Flushing Rad system

[Richard D.]

Anyone out there use the Prestone Radiator Flush product?

Supposed to remove scale and other crap.

Is is worth using, or is it B.S.?

Thanks,

Rich

[Duke W.]

Re: Flushing Rad system

I don't think these products do much good ,and they may even be harmful to systems with aluminum components, so be sure to read the label.

Once a "316" type aluminum radiator becomes sufficiently clogged with deposits and reduces heat transfer efficiency to the point where the car runs hot or overheats, it cannot be saved. It must be replaced!

Brass radiators can be taken to a radiator shop when the tanks can be unsoldered so the tubes can be "rodded out".

Of course, the best way to avoid deposit buildup it to take action to avoid it in the first place, assuming you have relatively new components. I believe that using an organic inhibitor antifreeze like Dexcool will avoid such deposit buildup in the long run and lead to longer cooling system service life.

The traditional "green antifreeze" provides good aluminum corrosion protection, but it's the inorganic salts in the inhibitor package precipitating out over the years that clogs the tubes. Regardless of whether your radiator corrodes through or gets clogged up with precipitates, the end result is the same- you either need a new aluminum radiator, or if it's brass, repair or rebuild.

There are a lot of stories and misconceptions about Dexcool. There have been some problems on some recent GM cars and GM blames it on running for extended periods with low coolant level. Of course, all owners who have problems deny this.

I've been using it in all my cars since 1996 with no problems other than some minor seepage. I believe this is because it has no inorganic salts that tend to plug seepage at hose connections or other tiny leak paths, which is the same material that will eventually clog the tubes. All I've ever had to do is snug some hose connections. If seepage occurs at freeze plugs or gasketed joints, Bar's Leak will often seal them and the latest Bar's leak should be compatible with Dexcool. My understanding is that the traditional Bar's leak was not compatible with Dexcool, so they developed up a special version for Dexcool, but the current product is compatible with all current inhibitor packages. Of course, always read the label to be sure.

One other myth is that Dexcool is not ethylene glycol based. It is! The difference between Dexcool and the green stuff is the corrosion inhibitor package - organic carboxylate technology for Dexcool. Silicates any other inorganic salts for the green stuff.

Duke

Duke