Flushing a big radiator

coonie minnie

Well-known Member
Here's my issue: I have a large standby generator (400kw) with a very large radiator that seems to have internal blockage. In discussing this with one of my employees, he suggested trying some sort of
radiator flush instead of removing the radiator. Does that stuff work? Or should I just take it to a radiator shop?

I've considered removing the hoses, plumbing them to a pump, and letting that circulate through the radiator. That would reduce damage to water pump seals, oil cooler etc. Is this a waste of time???
 
I flushed out my backhoe radiator with vinegar. When I bought, it had been filled with well water and had a calcium buildup. After running it for an hour or so I drained and flushed it a couple of times with distilled water. That worked for me.
 
I use straight vinegar to flush them. Drain the coolant out fill it with vinegar and run it till good and warm then let ti cool off. Drain the vinegar out and save it just in case and then back flush the system but way of a garden hoe and if you can do so by hooking into the block drain. If still not clean filter the vinegar and put it back in and run it again
 
Coonie minie,

Double check the inner part of any hoses. They tend to seperate some on the inside causing a restriction.

D.
 
If it is still in and able to run we use dishwasher detergent and run and flush a couple time depending on how bad it's coming out.
 
some of those generators can hold a bbl. of coolant, so thats a lot of vinegar. not like a farmal A tractor. just thought of CLR but never tryed that. most times when cores are plugged inside the rad need to be taken to a rad shop so it can be soaked in a caustic solution.as when a core is plugged how do you get the stuff to circulate through it?farmers fixes are not 100% effective.
 
Your probably looking at 28-40 gallon cooling system. I would check the fins just in front of the fan. Standby units tend to throw up a lot of trash and dirt. Will create a clear inner circle with clogged up fins on the side.I had a pump system rigged up to pump a flushing solution. In on the bottom hose and out the top into a fifty gallon drum. Then from the drum back into the bottom hose. Disconnect it from the engine.Pulling it should be your last choice.Depending on how bad the location is and how bad the radiator is.If it is a four section radiator and old. I would pull it have it cleaned and new gaskets installed.
 
the fins are clean... the radiator blows from the inside out, and you can feel a lot of heat coming from one side of the radiator, and not the other. Cooling capacity is about 12-13 gallon.
 
I just flushed the radiator out on my 4020. I drained the antifreeze from the radiator and the block. It came out a kind of a light green color. Then I put two bottles of Prestone radiator flush and then filled it with clean water. Ran the tractor for a while, let it cool, and drained out what should've been almost clear water, but it came out a nasty looking dark green. I was kind of surprised. Filled it with antifreeze and distilled water.
 
You can try all of the suggested "farmer fixes" but in the end, you will most likely have to have it cleaned out professionally. So, after you try the vinegar, CLR, Prestone flush, etc., be ready to do it the right way and take it to a radiator shop to be done right.
 
I've always had good luck using Cascade dish washing powder. Make strong solution, run till operating temp, cool and back flush. Someone on here reported that the Cascade formula had been changed, and didn't work as good. I don't know if that is so. Cheap to try anyway.
johnwesley
 

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