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Radiator clean

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:58 am
by TEE JAY
There isnt much room for light let alone air to get through my radiator. Both engine and tranny radiators need a real good clean. What can i soak them in to break dow the mud. It has really cooked itself quite hard. Have blasted it with high pressure at carlovers but did nothing so i will be taking them both out this weekend and soaking them, then giving it another good blast. Any tips on what solvents to use. It has plastic tanks with a copper core(I think) 05 TJ
Cheers

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:11 am
by Hybrid
The mud might have saved your radiator if you blasted it with a hp cleaner at car lovers. Unless the car lovers ones are weak as piss usually a hp cleaner will usually fold all your fins over. Cant say I'd know what to soak them in other than water. The problem is that the mud would be like kiln fired clay by now.

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:24 am
by HotFourOk
Yeah if you hit them with high pressure water the fins bend over and let no air through anymore.
Soak it in some CT18 (maybe overnite if its really bad).. it breaks down mud really well then soak in water until it is clean. Dont use anymore pressure than a normal hose.. even that can couse trouble sometimes.

If it still is dirty.. maybe a radiator specialist can help...

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:05 pm
by J Top
Whilst soaking the rads, make sure you seal off the interior so none off the dirty water can get inside.
J Top

Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:32 pm
by HotFourOk
yeh i forgot that bit J Top.. nice idea

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 6:44 pm
by Shadow
should also have yhour radiator full while its out of the vehicle wherever possible aswell

stop the sediment n shit inside solidifying

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 12:25 pm
by bj42turbo
Yeah I can vouch for the high presure cleaner bending the fins :oops: spent hours sitting on the garage floor with radiator on my lap gently straightening the fins :roll: :D


BJ

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:08 am
by bradley
if you want a grouse dead easy way to flush out the rad & ac cores after mud etc. then buy an air boy or jamec pistol grip air blow gun with the extended nozzle, i got a jamec 900mm job, make sure the one you get has stainless internals.
Then grab a 1/4 bsp male 'gardena' or similar click lock hose connector and screw it in to the air gun, this allows it to hook straight up to any garden hose.
bend the tip to 90 degrees right at the end and slightly flatten it off to create a fan spray pattern, with normal mains pressure this gives a nice jey that doesnt damage the fins.

The long length allows real easy access to all areas in between the cores in situ.

in the case of my jackaroo i just undo the 2 rad support bolts at the top and tilt it backwards about an inch, then flush both cores each way a few times, takes about 20 minutes to do a real nice job. Cost me about $30 from memory.

cheers all, Brad

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:15 am
by bogged
bradley wrote:in the case of my jackaroo i just undo the 2 rad support bolts at the top and tilt it backwards about an inch, then flush both cores each way a few times, takes about 20 minutes to do a real nice job. Cost me about $30 from memory.
wouldnt be much more of a job to remove the thing completely from this point would it?

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:00 am
by HotFourOk
I think it would save undoing the hoses and losing the coolant.. instead it all stays connected.

But yeh, most rads only have the two bolts dont they? Then they slip into a couple of supports on the bottom...

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:06 am
by bradley
bogged wrote:
bradley wrote:in the case of my jackaroo i just undo the 2 rad support bolts at the top and tilt it backwards about an inch, then flush both cores each way a few times, takes about 20 minutes to do a real nice job. Cost me about $30 from memory.
wouldnt be much more of a job to remove the thing completely from this point would it?
Well, 2 hoses and the shroud, and yes the lower mounts just sit in rubber bushes, But then i have to make a mess and buy new coolant . Ok if its due, but not exactly cost effective on a regular basis.

My little jigger just makes it so damn easy.

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:51 pm
by Big Red Toy
bradley wrote:
My little jigger just makes it so damn easy.
GOLD :armsup:

I'm having heating issues now :cry: might need to clean mine out