Cleaning rad/Intercoolers
 

Just replacing a condenser on one of the cars, noticed obviously the old rad is pretty dirty (no bent fins though) compared to the fresh new part.

Anyone got any tips for cleaning the fins and getting a bit of the original colour back?

I've seen people recommend silly things like pressure washers etc, that is out, the rad is on the car and I was wondering if there was some sort of wonder chemical that I could lightly spray on and have it take the filth away.

Only thing I can think of right now is spraying some panel wipe into the fins, and using a super soft make up brush.

Wishful thinking really but I wondered if there was some mildly acidic solution out there which might just lift some of the dirt off without causing more harm than good.

Danke.

Commercial a/c engineers clean down the fins of the outdoor units. It is in a squirty bottle and it cuts through the dirt and grease without damage.



Don't use a pressure washer on the delicate fins, it will wreck them.

In the past I've used engine degreasant, gently stippled onto the radiator with a soft paintbrush on both sides. Once it's worked into the grime, a gentle wash off with a hosepipe will do the job.

As above, don't use anything harsh.

Did it offer an improvement and make it nice and silvery again?

It seems a bit bonkers to replace a rad with a new one so it all looks nice and new, having said that, with the front of the car off, it almost makes some sense to replace the rad after 14 years.

Although if they are made in China, that would not be happening.

Yeah, it should come back to being shiny as it's alloy and therefore not prone to rusting.

There's no need to replace it if the fins are all fine and it's not leaking - just clean it so that the air can flow through it and flush the inside out in both directions using a hose pipe.

The atmosphere and road salt attack the alloy and turn them to dust.

Yeah - very true, but it takes a long time. I recently removed the original items from my 54 plate R75 and if they hadn't been spanged on a truck and bent, they would have been fine for refitting with very little corrosion of the fins.

If the item in question is clearly and visibly knackered then don't bother cleaning it!

I ordered some "coil cleaner" as per the advice here.. Two types, a degreasing one, and another alkali one which is "fin friendly" (lol)

Hopefully all good.

Bit of a contrast having a new condenser and a filthy old rad next to each other.

I would be asking myself this.

Does the radiator leak? yes/no if the answer is no then continue to the next question

Does the radiator effectively transfer heat from the engine coolant. yes/no

If you answer yes, then leave it alone, changing a perfectly good component for the sake of changing is not only wasteful, but carries the risk of introducing faults and or inferior components.

You cannot tell me it is vital that the cooling radiator looks the same as the new condenser radiator, it cannot be seen once the car is reassembled :duh:

If it's not broken, don't try and fix it :getmecoat:

Brian :D