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Here's the stuff that came out of the radiator just getting it out of the car. This isn't from on top or something, this fell OUT of the radiator fins...
And here's what the rad looks like. Yeah, not a surprise what's going on here. If you haven't had your radiator out or you're doing weird crap to get temps under control, spend 90 minutes R&R and cleaning this thing. Test drive in an hour or so.
OK, calling this fixed. Nice, steady 199 on the freeway, peak of 221 around town. Ambient is 92 degrees. I think those temps are ideal based on reading the Service Manual.
Total time was about 2.5 hours including the time spent cleaning the radiator and the A/C heat exchanger. Only real PITA was getting the shroud out and in.
IMHO, I'd start here if temps are creeping up.
Note that I'd been cleaning mine regularly with water...every once and a while, it apparently needs to come OUT to get really cleaned out.
I periodically clean out my radiator and condensor, usually once a year but last year I didn't. One day recently sitting in traffic on a very hot day, it was approaching 250 degrees. Took apart the cooling system and blew everything forward. The amount of dirt was astonishing. I made a tool to get in behind cores and blow compressed air form back to front. There was so much dirt it made my engine compartment filthy from the blowing. BTW, I also made a screen to keep larger objects from getting up there and stuck. Temps have dropped to around 200, less on the road moving.
All of our roads are different .....sand/and other debris. I use about twice a year..(South Florida..a lot of barbque), a grill cleaner brush. Been using it on Vettes for over ten years.
Last edited by runner140*; Aug 16, 2016 at 02:49 PM.
Reason: add
I periodically clean out my radiator and condensor, usually once a year but last year I didn't. One day recently sitting in traffic on a very hot day, it was approaching 250 degrees. Took apart the cooling system and blew everything forward. The amount of dirt was astonishing. I made a tool to get in behind cores and blow compressed air form back to front. There was so much dirt it made my engine compartment filthy from the blowing. BTW, I also made a screen to keep larger objects from getting up there and stuck. Temps have dropped to around 200, less on the road moving.
I bought the Radiator Genie to clean out the radiator. Does a good job of cleaning as much as possible short of removing the radiator.
Interesting, thank you - I was going to make something like that. Still, the shroud/fans are a little tough to work around; I think I'll just plan on pulling the radiator every other year or so.
reply to fatfastboy, I had some aluminum channel that fit perfect over the top of the condenser with the screen sandwiched in.
Then I pulled the screen tight and cut a piece of wood to sandwich the screen in the bottom groove of the radiator. I also used foam weatherstrip to seal the sides.
