Elite Carpentry

Hello all. Need some help trying to clean out my rad. As many of you know , the car has been sitting and from that, i noticed inside the rad I have what looks like white calcium build up. The fluid levels probably dropped about 2 3 inches and whatever is exposed at the top has the white stuff on it.
Im a while away from starting my engine and all the possibilities Ive read up on, they make you run the engine to clean out the rad.
How can I clean it out without damaging any further and without starting the engine and getting all that crap inaide the block? ( I mean i cant even start the engine anyways, so thats out of the queation anyways.)
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Jesse

joe_padavano

Remove the radiator and take it to an old-time radiator shop that will boil it out. Sadly, there are fewer and fewer of those shops every year.

Elite Carpentry

Thanks Joe. Now..... the tricky part is to find one. Hahaha.

1970supremevert

Jesse
I have used white vinegar 5% acidity to remove build up inside the motor , not certain if the the radiator metal will tolerate the vinegar, I usually let the vinegar do its thing for 24-48 hrs

Elite Carpentry

Thanks alot. All look into that method aswell.

rustyroger

I found toilet cleaner does a fine job of shifting limescale from a car radiator. And it smells nice too!.

Roger.

Elite Carpentry

Hey roger. Thats funny because I just found a clip of using draino crytals from an oldschool mechanic. Apprently it works. Now I have a few options. Thanks guys.

Olds64

Be aware that vinegar can attack aluminum. Here's a good thread with a few additional options:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-flush.353511/

Your best bet is to remove the radiator and have it boiled out by a shop like Joe mentioned.

Elite Carpentry

Sounds good olds. Ive been callling around my area getting pricing. Thanks for the response.
Jesse