Do like I was told to do ..... Jack your car up crawl under it and blow the radiator out ... Problem will be solved ...


By the way can we get a few more sticky notes up top ...

 

whatcha have in mind?

 

I knew you would chim in ..... Just giving you something to do ...

 

James can you post or pm me on just what you did, I am having a slight issue with mine and think I need to clean out the radiator.
Thanks buddy.
Mr.Bill

 

Hmmmmm. I've noticed that my temps have been inching up while I'm at red lights or even just under 40mph. Not much, it got up to 220 the other day and yes it is summer, but last year I don't think I had any issues what so ever. It always seems to be stuck on 180 unless the AC wasn't turned on and you were sitting at a light. (the fans are still at factory settings. 230?)

I have blown it out a couple of time just from the front but this time took the cover off from the engine bay and with a shopbuilt plastic wand, shot both ways from between the rad/condenser. Not much additional material came out, surprising since I'm out in the sticks (dirt roads and ag country)

The fans are working correctly I believe, fluid looks good. Maybe the thermostat is partially stuck? Probably time to get a different thermostat and lower the factory fan settings with a tune.

 

Good advice James. I check up in the radiator area every time I detail the car.

 

I followed these instructions a couple of months ago and filled up a dust pan with just the stuff that came out of the A/C condenser. Another dust pan full of stuff from the radiator. It's a 90,000 mile Vette that probably has never had those areas cleaned before.

http://www.toquez06.com/radiator.html

 

You cant check up in the radiator area when you detail... you are looking at the AC/condenser.
Without removing the upper radiator cover and air bridge, you can not see the radiator and therefore have never seen the stuff that gets through the condenser and clogs the radiator. Both the condenser and the radiator which sits directly behind the condenser have to be cleaned.. they also have to be cleaned from the rear of the car and flushed forward... do not use any high pressure air... it will bend the cooling vains and not allow a good air flow.
people take it for granted all the time that when they look up from the front of the car, that they are looking at the radiator.. you cant clean the radiator from this viewing angle.
Bill aka ET

 

Yes that does work out every time; may I add to do the radiator screen mood on the bottom as well. It will aid in helping keep clean the radiator for a much more extended period of time. If you go by Ace, Home Depot, or another chain store as such, you can find the mesh screen relatively cheap.

 

What a coincidental thread! I just got my car back together this morning. I took the radiator out completely, flushed the coolant and added water wetter, cleaned the condensor too. New lower hose, upper hose from Advance didn't match bends correctly, new drain plug (original one got messed up trying to open, it was stuck, socket got stripped) new one has wingnut-like fixture on end. Gave the radiator a thorough cleaning and can see light through it now. Washed it too so it looks almost like new. I usually clean it out yearly but it seemed more dirty than usual this time. I also made a tool for blowing out the radiators. A 2-foot long tube with a 90 degree bend on one end, the other end slips onto my air blowoff tool. fits between both radiators when assembled. I also have a screen on the bottom, too. I don't think there was anything left that I haven't done. My car was running hotter than I was comfortable with. On hot day it could be well over 200-205 running down the highway. In traffic recently got up to high 240's a couple of times and I thought I might have to pull over. Today running on the highwayI was cruising at 178-180 on a high 80's day. When stopped the highest it got was 185. BTW, I have a lower temp thermostat, 160 and the fans have been reprogrammed when I got an ECS tune. Car is running great now, nice and cool!

 

My advice is..... You should really drop a shop light between the engine and radiator and VERIFY that you SEE no blockage!

You can blow air all you want, but it doesn't get all the crap out. You should take a water hose and wash it out under pressure. I know it's a lot of trouble for most of you, but removing the radiator is the best way to ensure a thorough job.

 

Man I was stunned at how much crap was in there ... With my car having
Under 45,000 miles on it and that amount of trash .. I could not imagine what one would look like with 75,000

 

One of my neighbors/friends told me his '02 Vert was hitting over 230 at traffic lights. He doesn't like getting his hands dirty so I had him come by the house and cleaned it out for him. The pile of sand, grass clippings and leaves plus 2 sheets of newspaper that came out was incredible.

I do mine twice a year and just get sand and maybe some cigarette butts. It's easy and fast.

 

Do this and call it a day!!

 

when you are driving around the neighborhood. remember your C5 is a bottom feeder, those fans are cranking and crating a vacuum cleaner effect. just drive over some freshly cut grass clipping your neighbor was nice enough to blow in the street and you will have an instant problem. if your car is lowered the suction is even more pronounced.