oily rad fins

Anonymous-0 · Jul 23, 2009

My tractor has the oil bath in front of the radiator. This tractor radiator has had a long time of oil splashed on it. Its coated.

ANy thoughts on how to clean it up, I think its affecting the running heat.

Ole Shovel · Jul 23, 2009

Steam cleaner or hot soapy water from a high pressure washer, soak it down with some solvent or degreaser first too.

keh · Jul 23, 2009

If that's the oil bath air cleaner you need to remove it, clean the fiber/wire mesh or whatever element. If you use gasoline, let it dry overnight so you wont have an unregulated supply of fuel when you crank it up. The air intake can get a lot of crud in it over time. Then fill with fresh oil. There may be some other oil leak you need to fix. Then clean radiator.

KEH

nonxcompos · Jul 23, 2009

Yes, the oil will negatively affect heat transfer; it may not be all of your problem but it"s certainly not helping cooling, especially if the oily surfaces are collecting dust etc.

brian(MN) · Jul 23, 2009

I have an oil cooler in front of my radiator, for years a hose dripped, fins got plugged so it caused the engine to get warm. I took the radiator off and brought it too a radiator shop and they cleaned it out real good, didn't cost that much, maybe 100-130. Put it back on and made sure the hoses didn't leak again and have not had a problem since.
Brian(MN)

Janicholson · Jul 23, 2009

A pressure washer and degreaser will do it, but will also ruin the radiator easily. Be very careful, go from the back first, and do not get close with the spray head. It will tear out thin fins, and possibly perforate the tubes. JimN

olddog · Jul 24, 2009

Presoak with water, Spray with Dawn dish detergent, let set awhile, wash with hottest water you can get thru a garden hose with standard nozzle.

Dave Sherburne NY · Jul 24, 2009

Don't use a pressure washer, it will put a hole in the radiator.

Aaron Ford · Jul 25, 2009

I had the exact same issue, but with 40 years of hay chaff plugging her solid. Old fella warned me. "She runs hot." I laid it down in a parts washer and it took several hours running solvent through the fins to get it right.

Maybe a radiator shop could do it reasonable. I know that's un-American, but I have a rad/tank shop that works for peanuts. I send them whatever I don't want to fool with.

HTH

Aaron

oily rad fins

Anonymous-0

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Ole Shovel

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keh

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nonxcompos

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brian(MN)

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Janicholson

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olddog

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Dave Sherburne NY

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Aaron Ford

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