How to clean a radiator-properly

[redmoosefaction]

I have the vermeer bc150 and it has over heating issues, as discussed before. I am going to change the radiator fluids and thought while it's out i might as well remove it and clean the grill.

 

Kevin at B Trac suggested if I was going to do that I would need to clean the corners especially, eg not where the fan blows, but to do it with steam and not just a jet wash, to get it really clean.

 

I'm a bit miffed as to what is required. Do I hire the machine or do I find some one who's got one, and who is likely to have one. Do you think the hand carwash people will have a proper steam cleaner?

 

Also will it damage the fins?

[treequip]

If you Google steam cleaner it will surprise you. You won’t find the big yellow Karcher things, they are hot water pressure washers not steam cleaners.

 

Too much pressure will damage the fins if you aren’t very careful.

Before you go to the trouble of removing the rad, with all the associated danger of skinned knuckles and a punctured core, you should be able to get most of the crud out with a domestic compressor and a blower gun.

 

Get one like this

and (carefully) put a tighter 90 degree bend on the end. You should be able to blow (from the fan side) most of the rad through with it in situ. Even if you do end up removing the rad a blower is a useful weekly tool for any chipper owner.

[redmoosefaction]

If you Google steam cleaner it will surprise you. You won’t find the big yellow Karcher things, they are hot water pressure washers not steam cleaners.

 

Too much pressure will damage the fins if you aren’t very careful.

Before you go to the trouble of removing the rad, with all the associated danger of skinned knuckles and a punctured core, you should be able to get most of the crud out with a domestic compressor and a blower gun.

 

Get one like this

and (carefully) put a tighter 90 degree bend on the end. You should be able to blow (from the fan side) most of the rad through with it in situ. Even if you do end up removing the rad a blower is a useful weekly tool for any chipper owner.

 

That short bent handle blower looks the business. shall google/fleabay it immediately.

 

Cheers

[Big Bolt]

I dont know but when the engine is running and is over heating is the radiator hot or warm if hot then yes flush the system, and clean out the fins carfully and blow it out the way it came in . or if the rad is warm when running hot does the engine coolant system have a thermostat this could be u/s and not opening to allow coolant into the rad ?

[PeteB]

If you Google steam cleaner it will surprise you. You won’t find the big yellow Karcher things, they are hot water pressure washers not steam cleaners.

 

Too much pressure will damage the fins if you aren’t very careful.

Before you go to the trouble of removing the rad, with all the associated danger of skinned knuckles and a punctured core, you should be able to get most of the crud out with a domestic compressor and a blower gun.

 

Get one like this

and (carefully) put a tighter 90 degree bend on the end. You should be able to blow (from the fan side) most of the rad through with it in situ. Even if you do end up removing the rad a blower is a useful weekly tool for any chipper owner.

 

 

Very good advice, a compressor and crud gun (plus other attachments) is a very handy investment. Clean chainsaws, blow out filters, check tyre pressures etc, but the crud gun is the most useful. Be very careful cleaning anything with any sort of water jet wether it be jet wash or steam cleaner, they can do more harm than good.

[gensetsteve]

If its overheating and the fins look clean its more likely the passages in the rad are blocked with chalk especially in London. I have been in the trade 20 years and never found a coolant cleaner worth a toss until I found the Wurth stuff for trucks. Amazing results and worth a try unless rad is really bad then its time for a new core. Get the rad flow tested by a rad company just in case you are barking up the wrong tree. Jizer and truck wash and gentle pressure was are normally all that needed on the outside.

[Dave38]

If it can fit, put it in the dishwasher. Theres enough heat and steam there to clean out the system. Works everytime for me.