Posted by David Sherman on Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 3:41PM :
This a bit off-topic, has anyone had any success with cleaning out a radiator with any of the radiator cleaner products. I have a tractor that keeps overheating, even if I take the thermostat out of it. I had the water pump apart and it looks fine. All I can figure is the radiator is clogged up.
There's a metal plate in the top tank so I can't see the tubes through the filler neck. Getting the radiator out is not very easy, do before I take it to a shop, I'd like to try and clean it out in place. My old caterpillar manual describes using a muriatic acid solution to dissolve lime deposits, followed by neutralizing with soda water, but advises not to do it unless absolutely necessary and that the instructions must be followed precisely so as not to eat holes in the radiator. I would be very reluctant to use any strong acid, as it will eat the zinc out of the brass.
Any suggestions?
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