Brass Radiaor. How do you descale?

[Industrial Toys]

Radiator is out of machine. What can I leave in there a while to disolve the lime and scale? Please don't say CLR. I have mouthwash that's more potent. Muriatic Acid? Hydrochloric acid? I don't want to wreck the radiator , but want womthing that works.

Thanks.

And what about removing a heavy buildup of gunge in the fins? Plugged solid in places? I don't want to hurt the fins.

Rad place I drove by is closed up. Better than that, bulldozed flat!

 

[K5lwq]

Might try vinegar. A delimer used for restaurant equipment diluted would work as well. Something like EcoLabs Lime-a-way.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I did buy some cleaning srength vinegar a while back, which I have not used, but thought about something stronger. The rad is out and I want to do the best job possible, so not to have to go through this again.

 

[K5lwq]

You don’t want to go to strong as it can cause leaks. Time is your friend. Let it soak for a while then rinse well. Do you use distilled water or tap water with antifreeze?

 

[radios1]

the pro's use Lye in a vat.. not acid..

 

[Industrial Toys]

Interesting. I once worked with that for etching something. An electronic control panel or something. I will never forget the BOSS told me some corny joke, Mommy, mommy, the mouse was eating the lye and now the lye is eating the mouse".

I remember it came in flakes. Can you still get it?

 

[K5lwq]

A acid is more effective at lime removal. To hold lime in suspension in the water a lye would help in the form of caustic potash not caustic soda. This is used in detergents formulated for hard water. For this situation I would prefer a mild acid and time.

 

[TractorGuy]

I think phosphoric acid will dissolve mineral deposits.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I only use distilled. But tap water could have been in there at one time. What is the relationship between Vinegar, CLR, Muriatic acid and Hydrocholic acid?

Time I have, to let it soak.

I am getting a hot water pressure washer going one of these days so will need to think about descaling that once in a while. But that would be different I guess. Hard water lime being boiled onto a hot pipe is not the same as the scale on a radiaor I guess. So what is on the radiator?

 

[K5lwq]

Muriatic Acid is probably the base product for CLR. Vinegar is low in PH and not as aggressive but is effective. Hydrochloric Acid is a oxidizer and will react negativity with copper.