Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,019
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From: Na
Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!!
My advise to anyone that hasn't cleaned the front of their radiator is to DO IT NOW before the hot weather rolls around! The whole job took about an hour; not hard at all. When I first took the top radiator shroud off and looked inside I was stunned:eek: ! Nearny half the radiator was completely covered in leaves, cigarette buts, and what not. Before this job, my engine would reach 213 deg. fairly quick before my fan would engage. Now it won't go above 185 deg.! BTW I'm running 100% distilled water + water wetter... :cheers:
[Modified by NUckINg FuTS, 4:31 PM 4/16/2002]
[Modified by NUckINg FuTS, 4:31 PM 4/16/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: 63.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Re: Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!! (NUckINg FuTS)
It really is hard to believe how much crap gets in there and how big a difference it makes to clean it all out. Did you pull the radiator and get the gunk out between the fins too? My fins were packed so bad it looked like the radiator had been dipped in mud. Everyone that has a C4 needs to do this.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,019
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From: Na
Re: Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!! (Vic'89)
I only had to remove the two upper fan bolts to remove the shroud. As for the shroud itself, I didn't completely remove it because the trans line wouldn't come loose. I kind of laid it off to the side still leaving plenty of room to work.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!! (NUckINg FuTS)
Ill have to do that when i get my compressor and 160 stat installed when the semester is over
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!! (NUckINg FuTS)
You can get SOME of the stuff out from the top. But if you want the full treatment, pull the radiator out and clean it.
You might be suprized what is caught up INSIDE those fins too!
You might be suprized what is caught up INSIDE those fins too!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
You've got a couple of things that block the shroud from coming out all the way. The upper hose on the left and the coolant sensor on the right. removing the top hose should be fine if the system is cool. Unplugging the sensor will drain the radiator to that point, so I slotted the shroud beneath it. :)
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Re:
I have my top shroud trimmed at the side ends so it can come off anytime without disconnecting anything.DId the mod when I had to replace the rad itself.
Btw,youre not running any coolant(antifreeze) at all?Just water and a water wetter?If so,electrolysis may be a problem down the road.Be sure to check into that.Its very corrosive to aluminum heads and intake manifolds.
:)
Btw,youre not running any coolant(antifreeze) at all?Just water and a water wetter?If so,electrolysis may be a problem down the road.Be sure to check into that.Its very corrosive to aluminum heads and intake manifolds.
:)
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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Re: Re: (NUckINg FuTS)
Ahh, water wetter has a built in additive to prevent electrolysis :yesnod: :cheers:
Thanks for the headsup.
:)
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
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From: Dallas TX
Re: Re: (NUckINg FuTS)
I reallllly need to do that. I just don't have any time. You have to drain coolant don't you? Or can you leave the hoses attached and do this?
I just haven't had any time to do anything with my car (besides drive it places) lately.
I just haven't had any time to do anything with my car (besides drive it places) lately.
Team Owner
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From: 63.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Re: Re: (Glock'94)
Hey Glock'94 to do it right you need to pull the radiator all the way out and clean the fins as well. There is a good paper posted in the C4 tech tips section on how to do the whole thing. I followed it when I did mine and it was very accurate. You will be very happy with the results. I had always heard that C4's were supposed to run hot, "that's how GM made them" is what I had heard. Not true. Clean the shroud and the fins and it will not be the same car. Mine runs much cooler, around 170 to 180 I'd say and it used to be right next to the red line all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: Re: (NUckINg FuTS)
Ahh, water wetter has a built in additive to prevent electrolysis
Also remember that distilled water has a very low pH, somewhere around 5.5; and this is fairly acidic. Dionized water has a pH of around 7.0 which is not as reactive, however it will tend to degrade fairly quickly to a more acidic condition without pH buffers. No way WW can supply the RA to prevent an acidic coolant condition for a long time.
WW is a solution for increased cooling in a necessary situation. I would not use WW and water on the street. Standard coolant mixtures are much better suited for normal street and track use.
Pete
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 913
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From: Chatsworth, Ga.
Re: Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!! (NUckINg FuTS)
Here is what I put on mine to stop the problem.
I put it in because I had the new Griffen installed to take care of the heat problem in the summers.
Now it runs around 180 degrees on the freeway and 185 degrees around town in traffic at about 78 degrees outside temp.
:D :flag
I put it in because I had the new Griffen installed to take care of the heat problem in the summers.
Now it runs around 180 degrees on the freeway and 185 degrees around town in traffic at about 78 degrees outside temp.
:D :flag
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'08-'09
Re: Cleaned Radiator and !!WOW!! (NUckINg FuTS)
I need to do mine soon also, it's running real hot. :eek:
I can't even imagine what's behind there. I could of swore last time I looked at the radiator I saw a furry tail of some sort and a pair of eyes staring back at me.
I can't even imagine what's behind there. I could of swore last time I looked at the radiator I saw a furry tail of some sort and a pair of eyes staring back at me.