Cleaning the inside of the radiator???
 

What do you guys use to clean the inside of the radiator?

I tried calling a rad shop and they told me since it has plastic end tanks that it cant be boiled out.

Does anyone know how I can clean it out? It has about 70k on it. I tried some hot water and baking soda but is there anything else?:)

Cleaning radiator
 

Since your worried about cleaning the radiator I'm guessing the person before you didn't use disstilled water ????? The radiator should last more than 100,000 mi. if the engine compartment doesn't overheat to extreme's on a regular basis. For what it would cost you for (boiling???) or (rodding ???) you may as well spend the money on a KOYO or Fluidyne Radiator, use disstilled water with about a 70%water 30% antifreeze mixture. with some form of water wetter formula.

I have not cleaned a radiator so I do not have hands on experience, however, this is my advice. I would purchase a new "quality" radiator. The old radiator has been through quite a bit and of course, there is a problem w/ perhaps rust and calcium deposits among other things, that have probably developed inside over time. Also, you using regular tap water is a contributor to the calcium deposits. Ideally, you should use filtered water.

buy a koyo or fluydine...easier..and actually will work better and not explode on ya...since i see u got fmic, and high flow twins....i think u better upgrade the rad...if u put that pos back in your just asking for trouble....

Anthony...I thought you were going to get the Koyo rad. You should have sent me an IM a few weeks ago, I just sold my stock rad for a really cheap price and it was in great condition.

Well....after the FMIC and the HF Twins I have no money left for the good rads like the Koyo or the Fluidyne.

The rad isnt dirty I just wanted to clean it while it was out of the car.

Jay,

I didnt go with the koyo because it was to thick...Would not fit with the Greddy FMIC(from what I heard).

Just have a radiator shop check it for leaks, flush it with water, then blow compressed air through it to get the residual tap water out. $15.00 max. I agree that rodding is a bad idea. I would stay away from any chemicals since you might start attacking deposits and have them come loose later. There is not a thing wrong with the original radiator's cooling capacity for a stock engine, just the fact that they are not very durable. Living in Tucson I can speak with some authority! Thicker is NOT neccessarily better. Flow is what you are looking for, and IMO, thin provides a hell of alot less resistance, therefore more efficient cooling. However, with your set up you really should upgrade to a Fluidyne when money allows. BTW, use only DISTILLED water. Filtered water still has lots of minerals left in it that taste good to us, but only act as catalysts for some interesting chemical reactions inside your cooling passages.