix. I have read where people have used vinegar, muratic acid, Tide, or CLR to get ride of scale. I guess the Tide doesn't get rid of scale but grime and grease instead.
Any thoughts..........any experience

I have cleaned out a lot of rads over the years for myself with excellent results....this is how I do it:

1) drain and remove rad from vehicle and flush out with a garden hose

2) install rad cap and lay rad on the ground with the outlet tubes facing upwards and then fill it with water...once full pour out the water into a pail so you know the volume of water that the rad holds

3) then boil up a volume of hot water in a pot on stove or whatever heat source you choose equal to the volume that the rad holds

4) add 2 cans of DRAINO drain cleaning crystals to the boiling hot water, stir and pour into the rad laying on the ground with cap installed through one of the water outlets.....filling the rad full....

5) leave the rad sit for 24 hours while the caustic solution goes to work dissolving all the inside crud

6) next day drain out the liquid from rad and flush thoroughly thru top and all outlets with garden hose.

any rads I have done this way come out really clean inside....take note of the flow of water thru the rad when you first flush after removal and compare the flow to the flush after draino.....the results will speak for themselves...

look inside the tanks with a flashlight too, before and after....

[shaune]

Well a follow up to Dusty's "drain O" rad cleaning...........

I did the application twice to the rad from the 52 Ply, WOW the crap that came out. :eek:

Did it work yes and no.

There are still a couple of tubes i can see that have scale still blocking the tubes but it is way better than before.
This would be fine if the rad was going back in but because i am having the engine rebuilt.....and it will be clean inside i hope.......i am taking the rad to a shop for a power flush along with heater core. Should be around $60.
If the engine hadn't been out this would be an acceptable cure and i will try this to the rad of my 59 F100.

[John in Oz]

What Rochie said is the only way to go, get the rad cleaned properly.

John

[Homer]

I took my rad to the rad shop to have it flushed out and that did not work.Talked to a friend of Rochies and he said to use CLR to flush the rad.Bill told me to put the CLR in the rad and run the engine untill it was warm, shut it off and leave it sit. Than flush it out. Well I did what he said I had foam coming out of the overflow, left it sit for 24hrs started the enging again and had more foam. Let it cool, removed the rad hoses and flushed it out with a garden hose on the bottom and than on the top. Put the hoses back on filled the system and than removed the hoses again just to be sure I flushed every thing.Filled the system with soft water and antifreeze and what a difference.
Homer

[34ford]

:eek:When installing anti freeze into a new or old system is to use distilled water .You can buy it at the food store or collect it in the summer from your Central AC unit . Tap water contains too much calcium which is that white crusty stuff that plugs up your rad:rolleyes:

[Rodder29]

Go to your local Caterpillar dealer, and pick up some radiator flush. Gunk also makes a flush that would be available at your local auto parts store. Drain your cooling system, fill with water, and the rad flush, and run the engine for 30 minutes. Then drain the system, and repeat if needed. The flush works well. It is a good idea to change your coolant every 2-3 years to prevent sludge build up.