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Cleaning radiators

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Old 07-13-2010, 08:41 AM
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Van
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Default Cleaning radiators

Over the last year, my temp gauge has been creeping up a little... Although I try to regularly look in the air scoops and clean out any debris, I thought it was time to take the bumper off and actually clean the radiators.

I followed some good instructions on YouTube.

All I can say is, "Holy crap! There was a lot of crap in there!"

So, I made a video: why to clean them

Old 07-13-2010, 09:10 AM
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Barn996
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Great vid Van. How long before you cleaned them, was this your 1st time? By the way...no fair using a lift, that's cheating. Thanks for sharing.
Old 07-13-2010, 09:18 AM
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03911TT
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Thanks for sharing Van! Great reminder for all of us as to "Why" to clean 'em!
Old 07-13-2010, 10:24 AM
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Van
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I've had the car almost 3 years - and it's the first time I cleaned them.
Old 07-13-2010, 11:03 AM
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Hardback
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Good job Van! I cleaned mine last month as well. My car runs a tick over 180 now. The clean radiators dropped about 8 degrees from operating temp. Definitely suggest doing this at least once a year.
Old 07-13-2010, 11:06 AM
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Graufuchs
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Was stuck in traffic yesterday....what else is new...but temp barely hit the 0...turned on the AC kept the fans going and Im sure having cleaned the radiators a couple months back helped big time!! Not concerned about the heat as much now. Very happy.
Old 07-13-2010, 11:28 AM
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redridge
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nice vids man!.... that looks so easy to do on the lift.
Old 07-13-2010, 01:56 PM
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dallison28
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It is amazing what is stored in there, just like a chipmunks cheeks.
Old 07-13-2010, 02:21 PM
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Divot
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Now I have to do this. Thanks, Van.

But that video had the ugliest broad I have ever seen. I hope you never show us how to wash the car.
Old 07-13-2010, 02:46 PM
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Van
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Originally Posted by Divot
Now I have to do this. Thanks, Van.

But that video had the ugliest broad I have ever seen. I hope you never show us how to wash the car.
You don't want to see me in a bikini?
Old 07-13-2010, 11:52 PM
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TheGoodLife996
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Great reminder for those that have not done this neeeeed to! Look at the crap I pulled out of mine
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Beer cans also
Old 07-14-2010, 08:31 AM
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chsu74
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Last time I cleaned mine, I took a hose to the radiators and cleaned the gunk off completely. How were you able to do that on the lift or did you take the car off the lift for that step?
Old 07-14-2010, 09:20 AM
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dallison28
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Old 07-14-2010, 11:20 AM
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Van
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Originally Posted by TheGoodLife996
Great reminder for those that have not done this neeeeed to! Look at the crap I pulled out of mine
Beer cans also
Whoa! You must live where the hill billies throw the bear cans out the window!


Originally Posted by chsu74
Last time I cleaned mine, I took a hose to the radiators and cleaned the gunk off completely. How were you able to do that on the lift or did you take the car off the lift for that step?
I put the front wheels back on, backed it out of the garage, and pressure washed the radiators in the driveway. Then put it back on the lift to put it together.
Old 07-14-2010, 11:27 AM
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BruceP
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I'd go as far as pulling the rads and condensers apart so you can thoroughly get what's between them. The PO of my car never did this. Over time, the leaves and crap in there soaked up brine from winter roads and actually rotted the radiators, causing both blockage and leakage. I had to replace both of them last year. Having no place to work on my car, I have to pay people to do stuff like this... it wasn't a cheap day. Word to the wise.


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