Cleaning/Flushing Radiator...
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
Cleaning/Flushing Radiator...
I'm in the process of cleaning/flushing my radiator,I haven't been having any heating issues but after removing the radiator,and looking at these pics,it's clear we ALL probably need to do...(by the way,looking at the radiator while still in the truck,everything looked clean,I could not see ANY trash/blockage till I removed it)...
I do have a few questions though,is the NAPA T-Stat ok to use,NAPA wants $12.00 for a T-Stat,Ford wants $44.00 for one,also,I just got my billet housing from Bob at Dieselsite,it came with an o-ring but do I need to get a gasket also?I know...I just highjacked Brians thread but decided to go ahead and post pics of my trashy radiator(sorry again Brian)
I do have a few questions though,is the NAPA T-Stat ok to use,NAPA wants $12.00 for a T-Stat,Ford wants $44.00 for one,also,I just got my billet housing from Bob at Dieselsite,it came with an o-ring but do I need to get a gasket also?I know...I just highjacked Brians thread but decided to go ahead and post pics of my trashy radiator(sorry again Brian)
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
The first thing I think of, too, is that if the front side of your radiator looks like that, you probably need to clean your A/C condenser unit as well because it will be equally plugged in the same regions on the back side.
I've used a rubber tipped air nozzle on mine before, and it works fairly well. If it doesn't blow everything through, soak it down with some water with a tiny bit of soap (TINY amount of soap will help the water penetrate the dirt/crud). Then hose it with decent water hose pressure, let it dry, then blow it out again. If you have to literally force something through the slots, a narrow bladed feeler gauge can be very effective.
I've used a rubber tipped air nozzle on mine before, and it works fairly well. If it doesn't blow everything through, soak it down with some water with a tiny bit of soap (TINY amount of soap will help the water penetrate the dirt/crud). Then hose it with decent water hose pressure, let it dry, then blow it out again. If you have to literally force something through the slots, a narrow bladed feeler gauge can be very effective.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
,(inside was pretty gnarley too),now that we'll be towing the TT,I'm trying to cover all the basics.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
The first thing I think of, too, is that if the front side of your radiator looks like that, you probably need to clean your A/C condenser unit as well because it will be equally plugged in the same regions on the back side.
I've used a rubber tipped air nozzle on mine before, and it works fairly well. If it doesn't blow everything through, soak it down with some water with a tiny bit of soap (TINY amount of soap will help the water penetrate the dirt/crud). Then hose it with decent water hose pressure, let it dry, then blow it out again. If you have to literally force something through the slots, a narrow bladed feeler gauge can be very effective.
I've used a rubber tipped air nozzle on mine before, and it works fairly well. If it doesn't blow everything through, soak it down with some water with a tiny bit of soap (TINY amount of soap will help the water penetrate the dirt/crud). Then hose it with decent water hose pressure, let it dry, then blow it out again. If you have to literally force something through the slots, a narrow bladed feeler gauge can be very effective.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 19
From: Archdale,N.C.
Well,I got my radiator clean(I didn't take any after pics cause it was still stained and not shiny),but still very clean.I also replaced my lower rad. hose,I already replaced the upper one that goes around the belt,replaced my water cut-off valve because the one I had wouldn't work after one season,have my new 192*T-Stat,billet housing,and new red coolant waiting cause I couldn't do the full flush because I'm waiting on my chip to get back from Jody(I sent it in for update,I've had my chip for about three years now and Jody said since then he literally has thousands of updates,and I also got no-start and decel added to my line-up),and I didn't want to put my pcm back in just to flush it out,I'll do that this week....again...just an update...
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
From: Tiverton,RI
Damn, that's quite a collection of debris Phil and Brian. You've got me wondering now, guess I'll have to take a look tomorrow since Pete (7.3 Rocket) and I are getting ready to do a flush and filter install. Glad you got it all cleaned up Phil.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
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From: Archdale,N.C.
Pete,I would recommend doing a full removal to check/clean,like I said above,I wasn't overheating,but I haven't been towing yet either,but since April and I got our new TT,I wanted to be sure so thats why I done it,also you couldn't see any debris at all from any angle,so if you and Pete do a spring cleaning on yours and his...let us know...