Flush a radiator out of a truck? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

HotRodScottsdale · 04-21-2019, 09:47 PM

So I got a used radiator out of a parts truck that I got for cheap. The truck had a blown head gasket and the guy used fix a leak in the radiator to fix it, he said it worked for a year and seemed to be running fine when I got the parts truck. 3 years later now I pulled the radiator from storage and wanted to use it but it's still gummed up with that fix a leak crap. How can I flush it without getting that in my motor. Tried a hose and got nothing.

**mongocanfly** · 04-21-2019, 10:20 PM

Unless your wanting a oe radiator,I'd just go get a new one...I think I give little over 100 for mine at oreillys...

HotRodScottsdale · 04-21-2019, 11:30 PM

I'm in Canada and its 240 with my discount at lordco. I have the cash to do it but have never flushed a radiator before and looking for experience. If I'm SOL on cleaning this one I will buy new but the radiator does not look too old and is not OEM

**mongocanfly** · 04-22-2019, 12:57 AM

That's unreal.....I've never had any real luck flushing radiators....a local shop here will dissemble, rod it out, pressure check and all....but a new one is cheaper...here...

Dead Parrot · 04-22-2019, 06:50 AM

Any stop leak still in the radiator likely activated when the radiator was drained and left open to the air.

If you know the brand of stop leak stuff, contact them and see if there is a removal solvent you can use.

Might try some Lime-a-way type stuff in hopes that much of the blockage is normal water crud buildup.

Redneck Rydes · 04-22-2019, 06:56 AM

Maybe you can fill it up with CLR, I have used it on heater cores,fill it up let it sit for a while and then flush out,and repeat.

HotRodScottsdale · 04-22-2019, 10:56 AM

Yeah I got no clue on the type of no leak he used and it's been sitting dry for 3 years. I was hoping a few jugs of clr and a small electric pump hooked to the hoses to swish it around and a good rinse.

cadillac_al · 04-23-2019, 07:55 AM

If it's rubbery stuff I don't think anything will work on it.

v30crewcab · 04-26-2019, 09:22 AM

lay it flat, and fill it up with rad cleaner. hot water works better. worth a try.

Pontiac1976 · 04-27-2019, 10:12 AM

If you take it to a rad shop and have them pressure flush it. it will come out like new in side.

If you try a home you can heat the water add the flush fluid let sit as directions say. Use a short hose to modified to fit the hose side flush. may have to do this a few time.
If it been plugged and has dry out for a long time I would take it to a shop.

tucsonjwt · 04-27-2019, 11:31 PM

My vote is for a new radiator. As was mentioned, a new aluminum/plastic radiator(Spectra) is around $100 (look for a 20% off sale at AutoZone or O'Reilly's and free shipping to your home.) The one I got works better than the OEM style copper/brass radiator. Fixing an old radiator is not worth the hassle.

If the old radiator you have is copper/brass it should be worth about $35 or more at your local scrapyard, if you separate the steel mounting parts, the copper fins, and the brass tanks first.

franken · 04-28-2019, 04:59 PM

A radiator shop will tell you. Or ask google...
https://www.google.com/search?q=flus...hrome&ie=UTF-8

04-21-2019, 09:47 PM	#1
HotRodScottsdale Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: westbank bc Posts: 239	Flush a radiator out of a truck? So I got a used radiator out of a parts truck that I got for cheap. The truck had a blown head gasket and the guy used fix a leak in the radiator to fix it, he said it worked for a year and seemed to be running fine when I got the parts truck. 3 years later now I pulled the radiator from storage and wanted to use it but it's still gummed up with that fix a leak crap. How can I flush it without getting that in my motor. Tried a hose and got nothing. __________________ On a quite night you can hear a ford rust

04-21-2019, 10:20 PM	#2
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? Unless your wanting a oe radiator,I'd just go get a new one...I think I give little over 100 for mine at oreillys... __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

04-21-2019, 11:30 PM	#3
HotRodScottsdale Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: westbank bc Posts: 239	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? I'm in Canada and its 240 with my discount at lordco. I have the cash to do it but have never flushed a radiator before and looking for experience. If I'm SOL on cleaning this one I will buy new but the radiator does not look too old and is not OEM __________________ On a quite night you can hear a ford rust

04-22-2019, 12:57 AM	#4
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? That's unreal.....I've never had any real luck flushing radiators....a local shop here will dissemble, rod it out, pressure check and all....but a new one is cheaper...here... __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

04-22-2019, 06:50 AM	#5
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,611	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? Any stop leak still in the radiator likely activated when the radiator was drained and left open to the air. If you know the brand of stop leak stuff, contact them and see if there is a removal solvent you can use. Might try some Lime-a-way type stuff in hopes that much of the blockage is normal water crud buildup.

04-22-2019, 06:56 AM	#6
Redneck Rydes Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Trenton,Ontario & South Carolina Posts: 755	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? Maybe you can fill it up with CLR, I have used it on heater cores,fill it up let it sit for a while and then flush out,and repeat.

04-22-2019, 10:56 AM	#7
HotRodScottsdale Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: westbank bc Posts: 239	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? Yeah I got no clue on the type of no leak he used and it's been sitting dry for 3 years. I was hoping a few jugs of clr and a small electric pump hooked to the hoses to swish it around and a good rinse. __________________ On a quite night you can hear a ford rust

04-23-2019, 07:55 AM	#8
cadillac_al Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 2,375	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? If it's rubbery stuff I don't think anything will work on it. __________________ 76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10

04-26-2019, 09:22 AM	#9
v30crewcab Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chatt Tn Posts: 981	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? lay it flat, and fill it up with rad cleaner. hot water works better. worth a try. __________________ 88 military v30 crewcab shortbed 5.9 cummins, nv4500, 205 86 k30, 89 diesel burb, 76 gmc pathfinder 71 longbed 5.3 4l80 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=522535

04-27-2019, 10:12 AM	#10
Pontiac1976 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 766	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? If you take it to a rad shop and have them pressure flush it. it will come out like new in side. If you try a home you can heat the water add the flush fluid let sit as directions say. Use a short hose to modified to fit the hose side flush. may have to do this a few time. If it been plugged and has dry out for a long time I would take it to a shop. __________________ 1977 REG cab Long Bed with a 1984 Front Clip, 82 305 .60 over 9.0.1 flat top pistons, 4bbl, TH350, w/84 SS-intake & cam , w/ 1977 big block rad, 1975 gear box, 1984 master w/ metric fittings top & SAE fitting @ portion block, 1975 3.42 gear open diff. Duel 77-87 Factory air cleaner, duel inlet from rad support . Down sized 9' to new 8' Steel flat bed Was a 77 454 w/308 gear. Taken out 550 lbs. up front with motor clip change.

04-27-2019, 11:31 PM	#11
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,189	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? My vote is for a new radiator. As was mentioned, a new aluminum/plastic radiator(Spectra) is around $100 (look for a 20% off sale at AutoZone or O'Reilly's and free shipping to your home.) The one I got works better than the OEM style copper/brass radiator. Fixing an old radiator is not worth the hassle. If the old radiator you have is copper/brass it should be worth about $35 or more at your local scrapyard, if you separate the steel mounting parts, the copper fins, and the brass tanks first.

04-28-2019, 04:59 PM	#12
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,122	Re: Flush a radiator out of a truck? A radiator shop will tell you. Or ask google... https://www.google.com/search?q=flus...hrome&ie=UTF-8



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