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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: northern arizona
Posts: 259
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Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
The copper/brass radiator in my 84 is due for a good cleaning, the tubes flow very little coolant.
I can't afford to replace it, and having a radiator shop do a cleaning job would require two 130 mile round trips, since it'll most likely be the next day or so after I drop it off until it's ready. Plus the cost of the shop to rod out a three row radiator. I'm tempted to make a cap to close off the hose connections, get three or four jugs of CLR, and clean it off the truck. I'm not sure about running the stuff through my engine block, even though there is nothing aluminum in it, so I won't do it while still installed.
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"Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know." |
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#2 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Courtenay, British Columbia
Posts: 107
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Quote:
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#3 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
CLR used to contain phosphoric acid and Citric Acid. Not sure what it contains now that it's "Phosphate free" but I bet it's still a mild acid.
Back in the dark ages I flushed several mildly abused cooling systems on my father's vans with an acid type product that had two parts. A Flush and a neutralizer. It worked very well;
If I had had any leaks they would've become gysers, or at least very real leaks, so be prepared to discover nasty things. I never had the scale or rust come back in 75K on either van. I'd go for it. Be very sure you have every drop thoroughly rinsed from the cooling system. Be sure to rinse it off the body and frame when you're done too. Maybe even go so far as to neutralize it with a pre-mixed baking soda and water solution poured in and filled with tap water then run up to temp again... then rinse that crap out and fill with your favorite poison.
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1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Central OR
Posts: 702
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
SECTION 3 - COMPOSITION /INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
Component CAS# OSHA HAZARD % by Weight 1. Lactic Acid 79-33-4 YES 12.00-18.00 2. Gluconic Acid 526-95-4 YES 2.50-3.75 3. Lauramine Oxide 1643-20-5 YES 1.50-3.25 I would run it through the whole system. It cant be as potent as the DuPont 2 part cleaner. Then as suggested rinse with soda.
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1955 GMC 250 8 Flatbed 1971 C30 157" 350 4spd 10' Flatbed 81 GMC K30 CnC 9' Flatbed 454 T400 89 GMC Jimmy Stock https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=810958 71 LT1 Convertible, 72 Coupe 69 CJ5, 75 CJ6, 67 M715, 72 M35A2 Bobbed, 95 XLC2 |
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Town of Summit, WI
Posts: 322
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
I just did it to my 83 this weekend. It was running about 210F and I thought that was too high.
1. Drained the who system, disconnect the lower rad hose from eng block. Removed drian plug from Rad. Drained the overflow container. 2. Rensied Rad with graden hose. 3. Disconnecd heater hose to the Rad. Remove the upper rad hose. Capped off the lower and upper Rad hose so vinegar wont leak out. Plug the nipple to heater hose. Filled Rad with distilled vinegar. Let it set for 4 hours. 4. Drain the Rad. Rensie for about 5 mins with garden hose. 5. Reconnect all hoses(replace if needed), Replaced the thermostat. 6. Fill rad with garden hose water. Run truck for about 5 mins. Let it cool down, drain water. Pain, but I disconnected the ower hose again and lossened the drain plug on the Rad. 7. Connect lower hose and tighen drain plug. 8. I filled mine with the 50/50 anitfreeze from Peak. The water they use is distalled. You should not use garden hose water for your mixture if you buy the 100% anitfreeze. Spend a few bucks and buy some distalled water. Your graden hose water has too many hardners in it and will eventually get you back to the reason we are doing this now. Results. My temp went down to just blow 200F after a vigrours Sunday afternoon workout.
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2017 Silverado LTZ 6.2 1984 Scottsdale K10 - 468 700r 4x4 lwb 1978 GMC Sierra Grande K15 350 Soond to be 406 th350 4x4 swb 1968 GMC 20 305 V6 good ole wood hauler. ![]() Good Fences make good neighbors |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 1,248
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
drain rad then put in couple jugs of vinegar add some water run it for a cycle or two just leave it in there for a day or two run it again for a bit wash it out and should be clean
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: northern arizona
Posts: 259
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
I removed the radiator today and set it flat on a board.
There was no rusty crud as I am pretty good at maintaining the coolant mix. The CLR I had seems to have sprouted legs and disappeared, so I went to plan B which was a gallon of white vinegar. Plan C would have been a 50/50 mix of muriatic acid and water. Let it soak for about an hour, then rocked the radiator back and forth a few times to work the vinegar through the tubes. I did notice an increase in how fast the liquid moved through the tubes and some white and green crud did come out.. Did a good flush, then flushed with baking soda water, then fresh water flush twice. After reassembling the truck, I did notice the coolant flow is better, but still not what it should be. Most of the radiator tubes only have a trickle with the engine running as I shine a light down through the filler neck. A few tubes now shoot a stream of coolant where they didn't before. I guess I need to get some CLR and do it again. I gotta get this engine down to a reasonable operating temperature.
