Community Forums

noserider · 09-17-2016, 08:32 PM

I want to clean both my engine and radiator/cac. I have a self serve truck wash fairly close by. It's has big stalls for 18 wheelers. I'm primarily interested in using the facility to catch all the oily water that comes off the engine and radiator. I'm not able to do this at my house with a garden hose and have the water drain in the street. I bought some Simple Green HD and plan to use that with some dawn with a garden sprayer. The next step will be to rinse. I will be careful with the alternator and not get to close with the pressure on the fins. I'm curious what the pressure is at a car wash? Sound like a reasonable plan?

Ray,IN · 09-17-2016, 08:51 PM

Don't do it! I attempted this with my old Chevy Luv's radiator. Yes it cleaned the fins-AND severely bent them. Using a radiator fin I was able to straighten most of them,but not without damaging some further.
I will never again use anything but a garden hose to flush the fins, and that by maintaining a safe distance between the two.

noserider · 09-17-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Don't do it! I attempted this with my old Chevy Luv's radiator. Yes it cleaned the fins-AND severely bent them. Using a radiator fin I was able to straighten most of them,but not without damaging some further.
I will never again use anything but a garden hose to flush the fins, and that by maintaining a safe distance between the two.

Ray you had to go and ruin my plan

mtofell · 09-17-2016, 09:18 PM

You could do it but just have to hold the wand far enough back to avoid damage. How far back? I'm not sure.... I've washed my RVs with a pressure washer numerous times over the years. If I held tip of the sprayer at the side I could probably cut a hole in the steel or fiberglass. Or, at least strip some paint and finish.

I'd probably shy away from it just because of the bad that could happen.

Ludmilla · 09-25-2016, 04:15 PM

I would not do it. You would have to be VERY careful to not bend the fins.

pointrow · 09-25-2016, 05:05 PM

I've washed hundreds of radiators out with a power washer with out damage. Like most things you have to use some common sense and don't get real close with the wand. Spray directly at the fins not across at an angle.
I would also use a spray degreaser before you drive tothe wash bay then wash off.

good luck

pointrow

noserider · 09-25-2016, 07:03 PM

I was checking out access to the radiator and cac today. From the bedroom raising the bed and engine cover the back of the CAC is possible but not great with the fan in the way. I'm definitely going to use a garden sprayer to apply the cleaning agent. If I also had a sprayer for the garden hose with a long wand I might be able to get at the CAC. I found this on Amazon. Would do you guys think?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=AAF4E28EIJFFO