Date:         Sat, 15 May 2010 14:34:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Phil Zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Phil Zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: What to soak radiator in to dissolve slime
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

  To: thewestyman@GMAIL.COM
In a message dated 5/14/2010 7:12:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
thewestyman@GMAIL.COM writes:

am trying to find a way to get the radiator soaked into something that
would lift the slime from the inside of it, so I can just blast it out
with water and compressed air. I have a copper radiator and an
aluminium one. They are both loaded with slime. I know, I can buy a new
one. That's not the question now. There are many of us on the list who
would like to know this. And maybe it is a good practice to rinse it
sometimes, I guess. It can be done while still in the car. Then we
would not have to replace it. I think of something acid or alkali kind.
Maybe there is one that is already being used long time and I just
don't know of. One maybe for aluminum one for others. Anyone?
---------------------

 From a faint memory.... check the Archives if interested... late 1990's
I think....
A listmember guru of the day used an Organic Acid, like either
Citric/Citrus Acid (Alistair will perhaps correct my bad chemistry ....
:-)
The solution smelled like Oranges..... Fast-Orange Hand Cleaner? (NO,
I'm not endorsing the use of Fast-Orange!)
Filled the Rad with the solution (donno the strength) and let soak
24-to-48 hrs to dissolve the slime and baked-on deposits.
Was safe for use on Aluminium... along with most other metals. Happy
soaking to yah...

Phil Z.
Lives on the same Rock as  Alistair
We don't do Draino.... do we?