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Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:24 pm
by Stevie R
I’m not sure if someone is pulling my leg but I’ve been told if you want to clean out your cooling system effectively drop a dishwasher tablet in the radiator and run the engine until hot this will clean the system thoroughly,
Anyone else tried this?
Re: Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:56 pm
by Myrtles Man
Dunno about dishwasher tablets but for a pretty heavy-duty cooling system clean out check this video from 10.27 on...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpf91W9mbqw
Re: Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 3:40 pm
by svenedin
Dishwasher tablets are strongly alkaline. That helps get rid of greasy food residue but it won’t help at all with limescale deposits in a cooling system. Strong alkali is unsafe on aluminium and there are aluminium alloy parts in the cooling system. I would definitely not put dishwasher tablets in the cooling system. Instead, you can put an acid in the cooling system, citric acid. This works really well.
Stephen
Re: Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:39 pm
by myoldjalopy
Can you put citric acid in the dishwasher?
Re: Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:58 pm
by svenedin
myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:39 pm
Can you put citric acid in the dishwasher?
Yes! Not to clean dishes but to clean the machine. Also brilliant in the washing machine and kettle. Cleans limescale off the heating element and from inside pipework.
Stephen
Re: Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 10:26 am
by michael4
Unusually I went for the expensive option, Prestone cooling system flush. Certainly does the job and does not appear to have found any leaks, yet.
I didn't realise, Prestone is part of Holts.
Re: Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 10:42 am
by Mervin
When I owned a Traveller, years ago, the rear of the engine block was full of rust and sludge. The block drain was blocked solid too (no pun intended!). Detected when the cyl. cover was removed for an overhaul.
Following a recommendation, I used a liquid kettle descaler poured into the cooling passages on the block's surface. It did a good job helped along by agitation using the end of a steel coathanger. No casting was harmed during the process.
Others might disagree and criticise, but it worked for me.
Re: Cleaning cooling system hack
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 11:24 am
by svenedin
Mervin wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 10:42 am
When I owned a Traveller, years ago, the rear of the engine block was full of rust and sludge. The block drain was blocked solid too (no pun intended!). Detected when the cyl. cover was removed for an overhaul.
Following a recommendation, I used a liquid kettle descaler poured into the cooling passages on the block's surface. It did a good job helped along by agitation using the end of a steel coathanger. No casting was harmed during the process.
Others might disagree and criticise, but it worked for me.
Not at all. The kettle descaler was almost certainly citric acid. This is perfect for the job and works much better with a hot solution.
Stephen