Flushing radiator cooling system

Tracy Brown · Jan 18, 2017

I have a Cat E70B excavator which is built by Mitsubishi (4D30 engine). It wants to overheat after a while of use. I have had the radiator rodded out and the water pump rebuilt. This machine had been setting for a few years when I got it. The radiator Was 100% stopped up. I'm think the block may be about that bad also. I've read about a vinegar mix to flush out system. What do you experts recommend? I've already removed the thermostat which didn't help much.

Janicholson · Jan 18, 2017

Don't mix the vinegar, full strength run it to good and warm and flush with water. Might do it twice. Jim

Mike M · Jan 18, 2017

I have always wondered if it makes a difference if white or dark vinegar.

dpendzic · Jan 18, 2017

I have used the Cat radiator flush and it works good----you shouldn't run these engines without the thermostat

4520BW · Jan 18, 2017

If you can get some phosphoric acid that will clean it right up. Use to use a product call rydlyme and it worked well too.

Janicholson · Jan 18, 2017

The acetic acid % of vinegar is at or above 5%. It should be listed on the label. Acetic acid is a weak acid and not comparable to battery acid or hydrochloric acid. It will work in radiator/block cleaning. Jim

rrlund · Jan 18, 2017

I ran a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar in my White 2-135 last fall for a week while I was chopping with it. I got the blackest bunch of crud out of that thing you've ever seen. It looked like thin used oil. If yours is plugged that bad,I think I'd take the hoses off and thermostat out and flush water through it for a while first though.
Like others have said,don't run it without a thermostat. Without some restriction,the coolant will flow so fast,it likely won't flow to the back of the block. You'll have hot coolant back there that's just laying stagnant.

old · Jan 18, 2017

Nope vinegar is vinegar just smells different and made form other things

old · Jan 18, 2017

Straight vinegar run it till good and warm then if you can back flush it by way of a garden hose and the block drain

Billy Shafer · Jan 18, 2017

Used it in our 671s in the Navy. Worked very well.

rrlund · Jan 18, 2017

My son builds engines for a living. When I ran the vinegar through mine,he said if it didn't work,use CLR calcium lime and rust remover.

Tracy Brown · Jan 18, 2017

Sounds like vinegar it is. Then maybe CLR. Thanks for all the help.

rlp in Co. · Jan 18, 2017

If the radiator was that bad you will be lucky if the head is not cracked. Start it and put the over flow hose in a can of water. If you see bubbles you got problems.

Flushing radiator cooling system

Tracy Brown

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Janicholson

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Mike M

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dpendzic

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4520BW

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Janicholson

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rrlund

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old

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old

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Billy Shafer

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rrlund

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Tracy Brown

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rlp in Co.

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