Removing oil from a vehicle cooling system

[winchman]

Any top tips, made a start with washing up liquid just wondered if any one has a secret formula that works better

 

[Barking Mat]

More to the point how or why have you oil in cooling system ?

 

[winchman]

Changing head gasket as oil in radiator

 

[qwakers]

dishwasher tablets.

 

[bricol]

I have heard of the use of a dish washer tablet.

 

[8ob]

Any top tips, made a start with washing up liquid just wondered if any one has a secret formula that works better

Fill system with neat TFR , run it for a few days and flush it out.

Bob

 

[Trevorleach]

I have used tfr before, apporx 2 litres in a 45 litre cooling system, worked well.
Neat tfr can be wicked shti.

 

[500e]

Especially on alloy

 

[m_c]

Liquid laundry detergent is what several vehicle manufacturers recommend.

Doesn't have to be anything that fancy, although I'd avoid the cheapest options, just because they're pretty rubbish in general.
They're more effective than TFR, as they're better at dissolving oils. TFR typically relies more on alkaline for cleaning to avoid emulsifying (big no no in terms of pouring down the drain), whereas as laundry detergent is more neutral and breaks down oils rather than washing them off.

I've used both, and laundry detergent is more effective.

 

[123hotchef]

dishwasher tabs or soda crystals

 

[Windy Miller]

I’ve used non foaming detergent before - works a treat. Got it from a chemical place over the road from the garage I worked at - I think it was Jennychem..

 

[Trevorleach]

I’ve used non foaming detergent before - works a treat. Got it from a chemical place over the road from the garage I worked at - I think it was Jennychem..

Was that when jennychem were on the medway estate?

 

[Windy Miller]

Was that when jennychem were on the medway estate?

No that was back in the old days when they were out at Hoo Marina! Do you know the area?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Vauxhall recommended bleach to main agents. I tired it and worked great

 

[Ross365]

Bleach is a going fill the system with chloride ions (as will washing up liquid) and once they adsorb on metal surfaces, they cannot be completely washed off unless you use a chemical designed to do just that. The issue here is that there are few things in the world which are better at initiating corrosion than chloride ions.

Alkaline products are also good at starting corrosion, especially on aluminium. Are there no commercial products on the market intended to do this? Even if they cost a few bob, might be a good investment if you intend the keep the vehicle.

 

[m_c]

I'd guess that vehicle manufacturer's have probably done their homework on what works best, and any possible longer term issues.

Plus I suspect the rust inhibitors in coolant probably negate any longer term issues.

 

[Trevorleach]

No that was back in the old days when they were out at Hoo Marina! Do you know the area?

We used to rent a shed/workshop just 50 yards along from them when they were on the medway estate, that bit is houses and a bus lane now.
Worked on or around the estate for approx 15 plus years.
NYs are now in the workshop opposite mcdonalds we had for a decade or so, then I was at the dafs dealer up the road for nearly another decade, then a year or two in the dockyard.

 

[Trevorleach]

Bleach is a going fill the system with chloride ions (as will washing up liquid) and once they adsorb on metal surfaces, they cannot be completely washed off unless you use a chemical designed to do just that. The issue here is that there are few things in the world which are better at initiating corrosion than chloride ions.

Alkaline products are also good at starting corrosion, especially on aluminium. Are there no commercial products on the market intended to do this? Even if they cost a few bob, might be a good investment if you intend the keep the vehicle.

In most wshops people tend to use what is at hand, hence the tfr.

 

[Ubique]

Gunk Ultra engine degreaser is the stuff we used as a flush, along with replacing the coolant expansion tank at a later date as the oil would attach itself to the plastic in the process of the coolant expanding & contracting. Also beware of any coolant venturi's being blocked by remaining residue.
As above, most workshops will use whatever they have or can be got cheaply as in most cases, it;'s not their car and any corrosion will only shorten the life 'later on' - i.e. once it's no longer their problem.
TBH, I don't think you're going to find any way of doing it that isn't a compromise to some extent. The oil coolers on 4.4TDV8's have been cross-contaminating oil & coolant for years, there hasn't been any corrosion-related issues from carrying out post-repair cleaning that I'm aware of.

 

[Windy Miller]

We used to rent a shed/workshop just 50 yards along from them when they were on the medway estate, that bit is houses and a bus lane now.
Worked on or around the estate for approx 15 plus years.
NYs are now in the workshop opposite mcdonalds we had for a decade or so, then I was at the dafs dealer up the road for nearly another decade, then a year or two in the dockyard.

I’ve lived round there for donkey’s ages, and spent many many hours around the estate there. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if our paths have crossed at some point!