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"Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know." |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 459
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
I used ice machine cleaner in mine. It is citric acid. It got a ton of rust out of it. I was planning on replacing the radiator anyway just wanted to get it running first. The radiator appeared to have only had water in it for a long time and was empty when I got it. Shortly after the trans cooler section ruptured.....I get to replace the transmission now too.
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#9 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Run the engine up to temp with the flush inside the whole system not just the radiator.
If the heater or water pump fails they were on the way out already. My trucks run right around 185 most of the time.
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1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TX
Posts: 1,014
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
I'm curious about the acid. It seems to me, that any acid wouldn't matter because it simply wouldn't be there long enough. Or would it? It seems like it would just be flushed back out or neutralized when you finally thoroughly flushed the radiator again, with the garden hose.
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Town of Summit, WI
Posts: 322
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Read step6.
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2017 Silverado LTZ 6.2 1984 Scottsdale K10 - 468 700r 4x4 lwb 1978 GMC Sierra Grande K15 350 Soond to be 406 th350 4x4 swb 1968 GMC 20 305 V6 good ole wood hauler. ![]() Good Fences make good neighbors |
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#12 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Town of Summit, WI
Posts: 322
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Ok, guys check this out. I wan't satisfied with just under 200, so I put my temp meter on it after just idleing for just a few mins, my meter is showing 158 to 159. The OEM guage was reading just under 200. To check my meter i let it sit in the shade and it is showing 66, which is our temp here today in Wisconsin. I would like to belive my meter but 158 seems low. Thoughts?
__________________
2017 Silverado LTZ 6.2 1984 Scottsdale K10 - 468 700r 4x4 lwb 1978 GMC Sierra Grande K15 350 Soond to be 406 th350 4x4 swb 1968 GMC 20 305 V6 good ole wood hauler. ![]() Good Fences make good neighbors |
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#13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Quote:
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Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. |
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#14 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Town of Summit, WI
Posts: 322
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Quote:
__________________
2017 Silverado LTZ 6.2 1984 Scottsdale K10 - 468 700r 4x4 lwb 1978 GMC Sierra Grande K15 350 Soond to be 406 th350 4x4 swb 1968 GMC 20 305 V6 good ole wood hauler. ![]() Good Fences make good neighbors |
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#15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Quote:
__________________
Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. |
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#16 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Town of Summit, WI
Posts: 322
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Quote:
Where would be a good place to take the actual temp? I dont want to open the system as it is under pressure.
__________________
2017 Silverado LTZ 6.2 1984 Scottsdale K10 - 468 700r 4x4 lwb 1978 GMC Sierra Grande K15 350 Soond to be 406 th350 4x4 swb 1968 GMC 20 305 V6 good ole wood hauler. ![]() Good Fences make good neighbors |
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#17 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Didn't you drain the vinegar solution in step 4...? That means step 6 is just water...
I was recommending that your flush chemical of choice be run to temp in the whole system. It'll clear the hard water deposits from the block and head passages as well as the heater core. The heat will accelerate the chemical reaction between the acid and the hard water deposits. 158F seems a little low for full operating temp on the block unless you are running a 165degree thermostat. Once she is up to temp the block should hang right around the thermostat opening temp maybe varying by +/-5 degrees F or so. The thermostat should open and close to regulate coolant to the radiator. Mine climbs pretty fast to about 210 and then drops back to 170. Then it climbs back to 185-190 and stays there pretty steady (two 185 degree F thermostats). The 6.x Diesel engines are not noted for excellent cooling but mine seem to hang right where they should.
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1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 09-09-2014 at 09:31 PM. |
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#18 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Town of Summit, WI
Posts: 322
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Quote:
good to know about where the temp should be normal. I have a 180 thermostat, so yea was wondering why it was so low and the other thing is my oem gauage in the truck was way off. I hooked my mutilmeter temp guage to the same place where the OEM guage wire is connected right on the water temp sensor. Would this be a good test? Seems so.
__________________
2017 Silverado LTZ 6.2 1984 Scottsdale K10 - 468 700r 4x4 lwb 1978 GMC Sierra Grande K15 350 Soond to be 406 th350 4x4 swb 1968 GMC 20 305 V6 good ole wood hauler. ![]() Good Fences make good neighbors |
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#19 |
At the body shop.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,212
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Used Tide powder detergent in one mucked up with rust and Dex cool.
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" That didnt make it any newer " " Dont antique the equipment " |
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#20 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
Posts: 4,951
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Re: Has anybody cleaned their radiator with CLR ?
Are you running a 160 degree thermostat?
Do you trust your thermocouple? It might be time to change the thermostat...
__________________
1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. |
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