The acid can remove all the scale build up.  The only issue is that it doesn't regenerate any oxidized metal.  If the radiator had enough metal left, no problem.  Otherwise if will only be a matter of time before pin-hole leaks develop.  Only 1 way to tell...

 

The acid can remove all the scale build up. The only issue is that it doesn't regenerate any oxidized metal. If the radiator had enough metal left, no problem. Otherwise if will only be a matter of time before pin-hole leaks develop. Only 1 way to tell...

X2 I have never heard of using vinegar but I have seen Muratic acid used but you don't want to use it straight dilute it by 50 % it only takes a couple hours max to clean out a dirty radiator.

 

CLR.  That stuff is designed for what is precisely in your radiator right now.  I had my father in law try it a few years ago in his chevy and it cleaned out really well.  Just be sure to flush it really well or you will get lots of bubbles later on.

 

The acid can remove all the scale build up. The only issue is that it doesn't regenerate any oxidized metal. If the radiator had enough metal left, no problem. Otherwise if will only be a matter of time before pin-hole leaks develop. Only 1 way to tell...

"Only one way to tell"....LOL <turning to his faithful hunched-backed assistant>, "rubber hose....rubber hose....clamp....clamp....screwdriver....screwdriver....funnel.....
funnel....vinegar bottle....vinegar bottle"....<lightning strikes somewhere in the distance>....

I was going to try it and see what happened....will be in the am....if I can swipe the wife's camera....I'll get some "action photos"....before and after....local shop wants $60 to boil out and braze the brackets....$20 for just the brackets....I've got 4 gallons of vinegar in the building....$0....Paul

 

CLR. That stuff is designed for what is precisely in your radiator right now. I had my father in law try it a few years ago in his chevy and it cleaned out really well. Just be sure to flush it really well or you will get lots of bubbles later on.

What does C L R stand for?....product name?....Paul

 

What does C L R stand for?....product name?....Paul

Product name - abbreviated for Calcium, Lime, and Rust.

 

Here in the Netherlands (Europe), we have a lot of chalk in our tap water, so every now and then, we have to clean-out our taps but also our kitchen and bathroom. Vinegar is often used to do so. It works very good, but it needs time. Best is to submerge whatever you want to clean in 100% vinegar. Or fill it up completely.
Like said by squads51, let it sit for at least a day and flush it out.
It's a cheap alternative to all special brand stuff. And works great as well.

 

Warm it up and it'll work even better.

 

your RC on the rag?

 

your RC on the rag?

LOL....If I had one....it would be....as a lot of attention is going to the W250....had used vinegar on some rusty parts before (external)....and it worked pretty decent....then I heard about using it in the radiator....so this morning I'm gonna fill er up....Thursday morning we'll see what it looks like....Paul

 

your RC on the rag?

Naaah, it's probably just having a problem with "feminine itching"

I'm going to hell for that one.....

 

Not touchin that one.....................

 

Yeah, thanks boys.  I now have that glorious thought in my mind for the rest of the day. 

 

I wonder if this sort of idea would work well to clean out a heater core, or maybe should just be left alone, as pin hole leaks could appear? If it leaves just metal behind, that sounds like a lot more heat in my cold truck.

 

Plug up all holes, hot water and Cascade, let it sit, flush, rinse, repeat as necessary.

 

if it develops an erection lasting more than 4 hrs ...

 

if it develops an erection lasting more than 4 hrs ...

 

LMAO....I should have known with this crowd....that my comment in the original post....would have lead to the feminine hygiene come-backs....anyway....day #1....prior to the vinegar going in....pre-flushed radiator with water hose and high pressure air....some chunks and strange small debris came out....btw, radiator is out of the truck....laid rad flat on concrete....filled with vinegar....covered inlet and outlet....day#2....today, Wednesday....clear vinegar turning a bluish green color....have not noticed any leaking from tubes or cans so far....will update Thursday evening....Paul

 

I argee with the hot water as dish soap.did that with a my subarus radiator.ran it till it was warm with the dish soap then opened a hose.And began pushing all of the stuff out.helps to back flush too if posible.

dont use CLR if you have ANY aluminum in your cooling system.it will eat it very quick.I tried vinegar and it really didnt do much.although I didnt flush it out with baking soda.

 

Flushed out radiator this afternoon....along with the bluish green water....out came quite abit of chalky chunks....small chunks, but like I said quite abit of them....plus finer particles....not as good as a boil-out, but not too bad....cleaned out more than I had with the hose alone....Paul

 

Cool good info to have, "summer's eve" the radiator