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No idea how this happened. I never drive on dirt or gravel roads. New condenser should be here tomorrow. Radiator I can probably blow out dirt hopefully.
I replaced my condenser because of compressor failure almost 4 years ago, it was filled with those tiny rocks like you have, over the years they build up.
That is really bad. I don't know that you actually need to replace it. You could probably just clean it. However, since you already ordered a new one, you might as well replace it. Make sure that you clean out the new one every 6 months or so.
That is really bad. I don't know that you actually need to replace it. You could probably just clean it. However, since you already ordered a new one, you might as well replace it. Make sure that you clean out the new one every 6 months or so.
Thanks, absolutely have no idea how this happened. Never driven on a dirt road.
There are still small bits of debris even on a paved road. Combine that with the fact that the C5 is basically a vacuum cleaner, it is very easy for the condenser and radiator to get clogged. They make these really great cleaning wands for them that use both water and compressed air to clean out the fins without damaging them. They allow you to get a really thorough cleaning without removing them. Give me a minute, and I'll see if I can find you a link.
There are still small bits of debris even on a paved road. Combine that with the fact that the C5 is basically a vacuum cleaner, it is very easy for the condenser and radiator to get clogged. They make these really great cleaning wands for them that use both water and compressed air to clean out the fins without damaging them. They allow you to get a really thorough cleaning without removing them. Give me a minute, and I'll see if I can find you a link.
Like warlord said, these cars are vacuum cleaners. All their air flow comes from the bottom of the car. Any thing you drive over has the potential to get sucked up into the cooling module. Get a set of these. Makes it super easy to clean regularly. One hooks to air and the other to a garden hose. They’ve got pressure dials so you don’t damage the fins with too much pressure. Just pull the top cover off and go to town cleaning out the fins.
An old 3/8" thick window screen with plastic corners was cut down to fit and held in place with ss wire on each side, a wider screen would have placed the screen frame completely out of the airflow.
The passenger side with the top screen corner shown:
The front of the bottom screen was slid forward between the bumper and support before the fasteners were tightened and the rear was bent up 90 degrees so it rested at the back of the skid frame cross bar then tywrapped to it.
Disregard the aluminum plates that are oil cooler mounts.
An old 3/8" thick window screen with plastic corners was cut down to fit and held in place with ss wire on each side, a wider screen would have placed the screen frame completely out of the airflow.
The passenger side with the top screen corner shown:
The front of the bottom screen was slid forward between the bumper and support before the fasteners were tightened and the rear was bent up 90 degrees so it rested at the back of the skid frame cross bar then tywrapped to it.
Disregard the aluminum plates that are oil cooler mounts.
No idea how this happened. I never drive on dirt or gravel roads. New condenser should be here tomorrow. Radiator I can probably blow out dirt hopefully.
C5's are the Zamboni's of the street. If you look at photo of the debris stuck in the fins you realize the large diamond shaped screen media could only stop or reduce the hoovered road debris < 20%. You'd be shocked to see the massive buildup between the back of the AC and the Rad. It's worth unbolting the rad enough to separate the two and remove the rats nest that blocks the rad not just adding a screen. it's worth the time.
Speaking of screen. the best way to stop tiny sized junk that's clogging up between the AC & the rad is to use high quality Nylon window screen media. The screen size and pliability allows the screen to stop even tiny debris from clogging between the the fins. I've used stainless screen but Nylon works better. I've used Nylon for over 15 years and it works for Corvettes.
It's also inexpensive and easy to install
