How much vinegar in radiator?

Bob Purinton · Sep 23, 2012

I'm putting a new radiator on my 8N because the old one has loose fins and two holes in the core. I managed to do that when straightening the fins.
Anyhow, The engine has some sludge in it and I remember someone posting about adding vinegar to the water to clean this up. How much vinegar? I got a gallon on sale at Walmart. Use all of it or what? thanks.

Bob Purinton · Sep 23, 2012

I forgot to add; How long do I leave the vinegar in for? I'm running straight water for now. Antifreeze will go in when sludge is cleaned out of passages.

leej · Sep 23, 2012

When the old radiator was off ,at that time you should have flushed the engine, which would have been real easy. Now with the new radiator on ,when you flush it, the crud will start to plug the new one. ggp

Bruce (VA) · Sep 23, 2012

Remove the t-stat from the top hose. Then, remove the bottom hose from the radiator & stick your garden hose in the radiator. Turn the water on (reverse flush) & the water will flow into the radiator, then the block & out of the disconnected lower hose. Let it run until the water is clear. Then, check the radiator flow. Stick the hose in the top of the radiator; the water should flow out of the bottom w/o backing up in the filler neck. It should flow at 19.5 gallons a minute. As a final flush, put a gallon of white vinegar & about 2 gallons of water in the radiator, run it to operating temp & then drain it again. Don’t forget to put the t-stat back in correctly!

Use 50/50 anti-freeze & distilled water as your coolant. The anti-freeze contains rust inhibitors, pump lubricant & raises the boiling point of the coolant.
50 Tips

old · Sep 23, 2012

You fill the cooling system up with pure vinegar then run it till good and warm. Let it sit till cooled down then drain the system. Then rig up a way to hook a garden hose to the block drain and back flush the system. Rigging up a hose if easy to do with a couple pipe fittings and a piece of old hose

Bob Purinton · Sep 23, 2012

Thanks for the answers; but, I don't have the new one on yet. As a matter of fact; I just now got back from picking it up. I'm about to go switch things out now. I'll flush the system as someone described and put the new one on. I'll post pictures later as the new radiator is a lot different than the original one.

36 Coupe · Sep 26, 2012

Vinegar is a mild acid.You will need 3 gallons.Washing soda will do a better job and cost less.

How much vinegar in radiator?

Bob Purinton

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Bob Purinton

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leej

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Bruce (VA)

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old

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Bob Purinton

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36 Coupe

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