[SEL] Radiator cleaning question.

[Jerry Evans]

Hi All,
         The radiator on my Lister 5/1 is pretty dirty on the outside - 
layers of soot, grime and even some paint and I'm looking at ways to clean it.
         I know that the best would be take it to the local radiator shop 
and have them do it in an acid bath but I'm over budget (and broke :-)) on 
this engine already and would like to explore ways of doing it myself.

         What acid to the radiator repair shops use and at what 
concentration and temperature (room temp maybe)?

         How long should it stay in the acid?

         Apart from the usual safety precautions (Do as you aughter - add 
the acid to the water!) are there any other precautions I should take - 
more for the sake of the radiators safety than mine :-)

  Bear in mind it is a 1953 engine so the radiator it is made of brass, 
copper, solder and a pressed steel frame - not a modern aluminium radiator.

         Although I do want to clean the inside (core) I am more concerned 
about how to get the outside clean. The cooling fins are in reasonable 
condition (nothing that I cannot fix in an hour or so with a pair of flat 
nose pliers).

         I do have a drum of phosphoric acid but am not sure if it would be 
right for this use (but would save me buying other acid).

         Thanks in advance for any help.

Keep the revs up (or down)
Jerry Evans
Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
Etched Brass Engine Plates made to order:
<www.oldengine.org/members/evans/plates/index.htm>