How to Properly Clean a Clogged Radiator?
Just like any other car part, radiators can also suffer wear and tear. Over time, debris such as "black magnetite sludge" (caused by rusting components) may get lodged in the pipes, blocking them and causing symptoms such as overheating, interior heating, and noticeable coolant leaks under the car. Before you take your car to the nearest auto repair shop and spend a lot of money, take a look at how you can correctly clean a blocked car radiator.
Let the engine cool before cleaning the blocked car radiator
When cleaning straight fin radiators, do not try to clean the car before shutting down the engine and letting it cool first. First, when the car's engine is running, the coolant circulates from the engine to the cooling system, through pipes, and then returns to the engine. The circulation of coolant will interfere with the cleaning process, so you must ensure that the engine is no longer overheating when starting to clean. In addition, when you try to clean the radiator cover while still hot, the pressure in the engine compartment may force coolant to spray out of the radiator cover, so this is also true. While letting the engine cool, place a small bucket at the bottom of the car radiator. This serves as a catch basin for all the debris that will be washed away.
Remove the cover and fill the pipes with car radiator flushing fluid
After the car is cooled, remove the radiator cover. Take a bottle filled with radiator flushing fluid and pour it out at will. Car radiator flushing is beneficial for your car for many reasons:
Clears rust, black magnetite sludge, and miscellaneous debris inside the radiator pipes, solving a lot of problems immediately.
Flushing lubricates the water pump, extending its service life.
Car radiator flushing can also clear any residue in the coolant inside the pipes. This can prevent any further accumulation that may cause blockages or poor performance.
In addition to removing debris caused by rusting or accumulation, the flushing solution can also protect the inside of the radiator from rusting and blocking, ensuring that its performance stays in optimal condition.
Let the flushing solution clean the car radiator
Wait for about 5 to 10 minutes to let the flushing solution pass through the radiator piping system. This ensures a thorough cleaning process inside. The next and final step is a simple and painless process. You can use a hose connected to a water source or a spoon filled with water to flush the inner pipes of the radiator. Then, observe the bucket you placed underneath it, it should be filled with the debris and other pollutants that initially caused the blockage. If the rinsing is too hasty, not all the debris inside the car radiator will be cleaned, so restart the process if necessary.
