Cleaning Rad? Use Drano? I need something Strong.

[Sproket]

OK I have finally figured out my problem.
My rad has white calcium or corrosion built up inside.
It reminds me of hard mineral deposits, maybe used during manufacturing for testing?

This is killing my UV dye in like 24 hours. It just sucks the life out of my dye.

I need to clean this thing. The rad inside core is Not copper nor is it alum. It looks like something called White Metal.

This is a problem. The build up was there when I got this Rad. I have not had it but 3 weeks or so and have been having problems since day one.

I thinking about just replacing it w/ a Trans cooler or some other type of rad but thought it may be worth my time to Try to clean it.

My brother said use Drano for about 30 min. just inside Rad and rinse very good.

What do you suggest? I tried Mr clean and Lysol but that is not near as strong as I need. I need acid or something.

Thanks

PS If i clean it good , whats to say that it wont come back?

[Cyco-Dude]

whatever you use, check the label and make sure it wont dissolve the rad.

[Sproket]

Check label for what. Make sure it doesnt dissolve metal? Hahaha.

I wish I knew what type of metal the inside is made out of.
Its not copper.
Its a Dtek Rad.

Im calling Danny also.

[airspirit]

CLR. Get it at your local KMart, Walmart, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, or other fine local merchants.

[Sproket]

You think its strong enough?
Im talking getting rid of hard mineral deposits, thats what it looks like inside.
I use distilled water and only had this rad for 3 weeks, this is not from me.

[bigben2k]

If it's only mineral deposits, you don't need anything very strong, they dissolve easily (but not in straight water).

[Sproket]

I have cleaned it with Vinger but it needs something stronger.

[mikildemion]

how about something obvious like radiator cleaner? 5 bucks at any auto parts place. You may have to setup a temporary loop to clean it, but I figure if you get a bucket, a pump the radiator and pump the cleaner through it it will clean it fine. May have to heat the cleaner up on the stove 1st since some of them require heat to help clean the radiator. That way you do not have to worry about it eating the radiator.

just a thought

[redleader]

Originally posted by Sproket
Check label for what. Make sure it doesnt dissolve metal? Hahaha.

I wish I knew what type of metal the inside is made out of.
Its not copper.
Its a Dtek Rad.

Im calling Danny also.

Drop copper in 12 mol HCL some time and see how soluable metal can be (or try Lithium in water). Anyway the inside on the DTek cores is brass (at least mine is) so it should be pretty resistant to most chemicals. You could try a mild acid (a few hours in lemon juice or coke might work if its just calcium) or some sort of radiator cleaner from an autoparts store.

[bigben2k]

Right on.

Time is the key here, because you may not want to use something stronger.

You can also replace the vinegar, after having let it sit overnight. The mineral deposits will cancel the acidity of the vinegar, after a while.

[Cyco-Dude]

CLR will work, sure, but it clearly says DO NOT USE FOR ALUMINUM, COPPER OR BRASS. i just cleaned my rad with it (let it sit with a 50/50 mix of CLF / warm water for 30 mins) and ended up with a leaky core :shrug:

im still hoping some water just got splashed onto the fins but im 99% sure i need a new one lol. oh well....

[Sproket]

I did see the warning on the CLR label, and now after reading this I doubt I will use it.

Sorry to hear about your rad.

[Phant0m51]

You could try slightly diluted coke. Set it up in a loop with your pump so the coke keeps moving and helps clean it out better than just letting it sit there.

I don't know what you can do to stop it from coming back. Maybe try some Distilled water next time? It won't be 100% water, but it'll be closer to 100% H2O then tap water ever will.

[MadDogMe]

Car radiator cleaners usualy require the engine to be run up to heat for a while to work properly, unless your rig will take the water up to 90DegC I would'nt bother with it...

Drain cleaners are the best from what I've read, can't remember the exact acid in them, hydrochloric maybe?. It does corrode copper over a sustained time though from what I remember...

[Sproket]

Well I have always used Distilled water. I was saying that it was probably tested, not by me, with tap water and some left in there or something.

Well I actually used 100% Drano last night and Wow, it is actually a brass core, look like white metal before. Brown foam was coming out of the Rad and coming out. Real dirty in there. Im going to run a 50% mixture of Drano tonight through it to get the rest. I just put Drano inside Rad and let it sit, then attach a hose to one barb and to the faucet and let water run through. Then hook up spare pump to rad and place in bathtub and clean well w/ water. When all done run 5 stage RO water through it. Then it ready for distilled.

I also leak tested after using Drano and No leaks in the heatercore.


My copper block had no signs of this inside. It was all clean.
Im not using drano on block!

[Sproket]

Also my brother recommended using jewelery cleaning through it, Im not sure about that, but it does clean pennies very well.

Just a thought.