How to clean the radiator on a C-5

[hoosierdaddy]

Boy did I get a surprise today, got the car all cleaned up for the CAC Cruise Fest in Bowling Green this Thursday. I decided to check out the front spoiler and the center one that is spring loaded and looked up at the radiator, and I couldn't believe all the crap at the top of the radiator, mostly appeard to be a lot of grass and this kind of stuff. I got the air hose out and got most of it blew out but there is still some at the very top; my question would be what is the best way to clean this out, it is very hard :confused to get to. I thought about just a garden hose but don't know how you could lay down there and see; not to mention get soaked to the bone and a pressure washer would be out of the question and I don't know how you would ever get the wand underneath the car. Is there a way to clean it from the top? Any one else done this lately? Like I said I got a lot of it out but would like to at sometime clean it all out.

Thanks and any help or advice would be greatly appreicated.
Bill

 

[mqqn]

Hi Bill -

I just use my hand, and push my fingers up in the radiator/shroud where they come together and gently brush the crap out of there.

Just keep pushing the shroud away from the radiator - it's just plastic and will move with some gentle effort. Work your way across the top and you will be done in no time.

I do this each oil change - it is much easier if you have access to a lift, but just jacking it up and crawling under will work too.

I find candy wrappers, cig butts, grass, leaves, you name it - it gets sucked up there.

I am still hoping to find some cash sucked up there someday.....

best regards -

mqqn

 

[motorman]

Boy did I get a surprise today, got the car all cleaned up for the CAC Cruise Fest in Bowling Green this Thursday. I decided to check out the front spoiler and the center one that is spring loaded and looked up at the radiator, and I couldn't believe all the crap at the top of the radiator, mostly appeard to be a lot of grass and this kind of stuff. I got the air hose out and got most of it blew out but there is still some at the very top; my question would be what is the best way to clean this out, it is very hard :confused to get to. I thought about just a garden hose but don't know how you could lay down there and see; not to mention get soaked to the bone and a pressure washer would be out of the question and I don't know how you would ever get the wand underneath the car. Is there a way to clean it from the top? Any one else done this lately? Like I said I got a lot of it out but would like to at sometime clean it all out.

Thanks and any help or advice would be greatly appreicated.
Bill

do NOT use a pressure washer as it will bend all the fins on the rad and you will need a new one

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Hi Bill -

I just use my hand, and push my fingers up in the radiator/shroud where they come together and gently brush the crap out of there.

Just keep pushing the shroud away from the radiator - it's just plastic and will move with some gentle effort. Work your way across the top and you will be done in no time.

I do this each oil change - it is much easier if you have access to a lift, but just jacking it up and crawling under will work too.

I find candy wrappers, cig butts, grass, leaves, you name it - it gets sucked up there.

I am still hoping to find some cash sucked up there someday.....

best regards -

mqqn

Thanks for the info, cash would be nice. Boy these radiators with the bottom pick-up is about like a hoover vacume cleaner aren't they? Like I said the air hose worked alright but I didn't get to the very top; wanted to be real carefull with the compressed air on the core you know. I think it will be alright for now but next time I will see if I can reach it, you must have longer arms than I have, not real sure I can reach it with my hand. Thought maybe there was a way to get some of it from the top without disassembling the front end.

Thanks again,
Bill

 

[DRTH VTR]

You can remove the upper radiator support piece. It comes off with 4 bolts (after removing the necessary air intake pieces). Then a hose could be used from the top. I have not used a hose, but I had to do that much disassembly to install my VaraRam. It is pretty easy.

 

[jrose7004]

When I change my oil I always just reach up there and brush all of that stuff out by hand!

 

[Hotwing]

GEEEEZZZ.....I better check mine !!!!!!!!

 

[RonJ]

Boy did I get a surprise today, got the car all cleaned up for the CAC Cruise Fest in Bowling Green this Thursday. I decided to check out the front spoiler and the center one that is spring loaded and looked up at the radiator, and I couldn't believe all the crap at the top of the radiator, mostly appeard to be a lot of grass and this kind of stuff. I got the air hose out and got most of it blew out but there is still some at the very top; my question would be what is the best way to clean this out, it is very hard :confused to get to. I thought about just a garden hose but don't know how you could lay down there and see; not to mention get soaked to the bone and a pressure washer would be out of the question and I don't know how you would ever get the wand underneath the car. Is there a way to clean it from the top? Any one else done this lately? Like I said I got a lot of it out but would like to at sometime clean it all out.

Thanks and any help or advice would be greatly appreicated.
Bill

I think that what you are looking at is crap stuck to the top of the airconditioning condenser. Cleaning that out has to help for sure, but to clean the radiator itself calls for some dis-assembly.

Ron ... :ugh

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I think that what you are looking at is crap stuck to the top of the airconditioning condenser. Cleaning that out has to help for sure, but to clean the radiator itself calls for some dis-assembly.

Ron ... :ugh

That's what I meant Ron, at the very top of the condensor, I knew that set in front of the radiator. I blew most of it out, really this should catch all the crap anyway, the radiator is more than likely alright, it would get to the condensor first; right?

Bill