What method to clean the radiator?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 0
From: Crofton MD
What method to clean the radiator?
I reached my arm up in there and removed the debris from in front of the CONDENSOR. However, the radiator sits behind that. What is the best way to clean the exterior of the radiator from debris? Is there a method without having to disconnect hoses? Please advise, anyone.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 0
From: Crofton MD
Originally Posted by RED99
The radiator probably isn't that dirty because the A/C condenser catches the bulk of the crap.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 3
From: Chapel Hill NC
I usually do it from the back blowing forward thru the fan openings as best I can. If you really want to do it right, though, unplug the fans, detatch the harness and drop the fan assembly for total access. It's not hard to do if you've got a couple good-sized jackstands.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
Remove the radiator top shroud cover. It's only held on by 4 screws., you'll have to pull the air-bridge to slide it out. Then get a compressed air gun with a long snout and insert it in the space between the radiator and condenser. See the attached pic the for an example of what yuou'll find.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 0
From: Crofton MD
Originally Posted by sxe60
Remove the radiator top shroud cover. It's only held on by 4 screws., you'll have to pull the air-bridge to slide it out. Then get a compressed air gun with a long snout and insert it in the space between the radiator and condenser. See the attached pic the for an example of what yuou'll find.
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Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,586
Likes: 1,697
From: Converse TX
Originally Posted by tcmc5
Compressed air works well for me. It's amazing how much crap gets caught in there.
I do mine at every oil change while it is on a lift and easy to access and keeps my area free of crap
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,275
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver WA
You can always open the hood and drive backwards. (J/K).
Someone had a GP for a screen on here that looked like a good idea for keeping the bigger things out. I just pulled my rad, and it was pretty clean, but the A/C is full of little pebbles in between the fins. Where I live they use sand in the winter for the roads, but it's more like fine gravel, and I think that is where it came from. I bought the car with 42k miles on it, and I have 55k on it now, and I doubt that it has ever been cleaned. I have a new double core rad going in, but I am trying to figure out how to get those sand pebbled out of the A/C condenser. Vacuuming didn't do much. And the car is in the garage on jack stands with no front wheels, so a water hose is out of the question. And I would think air would make a big mess. So I may just pull the A/C condenser and clean it.
Someone had a GP for a screen on here that looked like a good idea for keeping the bigger things out. I just pulled my rad, and it was pretty clean, but the A/C is full of little pebbles in between the fins. Where I live they use sand in the winter for the roads, but it's more like fine gravel, and I think that is where it came from. I bought the car with 42k miles on it, and I have 55k on it now, and I doubt that it has ever been cleaned. I have a new double core rad going in, but I am trying to figure out how to get those sand pebbled out of the A/C condenser. Vacuuming didn't do much. And the car is in the garage on jack stands with no front wheels, so a water hose is out of the question. And I would think air would make a big mess. So I may just pull the A/C condenser and clean it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,378
Likes: 4
From: I don't deserve this car, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. Bay Point, FL
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Elite Engineering has a sale on the radiator screen. I just ordered one:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1387616
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1387616
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
clean radiator
I went to Home Depot and bought a small roll of 1/4 galvinized screen. Jacked up front of car and cut screen to fit opening with snips. folded the edges over so nothing sharp was sticking out, loosened the screwws holding the pan the the front facsia, slipped the screen in between, retightened the screws and fastened the rear of the screen to the 1" square bar across the front end with nylon ties. Took about a half an hour and $7.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,267
Likes: 40
From: Phoenix AZ
I have one of those cheap air blow guns with the tip removed. Then got 2 feet of metal brake line or trans cooler line (cant remember) and the fitting threads right in. Then I bent a 90 at the last inch. After you take off the cover on the radiator, you can insert the line between the rad and condensor and blow straight through while getting to all parts of it.
Used it for years as a tech.
Used it for years as a tech.
