Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Flushing radiator

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Randy as in Ran

06-10-2006 11:02:43




Report to Moderator

Hi all , Ya'll say that vinegar is the product of choice to clean out engines . Will it take the corrosion out of the radiator also ? I looked in my M's radiator and can't figure out why that thing doesn't overheat ! The tubes that I can see are plugged solid . But it still transfers heat via the fan . So would I be better off with vinegar or prestone super flush ? I'm not ready to pull the radiator yet and have it boiled . Unless it springs a ton of leaks when the corrosion is removed ! When I do that I'm taking the gas tank with it . How much vinegar ? Straight ? Or mix with water ? And what kind of vinegar - cider , white , other ? Would muriatic acid be to strong ? We have a bucket of it that hasn't been used in 5 years but I don't remember what % it is . The last time we used it was to etch copper pipe clean to make wind chimes out of them . 2 or 3 minutes was all it took to take a heavy blue/green corrosion off them . Thanks for any advice ! Take care ...Randy

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
bjb in NE

06-10-2006 11:48:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to Randy as in Randy-IA, 06-10-2006 11:02:43  
I would NOT use muratic acid (aka hydrochloric acid) in the radiator. Hydrochloric acid is considered a "strong acid" in chemistry terms while vinegar (acetic acid) is considered a "weak acid". Store boughten white vinegar is normal 5% by volume of acid. Even if your muratic acid is at the same dilution it will still be stronger than the vinegar. Not only will the muratic acid clean off the corrosion, it will begin to eat through the copper itself. You would be better off just sticking to white vinegar, or better yet get a commercial product designed to clean copper radiator safely. (eventually acetic acid would begin removing some of the copper until the acid is completely consumed but it would be exponentially slower at it)

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Randy as in Randy-IA

06-11-2006 07:23:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to bjb in NE, 06-10-2006 11:48:48  
Hi , The acid was just a passing thought like so many of my ideas . I've alway's used prestone to do my trucks and it's always worked good . I've never seen vinegar used in an engine just as an etch for new galvanizing before painting . It seems to me that the store bought stuff would be cheaper or at least the same price as vinegar . But I haven't checked to see how much the cooling system holds on a M . Thanks ! ..Randy

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

06-11-2006 07:57:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to Randy as in Randy-IA, 06-11-2006 07:23:44  
Last time I got vinagar I got a case of it, which is the only way I buy it any how but it cost just over $6 for a case and the stuff I see in the auto parts stores cost about $5-6 for a small bottle so cost is less with the vinager



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

06-10-2006 11:32:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to Randy as in Randy-IA, 06-10-2006 11:02:43  
I just did one yesterday with vinagar and it seems to have worked well. I remove rust and lime build up and even oil. You do need to drain, fill and then run the engine till good and warm/hot and then let it sits for 5 or so hours and then flush it out with a garden hose. I made up an adaptor so I can pull the block drain and hook the hose there so the water flows back wards of how it does when the engine is running. I have ghad a few that it took 2 or 3 times to get them clean enough but it has always worked for me

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Randy as in Randy-IA

06-11-2006 07:56:56




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to old, 06-10-2006 11:32:33  
Hi Old , How bad were those core tubes plugged on your's ? The ones I can see in mine without draining the core are completely closed off . It moves heat away still , I just don't know how well because the temp gauge doesn't work . One of those things I keep putting off . When I get it running again - yeah I fiddled with the carb thinking that the sputtering and backfiring was a clogged passage - turns out it was out of gas again . DUH ! At least I hope that's all that's wrong with it . It all started after the baling was over and it was parked that night . It sat there for about half an hour at a low idle before it started doing that so I doubt it was over heating . I'll know more when I get some gas in it . But I don't want to go to town today so that will have to wait too .

I'll drain it and replace the gauge and flush it . Should I remove the side cover or just leave well enough alone ? It doesn't leak now and every gasket I've bought for these old tractors is so dry that they've shrunk to the point they don't fit without re-punching the bolt holes . And I don't have a good hole punch set . About that adaptor , did you use a pipe bushing and screw a barb fitting into it with a male hose end attached or ?? Thanks !

PS : It's 54* right now at 9:45am and yesterday it didn't get above 54* all day ! I LIKE this weather !! But it's back to the 90's by the end of the week . ug! Later ...Randy

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

06-11-2006 08:15:26




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to Randy as in Randy-IA, 06-11-2006 07:56:56  
The adaptor I made is a 1/8 inch pipe I think and then that is necked up to a 1/2 or 3/4 pipe and a piece of old garden hose is clamped to that. You just screw it in in place of the plug and let it flow. The tractor I flushed the other day would over heat on me in about 15 minutes and was full of rust and so far it hasn't done that to me again. But it also has been in the 90s here so it is a little hot and tractors heat up for some reason when its that warm out LOL

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Randy as in Randy-IA

06-11-2006 09:17:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to old, 06-11-2006 08:15:26  
ME TOO ! Heat up that is . At least you have the lake to get wet in if you can get close enough to it through all the tourist's ! HA- HA . Keep cool ! ...Randy



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

06-11-2006 09:31:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to Randy as in Randy-IA, 06-11-2006 09:17:14  
I never go to the lake, its just one big septic pool with all the houses the built close to it and then put in spetic tanks and the feild lines are close to and some even drain right into the lake. But I do have a nice little creek on the place and it has a nice little spring feed swimming hole in it

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Tom Railsback

06-11-2006 20:42:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to old, 06-11-2006 09:31:41  
How much vinegar would a 6.5 gallon system need?
(DC Case)



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

06-11-2006 21:06:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to Tom Railsback, 06-11-2006 20:42:00  
Well since I use it 100% then in that case it would take 6.5 gallions of it. Then run it and let it sit at least 4 hours in the system.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Tom Railsback

06-12-2006 10:02:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Flushing radiator in reply to old, 06-11-2006 21:06:41  
Thanks. I'll try it on my 1939 DC although I suspect I'll eventually have to pull the head and the number 4 piston and sleeve.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy