WTK: Radiator flushing (w chemicals)

[Coppershot]

Where can i get my radiator flushed.
Saw a guide online that they used radiator flush before using coolant.

Some places down here just drain old coolant and replace with new coolant.

Btw what coolant brands are the best or most effective in keeping temp down.

[krack korn]

If your cooling system has been well maintained and you are changing coolant then just change it, there would be no need to flush anything with a special flushing agent.

If changing brand/type of coolant and you are concerned with compatibility then just 'flush' with distilled water or filtered rain water that we have so much of these days. Don't forget to turn on the heater (if so equipped) so that the water in the heater core gets changed out as well. Car must be alowed to come to operating temp so that thermostat is fully open, or remove thermostat for flushing, or find the drain plug for the block.

Sometimes the drain plug might be inacessible or u may not want to mess with the thermostat housing for fear of breakage so that is why u would alternately fill, warm up and drain. About 3-4 times should be sufficient.

Look for a "coolant" that does not contain antifreeze, all we need is an anti-corrosive agent. All this anti-freeze just polluting our environment for no good reason plus antifreeze reduces the cooling effect of water. M Rampersad on the bypass off Rushworth St has a couple good ones for a bess price of less than $20.

Other than that the manufacturer specific is always good or the shell glycoshell is a top product, kinda expensive nowadays but very good. These however invariably contain antifreeze.

[Coppershot]

the radiator flush is a cleaning agent and is used before applying new coolant.

no antifreeze in it.

[GTiR 14]

This may be off the topic but I've seen mechanics use a mixture of soap powder, kerosene and water to flush the radiator.

This was used to remove oil residue that results from a blown cylinder head gasket.

[moti]

^^^ on topic just different application.

like krack korn said if your system is well maintained no need to flush
just drain out and fill back new coolant

[crossdrilled]

All flushes state that you need to use a pump lubricant additive everytime you use their product on next fill of coolant. Redline water wetter states that it is a pump lubricant, so put soeme in next time you are flushing. Put it in anyway, as there are other benefits.

[THE SYNDICATE]

[b18b_turbo]

I KNOW A GUY WHO USES DE-CHLORINATOR USED TO CONDITION AQUARIUM WATER TO RID HIS OF CHLORINE!

[eitech]

i know a guy who says to put that black disinfectant in the day before u change ur coolant...

[Rory Phoulorie]

[b18b_turbo]

^^

i was talking about buildup

[crossdrilled]

[Rory Phoulorie]

[red bwoy]

water wetter iz de shiznit i use nothing else but distilled water and water wetter

[crossdrilled]

[THE SYNDICATE]

[krack korn]

They recommend at least a 15% mix of antifreeze for ac equipped cars.

If u are not ac equipped or have disabled the heater core, no worries.

There is a remote possibilty of the ac freezing the water in the heater core and bursting it without the antifreeze.

'Coolant' containing antifreeze reduces the boiling point, the only thing that helps the boiling point to raise is the radiator cap and the pressure it maintains the system at. Higher pressure = higher boiling point.

[eitech]

^^^^^ammm..dats quite inaccurate sir...The primary ingredient in antifreeze is ethylene glycol, which when mixed with water LOWERS the temperature at which the mixture freezes. Ethylene glycol will also RAISE the temperature at which water boils, so in effect, antifreeze gives water a lower freezing point and higher boiling point than normal. Antifreeze also contains rust inhibitors and anti-foam additives to help a vehicle's engine.

[krack korn]

U getting tie up with the word "anti freeze" , if u throw rum in your radiator that is antifreeze, it will prevent freezing of the water by lowering the freezing point. U can have anti freeze alone without the lubricating and anti corosive properties.

yes my mistake the ethylene glycol also raises the boiling point but not by much, at 20% mixture the boiling point is 102.2 deg C, at 50% its 107.2 deg C. Unfortunately the Ethylene Glycol also lowers the heat capacity of the resulting mixture, thereby reducing the ability of the mixture to remove heat from the engine. At 50% mixture the heat capacty of water is reduced by 20%. This means that to compensate u have to increase flow and/or get a bigger radiator.

So one last time for the hard headed: leaving ethylene glycol out of your cooling system is best since we don't see freezing temps, pure water is the best cooling agent but we still need an anti corosive agent and lubricant as a minimum for long term use.

What I was getting at is that the majority of the resistance to boiling is from the increase in boiling point due to the rad cap, I forget the figures exacly but with the 0.9 bar rad cap its something like 120 deg C and with higher pressure caps like 1.3 Bar its about 125 deg C for pure water. Compare that to the increase from a 20 or 50% mixture of antifreeze.

The water wetter (gasolene formula, diesel doesn't have it) has the rust (corosion) inhibitors and the anti foaming agent as well as a lubricant. There is another product by lubeguard "KoolIt" that is equivalent to water wetter and has a ph indicator to tell when it is due for change.

[eitech]

aite...

[Coppershot]

thanks tuners

[THE SYNDICATE]

[Picasso]

So what you guys are saying is don't use soap powder, kerosene and water to flush the radiator ? Just replace it and don't waste time ?

[SNIPER 3000]