Cleaned my radiator this weekend!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Farmington Hills MI
Cleaned my radiator this weekend!
Several weeks ago I posted a note about my low milage stock 90 convert. overheating and stalling in traffic. Many of you responded with very good info, many of which pointed to the probability that the radiator was dirty and clogged. Well, I pulled the radiator this past weekend, and sure enough, it was filthy! :U I haven't done much of my own work on my car in the past, but between the Chevrolet shop manuals and the extremely good tech paper that Lars Grimesrud posted in the C4 tech articles area, I was able to pull off the job and clean the radiator. Only time will tell for sure if I fixed it for good, but I was able to let it sit in my driveway and idle for about a half hour with no overheating! 
If any of you have C4's that run hot, I would encourage you to try cleaning the radiator before doing anything else. You'll be amazed at all the crap that's hidden in there and how much cooler it runs afterward!
If any of you have C4's that run hot, I would encourage you to try cleaning the radiator before doing anything else. You'll be amazed at all the crap that's hidden in there and how much cooler it runs afterward!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (my90vette)
After cleaning mine, I now hate people who blow all their grass and leaves into the street. I have been known to see it stop and turn around and go another way. I can't believe what all gets in there. I had the usual bugs, grass, leaves, and rocks about 1" dia. sitting on the bottom shelf. Where'd that come from?? :cheers: Well worth doing. It truly runs much cooler.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,192
Likes: 1
From: Airport Cruise-in 1 Veteran Airport Cruise-in 2 Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (vette87)
I can't believe what all gets in there. I had the usual bugs, grass, leaves, and rocks about 1" dia. sitting on the bottom shelf. Where'd that come from?? :cheers: Well worth doing. It truly runs much cooler.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Mesa Az
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (my90vette)
Last weekend I pulled the top of the radiator shroud off and was surprised to find a heap of leaves, paper, dead bees and other dead vegetation between the A/C condensor and the radiator. After cleaning out the debris, I stopped at Home Depot and bought a strip of A/C foam sealer (foam rubber about three feet long and 1 1/4 inches square) and stuffed it under the A/C condensor and also along the sides. Hopefully this will curb the debris problem. Time will tell.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (westifer)
There was a post on that very thing not to long ago, If you do a search I'm sure you will find it. I have had my radiator out twice in the last three months, if I had seen the screen post before I did that I would have added the screens during one of those times myself. :yesnod:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (westifer)
Hmmmm,
Has anyone tried a screen below the radiator, to stop the buildup of debris?
I haven't yet, but I was thinking about it.
Has anyone tried a screen below the radiator, to stop the buildup of debris?
I haven't yet, but I was thinking about it.
Tom Piper
[Modified by Tom Piper, 8:26 AM 9/21/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,192
Likes: 1
From: Airport Cruise-in 1 Veteran Airport Cruise-in 2 Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (Andy1983)
Curious---
How many miles should you go in between cleaning your radiator?
How many miles should you go in between cleaning your radiator?
:cheers:
-John
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,847
Likes: 10
From: Bartlett, IL
Cruise-In XI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (Andy1983)
My GS has only 8200 miles on it, I had to replace my radiator the other day (Plastic Tank seperating from the Aluminum radiator) I could not believe how much garbage (leaves, grass, etc...) can get stuck in the radiator and shroud area. I have cleaned the AC condensor a few times by reaching up with my hand and pulling all the junk out of there.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Dead center of Seoul
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (my90vette)
Cleaned mine out 3 months ago....actually found white rabbit with a nest of bunnies :eek: I had to move them; didn't want them to injure themselves of the table saw I store in there. They made a new home in my plenum.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
Likes: 282
From: Phila., PA burbs
Re: Cleaned my radiator this weekend! (Dave's_88)
I've been putting off doing this for quite some time now, but I'm gonna have to get off my **** and do it soon as my car is beginning to run ungodly hot. :(