Radiator Flush?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 523
Likes: 7
From: Austin,TX USA
Radiator Flush?
I'm pulling my radiator out next week to clean the leaves and debris between the condensor and rad.
Would it be worth while to take it some where and have the rad flushed by a shop? Would they be able to clean the core up well?
I have no idea if the flow is degraded or not, just thought it would be a good idea while I have it out. I'd also prefere if they don't remove the side tanks.....
I guess I could flush it with the water hose but I don't think that would be as effective.
car is a '93 w/ 110K miles.
Would it be worth while to take it some where and have the rad flushed by a shop? Would they be able to clean the core up well?
I have no idea if the flow is degraded or not, just thought it would be a good idea while I have it out. I'd also prefere if they don't remove the side tanks.....
I guess I could flush it with the water hose but I don't think that would be as effective.
car is a '93 w/ 110K miles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Re: Radiator Flush? (y5e06)
If you did not experience any overheating previously, you should be fine just flushing it with some water. If you had a lot of debri between the condenser and radiator, expect to see a drop in temperatures.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Re: Radiator Flush? (y5e06)
If you look in either the inlet or outlet just right (I forget which) you can see some of the tube ends. If they look clean, don't bother. If they look cruddy go for it.
If you add wether stripping around the AC condenser, you shouldn't get any crud into the space between the radiator and condenser. I used the self stick foam rubber kind. I was ablt to move the condenser enough to apply the stuff while the radiator was out. That was on a 96, I don't know if your arrangement is the same.
If you add wether stripping around the AC condenser, you shouldn't get any crud into the space between the radiator and condenser. I used the self stick foam rubber kind. I was ablt to move the condenser enough to apply the stuff while the radiator was out. That was on a 96, I don't know if your arrangement is the same.
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Re: Radiator Flush? (xs650)
If you add wether stripping around the AC condenser, you shouldn't get any crud into the space between the radiator and condenser. I used the self stick foam rubber kind. I was ablt to move the condenser enough to apply the stuff while the radiator was out. That was on a 96, I don't know if your arrangement is the same.
:seeya
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: Madison Mississippi
Re: Radiator Flush? (y5e06)
I pulled mine last week and here is what I found. The corvette is a vacuum cleaner. I had plastic bags, leaves, grass, rocks and tons of dirt jammed in between the condensor and radiator. Mine never ran hot and has 100k on it. I stuck the water hose in one end and flushed it until clear water came out. Then, I repeated the process on the other end. I used castrol super clean and sprayed through the fins and used lots of water pressure to clean in between the fins. I takes substantially more time to clean the outside fins than the inside. I strongly believe you will find yours will run way cooler by cleaning the same way. Oh, yeah, the compressed air blew out what the hose couldn't. If you don't have access to a compressor I suggest you have someone do it for you. Good luck and stay cool.
:cool:
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Re: Radiator Flush? (jackdaroofer)
:iagree: I added the weather stripping around the condensor on my 88, cuts down on a lot of the crap getting in there
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: Radiator Flush? (y5e06)
The factory service manual also says to pull both knock sensors to get all of the coolant out of the block. Unless your coolant was dirty when it came out, the radiator should be in pretty good shape unless you had some overheating issues. Most shops will use chemicals to clean the cores and they have to pull the plastic end tanks because of that. Even if they use rods to clean the passages, the tanks have to come off.
Also, the manual says to use distilled water for the final flushing and re-fill. You can find it at any grocery store for less than a buck a gallon. The system will need 2 gallons of coolant and about 2 gallons of water. Drain the overflow tank and clean it out and once you have the new coolant in. put a 50/50 mix in the overflow bottle.
Also, the manual says to use distilled water for the final flushing and re-fill. You can find it at any grocery store for less than a buck a gallon. The system will need 2 gallons of coolant and about 2 gallons of water. Drain the overflow tank and clean it out and once you have the new coolant in. put a 50/50 mix in the overflow bottle.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 523
Likes: 7
From: Austin,TX USA
Re: Radiator Flush?
Thanks for the replys. I try the weather stripping when I put it back together. Once I do get the radiator out I'll just inspect it and most likely just flush it with a hose.
I don't really need to pull the knock sensors. I've done that a few times in the past and I drain the radiator fairly regularly.
I recently redid the intake gaskets which required drain/refill. Now I'm doing opti, waterpump, and timing cover seals so the system is mostly drained again. I always use distilled water, never tap water, and use Dex-cool. I'm also installing a 160 thermostat this time too so my system should run real cool when I'm done.
I don't really need to pull the knock sensors. I've done that a few times in the past and I drain the radiator fairly regularly.
I recently redid the intake gaskets which required drain/refill. Now I'm doing opti, waterpump, and timing cover seals so the system is mostly drained again. I always use distilled water, never tap water, and use Dex-cool. I'm also installing a 160 thermostat this time too so my system should run real cool when I'm done.
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