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Radiator Build-up Ray_Leslie 6-29-01  
Does anyone know a way to clean out or possibly just reduce the calcium (?) build-up in a radiator, without taking it apart? Mine is so blocked it doesn't work right and $300 or more to clear it would really be a bite. Any ideas??
Re: Radiator Build-up BIll 6-29-01  
What is CLR
Re: Radiator Build-up Russel 6-29-01  
Does anyone know a way to clean out or possibly just reduce the calcium (?) build-up in a radiator, without taking it apart?


White vinegar. Take the hoses off the radiator, flush well and cap the outlets. Then fill it with vinegar and let set a couple days. Flush well, and if necessary, do it again. Will remove a lot of gunk. Straight CLR works to,(available at good hardware store), but vinegar is cheaper. Then, fill the radiator with proper coolant mix, and if you mix your own, use distilled water and not over a 50-50 mix
Re: Radiator Build-up Russel 6-29-01  
Does anyone know a way to clean out or possibly just reduce the calcium (?) build-up in a radiator, without taking it apart?


White vinegar. Take the hoses off the radiator, flush well and cap the outlets. Then fill it with vinegar and let set a couple days. Flush well, and if necessary, do it again. Will remove a lot of gunk. Straight CLR works to,(available at good hardware store), but vinegar is cheaper. Then, fill the radiator with proper coolant mix, and if you mix your own, use distilled water and not over a 50-50 mix
Re: Radiator Build-up BIll 6-29-01  
What is CLR
Re: Radiator Build-up Ray 6-29-01  
Does anyone know a way to clean out or possibly just reduce the calcium (?) build-up in a radiator, without taking it apart?


White vinegar. Take the hoses off the radiator, flush well and cap the outlets. Then fill it with vinegar and let set a couple days. Flush well, and if necessary, do it again. Will remove a lot of gunk. Straight CLR works to,(available at good hardware store), but vinegar is cheaper. Then, fill the radiator with proper coolant mix, and if you mix your own, use distilled water and not over a 50-50 mix

Thanks...I've been racking my brain trying to remember what I had heard of that might clean that up some, and yes, it was (white) vinegar! I think, since I just picked up a bottle of CLR {LOL} after making sure it could be used on alum, I'll do both The vinegar to soften it, and then the CLR. I have the radiator out of the vehicle, so I think I'll close everything off and turn it upside down for the first shot, to let it clean where I can see what progress it made. I'll put enough white vinegar in at the bottom to cover the top portion and let it set a few days... Thanks again for the suggestion, Russel!!
Re: Radiator Build-up Ray 6-29-01  
Does anyone know a way to clean out or possibly just reduce the calcium (?) build-up in a radiator, without taking it apart?


White vinegar. Take the hoses off the radiator, flush well and cap the outlets. Then fill it with vinegar and let set a couple days. Flush well, and if necessary, do it again. Will remove a lot of gunk. Straight CLR works to,(available at good hardware store), but vinegar is cheaper. Then, fill the radiator with proper coolant mix, and if you mix your own, use distilled water and not over a 50-50 mix

Thanks...I've been racking my brain trying to remember what I had heard of that might clean that up some, and yes, it was (white) vinegar! I think, since I just picked up a bottle of CLR {LOL} after making sure it could be used on alum, I'll do both The vinegar to soften it, and then the CLR. I have the radiator out of the vehicle, so I think I'll close everything off and turn it upside down for the first shot, to let it clean where I can see what progress it made. I'll put enough white vinegar in at the bottom to cover the top portion and let it set a few days... Thanks again for the suggestion, Russel!!
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