Vinegar to flush cooling system ?

[Hobie]

Anyone use vinegar to flush and clean their cooling system?   Plumbers use it to clean steam bath coils.  (brass and copper)

[Kristinsgrandpa]

  An OTR trucker told me the same thing. It seems that all the local truckers use it to flush their radiators.

  DD and Prestone probably don't want the word to get out since they are financially prejudiced.

Ed

[RTS/Daytona]

I've used vinegar and water in an ultra-sonic cleaner for 5-15 minutes or overnight in a glass bowl - followed by a quick baking soda water rinse and running water to clean and restore my antique scuba equipement for years - it removes all the saltwater corrosion and scale and leaves the copper and chrome intact

Pete RTYS/Daytona

and even more powerful cleaner is Phosphoric Acid as found in  SKYCO brand OSPHO: "a balanced formula of Phosphoric, Dichromate, Wetting Agents and Extenders" according to thier web site

[justin25taylor]

My dad uses vinegar as well. He claims it works great.

I was told by a very elderly black man that has owned the local radiator shop for years to use plain powdered Tide laundry soap and plain table salt.
For a normal (car) sized radiator he said to use a half cup of each and leave it in at least an hour. followed by normal rinsing.
It did wonders on my truck.
I bet the Ospho works best. I'll bet it also finds any soon to be leaks.

Justin

[buswarrior]

For the purists, DD sells a two part flushing agent.

Put in the first to cleanse, put in the second to neutralize, rinse and re-fill.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[superpickle]

For the purists, DD sells a two part flushing agent.

Put in the first to cleanse, put in the second to neutralize, rinse and re-fill.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Those Commercial Flushing agents are VERY Costic. Be carful how long you use it. I knew an Idiot that used one, he put in the Cleaner and Left it there. It Dessolved his Radiater in spots.. What a Maroon.. 
I rather like the Home brew stuff better, its Safer and more forgiving  I'll go for the Vineger every time. I use it on my Swamp Coolers too.

Paul....

[Ncbob]

Hehehe...vinegar was fine for years ...the old lady (ex) used it to keep a personal item or two clean...I didn't have any squawks about that!

Now they think they've discovered something new?

Am I gonna catch h*ll for this post!

Bob

[gus]

Vinegar is an acid and is very strong so you can't leave it in too long. Just how long is hard to judge, depends on a lot of things. I used it on an old JD tractor radiator and it found some holes that were plugged by lime buildup for an untold number of years. Also the loosened lime scale can plug radiator tubes.

It would take a "Maroon" to just leave it in a long time, it is very caustic. Put a piece of rusted steel in vinegar overnight and it will be clean the next day.

[Busted Knuckle]

Ok y'all got me ready to try it, since I gotta drain the system soon to replace a "used" hose I had to put on in an emergency a couple weeks ago while I waited on the special order cone shaped molded hose from Setra! My question is what kinda % mixture should I use for flushing my system? Thanks 
  BK   

[belfert]

Vinegar can't be that much of an acid.  I looked at my gallon bottle and it says reduced to 5% acidity.

They wouldn't recommend using it for general cleaning if it would destroy things.  Yes, it will remove lime.  If a radiator had lime deposits plugging holes then the radiator needed repair anyhow.

I'm planning to pull my radiator and having it professionally cleaned.  One of my friends thinks he can get someone to pull and replace the radiator at no charge.  I will have to spend $30 or $40 to drive the bus there and back.

[Hobie]

I used about a cup per gallon.  Warmed engine up.  Allowed to cool about an hour then drained and flushed with water.  Filled with tap water, run engine again allow to cool and drain.  I too used the 5% vinegar, so it was a weak solution.  It cleaned the goo from the top of the vertical fins.  No leaks or problems so far.  I will rinse one more time before installing antifreeze.  I also liked to drain into the gutter.  Easy and I won't piss off my enviro neighbor!   

ahhh... old school rules!

[bubbaqgal]

Belfert, why not bring your bus to BK's rally and get it done here?  Sure you would have to pay for the fuel to get here and registration fee BUT.....you get Bryces help in cleaning the radiator and his and Dallas advice on other things for your bus.  I know both of them would be glad to give lots of free advice.  Cat

[belfert]

Belfert, why not bring your bus to BK's rally and get it done here?  Sure you would have to pay for the fuel to get here and registration fee BUT.....you get Bryces help in cleaning the radiator and his and Dallas advice on other things for your bus.  I know both of them would be glad to give lots of free advice.  Cat

I would love to go to the rally, but I don't really have either the vacation days or the funds really to make it.  The other issue would be finding a radiator shop to clean it and test it on a weekend.

$30 or $40 in fuel to have the radiator removed locally is a lot cheaper. 

[gus]

Yes, it is a weak dilution, you sure wouldn't want to mess with it at full strength.

The point is not to leave it in contact with any radiator or other light metal for very long.

I once left it on my bathtub drain too long and it removed the chrome. Our water has a lot of lime so we have to clean shower heads, sinks and bathtubs often.

[Busted Knuckle]

Belfert, why not bring your bus to BK's rally and get it done here?  Sure you would have to pay for the fuel to get here and registration fee BUT.....you get Bryces help in cleaning the radiator and his and Dallas advice on other things for your bus.  I know both of them would be glad to give lots of free advice.  Cat

I would love to go to the rally, but I don't really have either the vacation days or the funds really to make it.  The other issue would be finding a radiator shop to clean it and test it on a weekend.

$30 or $40 in fuel to have the radiator removed locally is a lot cheaper.

I can make that happen!