system flush.
- Thread starter ac_tc
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Kestas
Staff member
In only two scenarios should chemicals be used.
Detergent - if the coolant looks oily.
Citric acid - if you have evidence that the coolant has hard deposits or looks rusty.
Detergent - if the coolant looks oily.
Citric acid - if you have evidence that the coolant has hard deposits or looks rusty.
I agree with Kestas for the most part. It depends on what you're trying to remove with the flush. If there's oil in the coolant, I've found that Cascade dishwasher detergent works really well- I've got the parts department at the shop to keep a couple boxes on the shelf. But for rust and scale, you need something acidic. I've used vinegar in the past, and it works pretty well- I imagine that citric acid would do the same thing... not sure where you'd buy it, though. That might be what they use in those off-the-shelf radiator flushes at Walmart... don't know.
I've also used a 2-part Penray industrial flush in some really nasty cooling systems. The first 'part' is pretty acidid- don't know the ph or what KIND of acid it is, but it has a sharp/sour smell and puts out fumes that burn the eyes a little. Then you rinse and put in the second 'part' which is just baking soda as far as I could tell... which neutralizes that acid and probably acts somewhat like a detergent to remove oily critters. The stuff is expensive and sold bulk (one box will flush about three heavy truck cooling systems- at 10-12 gallons each). Probably not practical for your application.
Years ago, I had an '84 Ford F250 with a really crusty radiator. My choice was to either get it cleaned out or buy a new one- and vinegar just wasn't doing the trick. So I removed the radiator and filled it with a 1:4 mixture of muratic (aka hydrochloric) acid and distilled water. Let it sit for about an hour and washed it out with a steam cleaner. I was a little surprised with the results- it was spotless inside. And even more surprised that it never leaked for the next two years that I had the truck. Sold it to a friend of mine who still has it, and to my knowledge the radiator is still holding together. But this was a desperate measure for a desperate situation... you won't likely have to resort to this.
I've also used a 2-part Penray industrial flush in some really nasty cooling systems. The first 'part' is pretty acidid- don't know the ph or what KIND of acid it is, but it has a sharp/sour smell and puts out fumes that burn the eyes a little. Then you rinse and put in the second 'part' which is just baking soda as far as I could tell... which neutralizes that acid and probably acts somewhat like a detergent to remove oily critters. The stuff is expensive and sold bulk (one box will flush about three heavy truck cooling systems- at 10-12 gallons each). Probably not practical for your application.
Years ago, I had an '84 Ford F250 with a really crusty radiator. My choice was to either get it cleaned out or buy a new one- and vinegar just wasn't doing the trick. So I removed the radiator and filled it with a 1:4 mixture of muratic (aka hydrochloric) acid and distilled water. Let it sit for about an hour and washed it out with a steam cleaner. I was a little surprised with the results- it was spotless inside. And even more surprised that it never leaked for the next two years that I had the truck. Sold it to a friend of mine who still has it, and to my knowledge the radiator is still holding together. But this was a desperate measure for a desperate situation... you won't likely have to resort to this.
Citric acid = Prestone Super Flush and many other quick flushes. When I've done a distilled flush series, I use it after the first drain and open the heater full. Then I drain and refill with distiled a couple more times. Never had any issues using this method.
The procedure I follow is listed here.
The procedure I follow is listed here.
Kestas
Staff member
Also realize that the radiator may be so far gone that rust scale is keeping it from leaking. More than once I've flushed a cooling system, which removed the rust and caused the radiator to leak shortly afterward. Don't let this preclude you from doing a flush though. If it's that far gone, it's on borrowed time.
Originally Posted By: ac_tc
Its rusty i think, just flushed my heater core and
it spewed tomato juice like substanse all over the floor.
The coolant looked ok untill i "disturbed" it inside the engine
then it went really brown.
-98 dodge durango 5.9
That may be good. You cleaned the surface of the metal. Now the heat can be transfered to the water more easily, and vice-versa.
Its rusty i think, just flushed my heater core and
it spewed tomato juice like substanse all over the floor.
The coolant looked ok untill i "disturbed" it inside the engine
then it went really brown.
-98 dodge durango 5.9
That may be good. You cleaned the surface of the metal. Now the heat can be transfered to the water more easily, and vice-versa.
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