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Re: Citric acid results
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2026 6:23 pm
by les
Thanks Phil and all for interest. I can now move on.
Re: Citric acid results
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2026 7:08 pm
by svenedin
Excellent result!
Stephen
Re: Citric acid results
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2026 8:52 pm
by Meggie moggy
Wow that looks brilliant i shall be doing this next weekend

Re: Citric acid results
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2026 9:06 pm
by svenedin
Meggie moggy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2026 8:52 pm
Wow that looks brilliant i shall be doing this next weekend
Be aware that the citric acid treatment leaves bare iron. This will flash rust very quickly unless painted (obviously not inside an engine) or protected in some way e.g sprayed with light oil.
Stephen
Re: Citric acid results
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2026 9:12 pm
by 59Elva
I drained the radiator Sunday night before the temperature dropped below freezing. I filled the system today with the acid solution. It took about four US quarts. Unrelated I had a devil of a time starting the engine to circulate the acid. The battery was low having sat for a couple weeks. I put the charger on while we went grocery shopping. Still not starting after charging. I removed the plugs to find them a little sooty but plug #3 was oil fouled.
With all the other things needing attention I never got around to a compression test. Until then I’m going to worry if I have a bad piston or valve in that cylinder.

After fiddling with the choke and idle screw I did get it running and warmed up. I’ll repeat starting it daily for the rest of the week and then flush a couple times and refill with Zerex Original Green.
Is the consensus that baking or washing soda neutralization is not required?