Cleaning Debris From Radiator
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,160
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From: Mesquite Texas
Cleaning Debris From Radiator
After cleaning my C5 yesterday, I deceided to look up under the front at the radiator. To my suprise the top inch or two was packed with grass clippings and junk. My question, is it better to use compressed air or water to blow this out from the other side.
Team Owner
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I lift the front a little...either rhino ramps or just drive up on a couple of boards....and spray it out with the hose....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 854
From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by SlideRulz
After cleaning my C5 yesterday, I deceided to look up under the front at the radiator. To my suprise the top inch or two was packed with grass clippings and junk. My question, is it better to use compressed air or water to blow this out from the other side.
Remenber, there a 2 rads up front, 1 for the engine and the other one is for the AC. if you use air/water from the front side the debris will fall between the 2 rads.
If you try to use air/water from the rear side of the rads, now you have to remove the cooling fans/shroud.
Use a soft paint brush to remove the debris, then being careful us a shop vac with the nook and cranney adapter.
If you ding a cooling fin, get a fin straightner at you lacal AC shop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 854
From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by pewter99
I don't know how you get your hand in there
Drive you car on to a set of ramps, place your safety glass'es on your skull, to protect your eyeballs from falling debris. crawl under with the paint brush and clean away.....
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
I made a tool from a long piece 3/8 steel line made a 90 deg bend at the end cut it off so the end is 1/2" long then carefully flatten the end so the opening is about .050 wide.
Attach it to the garden hose and you have a high pressure cleaning wand.
Clean the rad. from the rear first, then pull back shroud and clean the condenser from the rear and blow it dry.
Run the car until the fans come on but stand back or you will get soaked.
Works great! Then I made a screen to cover the bottom opening to keep the trash out from now on.
Attach it to the garden hose and you have a high pressure cleaning wand.
Clean the rad. from the rear first, then pull back shroud and clean the condenser from the rear and blow it dry.
Run the car until the fans come on but stand back or you will get soaked.
Works great! Then I made a screen to cover the bottom opening to keep the trash out from now on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
To avoid just pushing the debris between the condensor and the radiator I suggest using a shop-vac and the "needle" nozle to pull it away rather than pushing it in.
Does get a lot of stuff up in there doesn't it?
Does get a lot of stuff up in there doesn't it?
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Avondale Arizona
Originally Posted by SlideRulz
After cleaning my C5 yesterday, I deceided to look up under the front at the radiator. To my suprise the top inch or two was packed with grass clippings and junk. My question, is it better to use compressed air or water to blow this out from the other side.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Belmont MA
I had a bunch of grass and a bag in mine...sometimes it is amazing on what you will find. I just used my hands to get the majority of it.
But you floks definitely have some good alternatives that I will try.
But you floks definitely have some good alternatives that I will try.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
Likes: 3
From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Radiator Cleaning
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[QUOTE=AFVETTE]I've seen plastic bags up there. Most folks forget to take a look up there and clean out the debris.
Good tip.
________________________________________ ____________________
Hey.......I think I just found my neighbor's missing pet.
[QUOTE=AFVETTE]I've seen plastic bags up there. Most folks forget to take a look up there and clean out the debris.
Good tip.
________________________________________ ____________________
Hey.......I think I just found my neighbor's missing pet.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
Originally Posted by slicksilver11
I had a bunch of grass and a bag in mine...sometimes it is amazing on what you will find. I just used my hands to get the majority of it.
But you floks definitely have some good alternatives that I will try.
But you floks definitely have some good alternatives that I will try.