TR2/3/3A Putting dish soap in the radiator to remove grease

[sp53]

Putting dish soap in the radiator to remove grease by just driving the car. My thoughts are the soap should not hurt anything and actually might help clean out some of the soldering flux I used in rodding out and soldering. BUT, I can do stupid stuff, so I truly would appreciate your thought.


Steve

 

[bobhustead]

Old shade tree trick. I've done it myself but don't know if it really works. I would not drive around with soap in the system. foam doesn't conduct heat well. Just in the driveway for a few minutes. Flush out the soapy water thru the top hose disconnected from the radiator.
Bob

 

[CJD]

But...will your car blow bubbles?!?

 

[sp53]

The plan is to get bubbles with grease on them. Why would you say the top hose Bob? I was going to drain it out at the bottom of radiator and probably run water through a few times, but I like wisdom

Anyways this whole deal came about after driving for about 20 miles then pulling off the radiator cap and seeing all this soldering flux looking stuff all around the cap outlet top and the cap; lots of the stuff it must float--- I hope.

steve

 

[bobhustead]

To clear out the soap, you need to flow clean water from a garden hose throughout the system. You can't fill the entire system from the bottom hose. By the way, I don't run a thermostat. It would be helpful to remove yours for this process.
Bob

 

[Sarastro]

Your local auto-parts store will have a good selection of radiator-flush solutions. I'd trust those to work better than dish soap.

 

[TRopic6]

I once used powdered cleaner for dishwashers from the food store to flush my TR6. I'd read that dishwasher stuff won't foam up like Dawn, etc. A lot of crud came out, but I can't say it was better than an automotive flush. I thought it would have some abrasive material in it since it's supposed to clean mineral deposits from dishwashers. No harm done, but I'm not sure it was better.

I did find some rust/crud build-up in the lower pipe outlet in the water pump housing. I cleaned it out with a small wire brush and pretend the water now flows easier...

 

[Popeye]

I once used powdered cleaner for dishwashers from the food store to flush my TR6. I'd read that dishwasher stuff won't foam up like Dawn, etc.

I have no idea if soap is good or bad for the radiator - but this comment is correct. Dishwasher soap does not foam like hand-washing soap. (Ever put Dawn or Tide in a dishwasher... I have... it's funny until SWMBO gets home.)

 

[RGK]

If only TR's could talk...

 

[sp53]

The dish soap worked very well. I ran it without a thermostat and used the Moss racing sleeve that slows down the bypass. I filled the radiator with 6 oz of premixed Dawn with 2 gallons of water, drove the car around the neighborhood with no problem. I drained the water and soap out hot at the bottom radiator drain valve. I used the Dawn because I do not trust radiator cleaner chemicals and figured the Dawn was benign enough not to cause damage. The inside of the radiator is squeaky clean. The car ran at 185 and it was about 80 out.

The car runs at 185 but takes time to warm up probably because there is no thermostat. I will probably put in my NOS 187 thermostat when fall comes to provide a quicker warm up and better heater. I like to drive year round. Life is short.

steve

 

[70herald]

I have no idea if soap is good or bad for the radiator - but this comment is correct. Dishwasher soap does not foam like hand-washing soap. (Ever put Dawn or Tide in a dishwasher... I have... it's funny until SWMBO gets home.)

Glad I am not the only one to make that mistake! The kitchen floor was very clean afterwards.