[SEL] Radiator cleaning question.

[bill at antique-engines.com]

OVEN CLEANER for the outside.
Let it sit in the sun to get it warm, spray on cleaner, follow directions
on the can. I've cleaned some car engines and other nasty parts I was
prepping for rebuilds that way.

I don't like acids for cleaning grease and grime, personally.


> 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>
>
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