11-03-2021, 11:37 PM
Time for a bit of an update on how things went, or didn't / haven't yet.....
Following the excellent advice here, I removed the rad and created a flushing system - some adapters to connect hoses, and a pump driven by a drill (allowing it to be run forwards and backwards).
Heat was applied by running a little heating fan pointed at the rad.
I worked up through a number of steps, starting with weak Sulphamic acid (Furnox DS40), then stronger.
I tried it back on the vehicle, with no success.
I began to doubt whether the block was obstructed, so I installed the rad from my other special (different size, but OK while stationary) the result was a nice even temp. gradient in the rad and an engine that sat at around 70 even without a fan.
I then went in heavy with Hydrochloric Acid. Lots of bubbles and nasty smells, but no appreciable improvement in the free flowingness of the rad.
I then thought back to the oil issue....
As I mentioned in a throwaway comment in my very first post, there was a little oil sitting on the top on top of the water when I first inspected the rad...
I tried washing the radiator through with dishwasher detergent & water, and heating it up whilst full of it. This got some gunk out and some small fairly solid lumps of greasy tacky stuff - presumably cooked oil....
The final stage I've got to is flushing it through with "Gunk" engine de-greaser - this comes out a thick dark brown, and on flushing with clean water a fair amount of particulate comes out.
However the rad is not becoming significantly more patent (I can warm the rad, and then fill it from the bottom to see how it cools, and the thermal cam shows that the left is probably clearer and more even than it was, but the right is not great and there are two stripes in the middle with zero flow.
I suspect that Mike was spot on in post #4 - the rad is blocked beyond cure, but has anyone had any luck de-oiling a rad?
I'm wondering whether to fill it with an organic solvent - Meths, Isopropyl alcohol? brake cleaner?
I've learnt a lot and quite enjoyed the battles, though I think the rad may have won the war!!
(follow up posts will be centred on sourcing a replacement rad, and working out where the oil is coming from, but I want to get to the point of condemning this radiator first!!)
Cheers,
James
Following the excellent advice here, I removed the rad and created a flushing system - some adapters to connect hoses, and a pump driven by a drill (allowing it to be run forwards and backwards).
Heat was applied by running a little heating fan pointed at the rad.
I worked up through a number of steps, starting with weak Sulphamic acid (Furnox DS40), then stronger.
I tried it back on the vehicle, with no success.
I began to doubt whether the block was obstructed, so I installed the rad from my other special (different size, but OK while stationary) the result was a nice even temp. gradient in the rad and an engine that sat at around 70 even without a fan.
I then went in heavy with Hydrochloric Acid. Lots of bubbles and nasty smells, but no appreciable improvement in the free flowingness of the rad.
I then thought back to the oil issue....
As I mentioned in a throwaway comment in my very first post, there was a little oil sitting on the top on top of the water when I first inspected the rad...
I tried washing the radiator through with dishwasher detergent & water, and heating it up whilst full of it. This got some gunk out and some small fairly solid lumps of greasy tacky stuff - presumably cooked oil....
The final stage I've got to is flushing it through with "Gunk" engine de-greaser - this comes out a thick dark brown, and on flushing with clean water a fair amount of particulate comes out.
However the rad is not becoming significantly more patent (I can warm the rad, and then fill it from the bottom to see how it cools, and the thermal cam shows that the left is probably clearer and more even than it was, but the right is not great and there are two stripes in the middle with zero flow.
I suspect that Mike was spot on in post #4 - the rad is blocked beyond cure, but has anyone had any luck de-oiling a rad?
I'm wondering whether to fill it with an organic solvent - Meths, Isopropyl alcohol? brake cleaner?
I've learnt a lot and quite enjoyed the battles, though I think the rad may have won the war!!
(follow up posts will be centred on sourcing a replacement rad, and working out where the oil is coming from, but I want to get to the point of condemning this radiator first!!)
Cheers,
James