Posted by Franz [24.149.37.138] on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 15:03:19 :
In Reply to: Radiator WOES continue...muratic cleaning? posted by DDD [209.253.157.5] on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 12:57:44 :
OK, I read that twice, and I do have a bit of experience with cooling systems.
Why does the problem have to be in the radiator?
Have you employed a cheap IR temperature gun to actually determine what the radiator is doing, or are you just going the slam and jam route?
I have 2 machines that get a complete flushout every other year to prevent overheating because crap accumulates in the water passages of the engine and prevents cooling.
You're fighting a cooling problem in a 50 year old engine, and you have no idea of what has been in that cooling system over that life cycle.
Flushing the radiator hasn't worked, so the presumption becomes the cooling problem is someplace else. The two best possibilities are water pump and obstructed block.
With the engine running and up to temperature are you seeing flow in the radiator? This can be determined either by observing through an open radiator neck (cap off) or using an infrared temp gun.
If there is flow, the problem most likely becomes obstructed water passages in the engine. My experience says that is the most likely, and I'll guarantee flushing the radiator 9 more times with everything short of exposives won't cure it.
As to flushing a cooling system with Muriatic acid, it's an absolutely stupid move. Muriatic can and will harm the radiator. Fortunately it will be a destruction over time, so you can save up for a replacement radiator.
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