Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 17:28:43 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: What to soak radiator in to dissolve slime
In-Reply-To: <f11f654dd3a4b60843d08ba5125f50c7@shaw.ca>
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Citric acid is readily available. It may be ordered online (one source is bulkfoods.com, there are others). It is also the active ingredient in dishwasher cleaners (to clean the dishwasher, not the dishes), and is in some dishwasher detergents (to clean the dishes). In fact, I use it, along with washing soda and borax in a mix (1:2:2) as my dishwasher detergent. Check your supermarket, they may have what you are looking for. If the main blocking agent in the radiator is lime, citric acid should clear that, though I'd recommend a strong solution and a thorough flushing with water afterward. A very strong solution of citric acid can cause chemical burns, so take precautions. If you buy some, maybe you can use what you don't use for the radiator in your dishwasher, or use it to tart up your dinner. It is an ingredient in sour Oriental dishes.
---- Phil Zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> 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?
--
David McNeely
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