waddisme

None of the parts stores carry the rad cleaner anymore. They have 7 different brands of brake cleaner though (?). There is also MAF, carb, electronics, coil, valve cleaners, but no rad cleaners anymore. Both ac condenser and rad are out, along with my motor, so easy to get to. AC condenser has some oil over it on one side, so needs more than air. Just don't want to damage aluminum.

What are you using?

miracle_whip4130

Never cleaned a radiator with more than air but brake cleaner will be fine.

chetly

Try going to home depot and see if the have ac condenser coil cleaner. A lot of that stuff foams up and brings all the internal dirt to the surface. Just make sure its aluminum safe (most industrial HVAC condensers are copper). Clean it all off with water and when you think you've rinsed enough rinse some more.

Sox-Fan

dishwashing detergent is strong enough to clean off oil and sand/dirt/grit that gets in there.

waddisme

May try the Dawn as Home Depot is 40 mins away. Theoretically it should cut through some of the grime/grit.

Thanks.

froggy47

I would not put brake cleaner to alum, use Dawn or some garage/automotive degreaser. Purple Power or Simple Green.

Nowanker

Watch for overspray on anything plastic, but aluminum is impervious to solvents (brake cleaner). I'd hesitate to use acidic cleaners (simple green), and strong, undiluted detergents (zep purple...) might also be caustic enough to etch the alum. I like that foaming A/C condensor cleaner idea! Wonder what those scrubbin' bubbles would do...

Bill Dearborn

Water works well if you don't have a lot of dirt in the fins. If you do then you have to pull the radiator out and do something physical to dislodge the dirt. Small stones, grass, seeds, oil dry and other items get lodged in there and and air/liquids sprayed in from the back just don't generate enough pressure in the air passages to get the stuff out.

Bill