Vacuum your radiator
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 312
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From: Valrico FL
Vacuum your radiator
I was under my car today and peeked up into the void where the top of the radiator meets the fascia\shroud\whatever you want to call it and HOLY COW! It was like a trash heap up there!
Leaves, grass, piece of styrofoam cup, YUCK! I guess it all collects up there and just gets stuck with no way out.
So take the shop vac and do some cleaning there as that can't be good blocking airflow over the radiator.
Leaves, grass, piece of styrofoam cup, YUCK! I guess it all collects up there and just gets stuck with no way out.
So take the shop vac and do some cleaning there as that can't be good blocking airflow over the radiator.
Safety Car
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From: Rain Festival Headquarters, Upstate NY
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I cleaned that area every time I washed the car - only takes a few minutes and sure keeps all the junk out of there.
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From: Wimauma FL
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
The C-6's are very similar to the C-5's in that they will suck up everything on the road. The implication is that at least once per year, everyone needs to clean things out. Either an air-wand or a water wand blowing/spraying from the inside back towards the outside will get most of the debris out of there. Specifically need to pay attention to removal of all the tiny rocks that will get stuck in the condensor vanes. The C-6 condensor is thinner than that of the C-5, so some rocks will get through to the radiator itself. Regardless of where they get stuck, if air doesn't flow, the coolant will not cool off.
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Safety Car
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From: Southeast, Tennessee
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The C-6's are very similar to the C-5's in that they will suck up everything on the road. The implication is that at least once per year, everyone needs to clean things out. Either an air-wand or a water wand blowing/spraying from the inside back towards the outside will get most of the debris out of there. Specifically need to pay attention to removal of all the tiny rocks that will get stuck in the condensor vanes. The C-6 condensor is thinner than that of the C-5, so some rocks will get through to the radiator itself. Regardless of where they get stuck, if air doesn't flow, the coolant will not cool off.
you'll be amazed at how much cooler you car will run if you've never done this before. i personally prefer to use a higher pressure water nozzle from the back side out to clean the radiator.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
I've had this screen from ELITE ENGINEERING USA installed since I got my car. With the exception of a few small bugs and dust, nothing else gets through it...
http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/C...or_screen.html
http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/C...or_screen.html
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Melting Slicks
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From: Conejo Valley CA
Race Director
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From: Ohio
I've had this screen from ELITE ENGINEERING USA installed since I got my car. With the exception of a few small bugs and dust, nothing else gets through it...
http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/C...or_screen.html
http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/C...or_screen.html
I use this screen too.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 223
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From: Central Coast of Calif.
Yeah 
Now that's the kind of vacuuming that is fun to do
(as long as you don't suck up something major that blocks air flow). Checked mine last month and found a few leaves, nothing big like squirrels hides or paper bags. After reading this thread will look into getting a screen.
Last edited by C5lady; Sep 9, 2009 at 02:10 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
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From: Minnesota
I use a long extension on my air hose and gently work it up between the condensor and the actual radiator. To blow it out from the backside... I can't believe how much comes out after just a couple months of driving.
Le Mans Master
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From: Silver Spring MD
Pro
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From: Carson City MI
And... if you want another shocker, pull your backup light assembly out and take a look at what accumulates behind it. It gets everything that the radiator misses. After removing the leaves and twigs I scraped out about a half inch of dirt. 