clearing rust from cooling system

[black_demon69]

ok i have tried flushing doesn't always get system completely clean.

so one day i had a bright idea that actually works..

step 1 flush and refill system with proper antifreeze mix

step 2 clean reservoir

step 3 if equipped with rubber hose in reservoir cut at angle right at the bottom so it doesn't pick up coolant right from bottom.

step 4 drop very strong magnet in reservoir (Neodymium magnet) found mine in an old hard drive

step 5 check and clean magnet once a week (get magnet out of the reservoir using a screwdriver)


it will take some time but i have cleaned 2 or 3 cooling systems this way
just thought i would share this with this community

 

[Andy D]

My well is loaded with iron . I've a few magnets. I'm gonna try this on the Rat TIA

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The rust falls in the low spots in the engine block and just keeps getting stirred up a normal coolant flush will not remove that rust. The last ime I replaced the water pump I took a high pressure hose and blasted inside the water jacket inside the block and the thermostat housing (thermostat removed). I just kept blasting until the water came out clear and put it back together. Going on four years the coolant still looks new. Also I drained the heater core and radiator and filled them with half water/bleach mix overnight and back flushed both ways until clear water came out.

 

[black_demon69]

if you have water pump off then i can see how that would work.

but magnets are easy and very little work involved still takes awhile though

 

[black_demon69]

My well is loaded with iron . I've a few magnets. I'm gonna try this on the Rat TIA

flush reservoir first get every little bit of rust you can out of system

 

[black_demon69]

you could save old rusty antifreeze to top off cooling system (rust will settle to bottom antifreeze will turn green again) just pour very slowly and don't shake....

 

[truckfan]

Nice. Will definitely try this magnet method. Thanks for sharing.

 

[black_demon69]

pick of magnet

pick of magnet after one week

 

[bowtieboy77]

Just curious never tried it and don't know if it would harm cooling system components but what about household CLR? it also cleans calcium which is the white powdery deposit that sticks to the rad tubes.

 

[PirateB]

CLR is NOT safe for aluminum.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD

 

[Surrey]

CLR is NOT safe for aluminum.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD

Is there any aluminum in a Ranger engine? I have an old 2.9l, I dont think anything is aluminum...?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Possibly the heater core or radiator have aluminum. I have used bleach water mix 1/2 and 1/2 to flush out both heater core and radiator. Back flush them out good and for the radiator plug the lower hole and fill it with bleach water and let sit overnight then blast it both ways with the garden hose on high. Just be careful where you rinse it and keep it off your clothese. You dont want bleach in the cooling system rinse them good before you hook the hoses up.

 

[black_demon69]

Possibly the heater core or radiator have aluminum. I have used bleach water mix 1/2 and 1/2 to flush out both heater core and radiator. Back flush them out good and for the radiator plug the lower hole and fill it with bleach water and let sit overnight then blast it both ways with the garden hose on high. Just be careful where you rinse it and keep it off your clothese. You dont want bleach in the cooling system rinse them good before you hook the hoses up.

bleach is an oxidizer and causes rust i would not use it (personal opinion of coarse)

also i have used clr in cooling systems with aluminum just didnt let it sit for more than a little while (no more than an hour) also used a fairly week solution. it is really debatable that clr did much in that short of time.

also heard of people using baking soda in cooling system to clean however i have no direct experience with it.

 

[kunar]

Is there any aluminum in a Ranger engine? I have an old 2.9l, I dont think anything is aluminum...?

your lower intake, thermostat housing and water pump are all aluminum...

i wouldnt leave CLR or bleach sitting in my engine, but a rinse/flush probably wouldnt have enough time to do much damage (or much good)