Date:         Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:50:55 -0700
Reply-To:     Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Subject:      Re: parts list for radiator replacement on 1988 Westy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Date:         Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:29:46 -0600
Reply-To:     don spence <dkspence@TELUS.NET>

Anyone tried something like CLR in a radiator.  If it's clogged as
bad as this one it couldn't hurt to try. Yes/No??
---------------------
A definite "couldn't hurt to try" Yes... IMHO

Read a few posts and in the archives. Where
a Citrus-orange type of cleaner, is left
to soak in the Rad for 24 hours, works well on Al-Rads.

The organic acids are pretty mild on aluminum. CLR type
products will work Ok too but, to fill a Rad would take
many bottles of the stuff. Many products on the
shelves of our FLAPS to try and experiment with.

The significant part or point is to clean the Rad without
damaging the aluminum and plastic parts. Thus, the pressure
testing following cleaning is a definite recommendation.
The corrosion and scale inside the Rad maybe the glue that
are keeping the Rad from leaking or falling apart!

At some point in this exercise a decision needs to be made.
Retire the old faithful Rad and replace with a new but
perhaps of lessor quality and weight, aftermarket unit.

An aside. Threw my 17 year old OEM Rad in the recycle-bin
at the shop. Watched with glee as a pair local metal
scroungers scooped it out and ran off to the Salvage-Yard.
They later, let me know with smiles... "We got $2 for it"!

Phil Z.
Campbell River, BC
-------------------