VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Cooling system cleaning.

While trying to solve the overheating problem with my '31, (see Suggestions & Comments), I got a tip from my local radiator shop.

To help clean crud out of your cooling system, drain the water out, remove the thermostat, and fill with liquid "Draino", (it's just a weaker solution than the pros use), then run your engine about 10 minutes or so to circulate, and flush well. He tells me that he has used it several times on his oldies and they seem to get better and better each time.

He also told me that honeycomb radiators are extremely efficient, mainly due to being all copper. He says brass, to aluminum radiators don't transfer heat nearly as well. He commented on a radiator being marketed to rodders called " the "heat sponge", (very expensive, but very good).

Dan.

Thanks Dan, is Draino a Sodium Hydroxide (lye) based solution? or a mild acidic solution, who knows? :confused:

Sodium Hydroxide is exactly what he said. I didn't write that because I didn't have any around to 1. Check the exact contents, and 2. How to spell it correctly.
"It's better to be silent and have people think you're a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt." :rolleyes:

Years back some brands of lye had instructions on the cans for flushings radiators.When you think about it how would you dispose of it after you drain it out??? Would oxalic acid be any safer???Just don"t ask the EPA or DNR Would not want to hear their thoughts.

Chevy Nut just neutralize it with a mild solution of white vinegar and you end up with a salt solution, no problem, a good idea to flush the system with a weak vinagar solution then good distilled water before adding a 50-50 mix of distilled water and Prestone or Zerex or splurge and use the Delco?, or other brand of longlife red coolant & antifreeze. The flush and neutralization isn't any worse on the environment, if as bad, than washing off the batteries on a golf cart with coke and water. And not nearly as bad as salting the highways in snow season.

So is that one bottle of Draino, and add water after that? Or do you use 100% draino? How much would that be for my '58 235?

thanks

Not to start something but you should never leave a cooling system in an acidic condition. :o Flushing with vinegar contains acetic acid and results in the metal inside the engine active!!! At a minimum you should flush with a solution made from baking soda (NaHCO3) and water which will neutralize the acid (make salt) and leave the metal slightly on the basic side. Then when you add the antifreeze you don't immediately use up some of the buffers in the corrosion inhibitors in the antifreeze. The metal (iron) needs to be made 'passive' or it will corrode.
Caustic flushes are intended to take oils and greases out of cooling systems such as when the head gasket fails. It will also remove the crud left behind by soluable oils (also not recommended).
In a previous life I spent a number of years developing cooling system chemicals (cleaners, coolants and inhibitors). I have on at least three occasions outlined the best and cheapest method of cleaning corrosion out of a cooling system on this chat site. Most available cleaners are designed for modern plastic and aluminum systems and not appropriate for our older Chevys. The draino method will quickly eliminate the aluminum from a cooling system, particularly a hot one!

well, Chipper you could have been here takeing care of business, But No, you were hobknobbing on the 4 cylinder tour and made me forgot to tell everyone to use a tablespoon full of Bicarbonate of Soda per gallon for a final flush, So it is your fault! And you could have been helping me find a wiper motor for Klinkerbelle, but No! again, and I am not even going to mention the Bugleing lessons I have been missing out on!
Oh I almost forgot! WELCOME BACK!

Welcome back ChevyChip, Did you find any hot spots with your new toy.?????

Sorry Mackie but that is what the old Chevys are for, driving & fixing. I am back for several months while the backside rests. Sure glad those Silverado seats sit so good. I'd be a cripple if it was a F&#%. Next is a DuraMax for the mountains. Creeped up some grades at 15-20 max. Sure glad I didn't have a 350.

Gene,
Yup, found several. Mr. Chevrolets forehead when his Light Six was broken. Rear brake on same car when springs did not have enough strength to pull off linings. Thanks to Dan Johnson and others got it going for the remainder of the tour.

Have not had a chance to really test it. Weather in Canada was on the cool side so no overheating problems. Have not had a chance to check the '28 yet. Fire truck has even heat distribution on radiator (verifys that new core is still in good shape). Check the bedroom found a couple of hot spots but that is another story. Shame on you guys, TV was on! So was reading light.

Ok Chipper, fess up who's bedroom was that?.... No of course you won't tell...... Neither a Bugler nor a Cad ever acts that-a-way!
Did that old Depot hack follow you to Canada? :rolleyes: :p
Denman gave us an overview of the tour, you all must have had a good time. I guess it was sold out?