Phosphoric acid in engine water cooling system?!

[rtcosic]

I have dropped dishwasher tablets into radiators. I haven't noted any damage.

I haven't tried dishwasher cleaner.

I have considered Fernox central heating cleaner and inhibitor as CH systems have cast iron, steel aluminium, copper and brass components. I haven't tried it though.

 

[minimutly]

Just remember that whatever you put in, you will not be able to get it all out without completely disassembling the coolant system & engine - so there will always be some in there. You can minimise it by filling, running & draining several times, but there will always be a trace in there so choose wisely, look at the composition of the specified coolant and take guidance on how the 'flush' will react with it.

Then knock the core plugs out and pressure wash it. Not hard with a mini.

 

[Turbo]

I used cheap white vinegar to clean the cooling system on a car that had sat with neat water in it. Ran it for a couple of days, flushed with clean water and repeated it. Removed a lot of crud. Finished with a mix of baking soda to neutralise the vinegar.
I think I used a 33% mix of vinegar.

 

[Torqu-E-Cycles]

I used cheap white vinegar to clean the cooling system on a car that had sat with neat water in it. Ran it for a couple of days, flushed with clean water and repeated it. Removed a lot of crud. Finished with a mix of baking soda to neutralise the vinegar.
I think I used a 33% mix of vinegar.

That sounds like a good idea, I guess the temperature changes whilst running will aid the shifting of unwanted nastiness! Did you use it diluted with water? Any reason for not using it neat?

 

[Keithmac]

I've had to research a lot of cooling based stuff recently - redesigning a cooling/heating system on a £3m machine to save money, make it less complex and more efficient.

Plus my own car - I shoved more "modern" pink coolant in my Lancia 8 yrs ago when I put it back on the road - had to drain it a couple of times and I've never seen such rusty looking coolant, or so much rust deposits in the engine bits - so its being flushed and run on plain old water this week, ready for a swap back to ethylene glycol stuff.

That's interesting.

I have bought OAT to fill my GTO after coolant system flush (cast iron block and aluminium heads).

Our Kuga has same metallurgy and that runs OAT from the factory.

 

[Turbo]

That sounds like a good idea, I guess the temperature changes whilst running will aid the shifting of unwanted nastiness! Did you use it diluted with water? Any reason for not using it neat?

Reason for dilution of 2 to 1 was mainly cost.

 

[Onoff]

When I did SWMBO's pug; new rad, stat, heater matrix, water pump etc, I ran everything through it. Proprietary radflush, a cup of citric acid powder, a dishwasher tablet, a dishwasher / washing machine cleaner sachet.

 

[Ubique]

That's interesting.

I have bought OAT to fill my GTO after coolant system flush (cast iron block and aluminium heads).

Our Kuga has same metallurgy and that runs OAT from the factory.

Check the type of OAT is compatible - there are many types, some will react with parts of youe engine, some will not. https://www.blauparts.com/blog/types-of-vw-coolant-antifreeze-specs.html Silicates & Phosphates are the 'combat indicators' to look out for - and if they're friendly to your engine.

 

[Torqu-E-Cycles]

What antifreeze should I be running in the mini? Cast steel block, currently the stock copper radiator.