Anyone ever tried any detergents or other cleansers in their cooling
system? I've put my '55 back together and the cooling system seems to
be mostly clean but the radiator fills up with a fine coating of rusty
goo. I suspect that this is surface rust and residual gunk left over
from cleaning out the block, and appears that it would "wash" off with a
mild detergent, but what to use? I'm half tempted to use some automatic
dishwasher detergent (because it doesn't make as many suds as the normal
stuff) and drive around with that in there to see if it does the trick.
Of course this will have to wait as I still haven't gotten the fan
shroud and air deflector (or whatever you call the plate that holds the
hood latch) ready for paint yet... a pox on the previous owner of the
car; you can almost measure the thickness of the old paint with a ruler.
I'm guessing getting stuck in traffic, or even idling in the driveway,
with no fan shroud would be an unpleasant experience.
nate

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RoadRaceLark - 27 Aug 2006 15:11 GMT
> Anyone ever tried any detergents or other cleansers in their cooling
> system? I've put my '55 back together and the cooling system seems to
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> replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
> http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel
oldcarfart - 27 Aug 2006 15:24 GMT
> Anyone ever tried any detergents or other cleansers in their cooling
> system? I've put my '55 back together and the cooling system seems to
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> replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
> http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel
I use "Greased Lightening" it is low acidic, non-corrosive like the
purple cleaners and low sudsing. It rinses well and leaves minimum
reside and what residues do remain does not seem to degrade coolant
quality.
Grumpy AuContraire - 27 Aug 2006 15:44 GMT
> Anyone ever tried any detergents or other cleansers in their cooling
> system? I've put my '55 back together and the cooling system seems to
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>
> nate
DO NOT use any form of household detergent!
Use a traditional radiator cleaner and do a reverse flush for an hour or so.
JT
dwcars - 27 Aug 2006 16:54 GMT
We had a Pontiac motor rebuilt by Jasper that did the same thing. Do not
use distilled water in the cooling system, it is called "hungry water" or
something like that and will pull rust forever. We finally stopped it in
the Pontiac by puring a 1/2 quart of trans fluid in the cooling system.
> Anyone ever tried any detergents or other cleansers in their cooling
> system? I've put my '55 back together and the cooling system seems to be
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> nate
Jeffrey DeWitt - 27 Aug 2006 19:25 GMT
How about some of the good old Studebaker-Packard radiator cleaner,
seems like that stuff would clean about anything!
Jeff DeWitt
> Anyone ever tried any detergents or other cleansers in their cooling
> system? I've put my '55 back together and the cooling system seems to
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> nate
Grumpy AuContraire - 28 Aug 2006 01:56 GMT
Yep and you cain't git suff like that ennymoor. I think I have 'nuff
stashed away to last me the rest of my Studebaker career!
<G>
JT
> How about some of the good old Studebaker-Packard radiator cleaner,
> seems like that stuff would clean about anything!
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> >
> > nate
Dwain G. - 27 Aug 2006 21:03 GMT
If I knew that the block had gone through the manual cleaning process, and
that the radiator was clean, I would flush the system one more time, then
add a can of water pump lube/cooling system conditioner to the 50-50 mix.
It will look milky at first, but will clear up in a few days and you
shouldn't see the rusty tint again.
Nate Nagel - 27 Aug 2006 22:58 GMT
> If I knew that the block had gone through the manual cleaning process, and
> that the radiator was clean, I would flush the system one more time, then
> add a can of water pump lube/cooling system conditioner to the 50-50 mix.
> It will look milky at first, but will clear up in a few days and you
> shouldn't see the rusty tint again.
The block was manually cleaned prior to building, but I don't have any
confidence that the radiator, heater core, etc. was ever clean. I did
run some of the Studebaker cleaner (lye?) through it with the previous
engine, but I don't think it was ever really "clean."
Am wondering if there's something I can put in and just drive around
with that will clean it out, before I have to put antifreeze in in
another couple months?
I do know that I will have to pull the block drains; I'm OK with that,
BTDT almost used to it.
nate

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Grumpy AuContraire - 28 Aug 2006 01:58 GMT
> > If I knew that the block had gone through the manual cleaning process, and
> > that the radiator was clean, I would flush the system one more time, then
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>
> nate
I'd just put the Stude stuff in it and drive it around for a week or two.
I use regular antifreeze with distilled water and a rust inhibitor.
JT
Barry - 30 Aug 2006 13:19 GMT
The van I drove home from PA aparently developed an issue with its oil
cooler, and filled the cooling system with a messy goo of oil mixed with
coolant. It caused the thermostat to stick a few miles from Big Bob's, and
built enough pressure to blow the lower hose off. Now that I finally have it
back home, my plan is to remove the left & rt water outlets & douche out the
block & radiator with a pressure washer the best I can, & then run some
Studebaker cooling system cleaner through it. Any other advice?
--
Barry'd in Studes
58 Packard Hawk
40 President
39 Coupe Exp.
59 DeLuxe 1/2 tn.
56 Packard "400"
> > > If I knew that the block had gone through the manual cleaning process, and
> > > that the radiator was clean, I would flush the system one more time, then
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>
> JT