Cleaning coolant tank?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 8
From: Hutchinson, KS
Cleaning coolant tank?
How the best way to clean out the coolant resevior? I've got an extra one that's pretty gunked up on the inside. So bad that you can't hardly tell where the coolant level is at.
Anything that can be done with a household mixture? Or some sort of special chemical?
Thanks!
Anything that can be done with a household mixture? Or some sort of special chemical?
Thanks!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque
Try muriatic acid. I had a 50/50 mix in a hard plastic bucket to clean an oil spot on the drive. Cleaned the heck out of the bucket, didn't touch the oil spot. Add acid to water, not water to acid. Try a 50/50 mix, get it in, slosh it around then get it out with a good clear water rinse. It hasn't eaten the bucket, been two months. Thought.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,158
Likes: 0
From: Paramount, Ca
I use hand cleaner and some water then remove it and shake the hellk out of it. Keep doing that while keeping your hand over the hole. If it's really bad you can use that soapy water and a soft scrub brush and it comes off pretty easy.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 8
From: Hutchinson, KS
Good point. That seems to clean other stuff...
Where in the heck can you get muriatic acid? Sounds kinda dangerous!
But if it doesn't degrade the plastic, then it just might work.
A scrub brush will only get a little bit of it cause most of it is sectioned off.
IIRC, this was talked about a while back in a thread but I'm having trouble finding it in the search.
Try muriatic acid. I had a 50/50 mix in a hard plastic bucket to clean an oil spot on the drive. Cleaned the heck out of the bucket, didn't touch the oil spot. Add acid to water, not water to acid. Try a 50/50 mix, get it in, slosh it around then get it out with a good clear water rinse. It hasn't eaten the bucket, been two months. Thought.
But if it doesn't degrade the plastic, then it just might work.IIRC, this was talked about a while back in a thread but I'm having trouble finding it in the search.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Albemarle, NC
muriatic acid is what is in brick cleaner. i'd say most home improvement stores will have it. When I was in high school, we used to make acid bombs with it. Of course, a lot of things we did back then would probably classify us as a terrorist in today's society. Fact is, we actually did this kinda thing in chemistry, and our teacher told us about it. I'm sure I'm not the only one on this forum to do that kinda thing. A little muratic acid, some aluminum foil, and a plastic 20oz bottle. *****Disclaimer: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS!!!!!!*****
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
Give the bleach a try since it readily available and let it sit overnite, if its still gunked up try what the guys suggested..
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,158
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From: Paramount, Ca
Ususally the hand cleaner alone does the trick. Just have to do it a few times, warm water if it's real bad. Hasn't let me down yet. Hand cleaner like GOJO or something like you use in a garage.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 2
From: Wallingford, CT
I've read of removing it and putting in a sand/water concoction then shaking it up real good and rinsing well. Or at least that's what the folks at PSN were talking about, but I don't quite trust them as much as FTE.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
BB's might work too. Pour them in and shake it up. I did that once to clean rust out of a metal dirt bike fuel tank.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 8
From: Hutchinson, KS
Thanks guys! I've got some GoJo, Vinegar, and Bleach at home that I can try. The acid stuff kinda worries me. That is even if it's readily available anymore without a signed release from the president!
I'll work on it tonight.
I'll work on it tonight.