Cleaning brass radiator experiment

[6872n73]

I have a 98 Dodge van and the radiator is dirty with the solder corroding so I research how to clean it. Prestone cleaners, CLR, vinegar, dish washing soap ect. I go to the pull a part and find another van radiator that needs cleaning and start the experiment.

 

[6872n73]

So I started with CLR. I mixed 1/2 the bottle I'm 1 gallon of water.

 

[6872n73]

One day later.... No change. So I save the mixture and added the rest of the CLR and poured it back in.

 

[6872n73]

After a week it has cleaned out maybe half of the corrosion.

 

[6872n73]

Today I started 5 %vinegar mixture and water 50/50 mix.

 

[Sahara]

I use CLR on many things. Sometimes it is amazing, other times not so much. One thing I’ve noticed is that if it fizzes, even just a little, then it is working. No fizz, no results. Your results may vary but it’s something that I’ve noticed. And if you don’t see results in a day you probably won’t see any results. It may take longer to finish, but you should see something happening.
And our hardware store sells genetic, knock off house brand stuff. It is inferior to the real CLR.

 

[6872n73]

After 3 hours I checked drained and checked the progress. It seems to be doing something so I'm gonna try it overnight. So the mixture is back in and setting in the driveway.

 

[Billccm]

My dad was the neighborhood shade tree mechanic. He always used cascade powder to clean the cooling system. It rinsed easily and used to bring lots of junk out of the system. It is less caustic than acid based cleaners. There was an article in Hot Rod magazine a few years back that used cascade to clean the cooling system. It worked well.

 

[6872n73]

A little more progress after 12 hours. Doesn't look like it's attacking the corrosion but it is making some progress on the scummy parts y

 

[snakeoil24]

Try using Cascade Dish machine and find a way to keep solution moving thru radiator that is critical for proper cleaning.

 

[gtx6970]

I just did a heater core and evap core with a 50-50 mix of CLR and water.
Both came out pretty good .
I plan to try it with a radiator next weekend maybe

 

[snakeoil24]

After cascade run clr

 

[David Stillie]

CLR and vinegar work 1000% better if it is HOT. Make a solution as hot as you can and try it. Drain it and reheat it and do it again until its clean.