Technical Radiator rust! SOS

mercjoe · Feb 13, 2022

Hello man.

I can only find oxalic acid in powder form. How do mix it ? Can I do it with distilled water ?

Road Runner said: ↑

I have posted this before over the years...

Oxalic acid removes rust and scale build up in your engine, radiator and heater.
Oxalic acid crystals are available at hardware stores in form of 'wood bleach'.
Available in 16oz. containers, which gives the right mixing ratio with water for the typical car cooling system with 3-4 gallons capacity.

Properly diluted this acid is just as mild and safe as vinegar (acetic acid) and citric acid, but is more effective and cost is the same.
This treatment is safe to use with copper/brass radiators.
It is supposed to be safe with aluminum radiators as well, but I would do some tests first to determine how much reaction time is actually safe.

For best results it's essential to keep temperature at engine operating temp and to keep the flow going.
Drain and flush first, then fill with the diluted acid mix and drive for 3 hours or longer.
For heavy build up leave the acid in overnight and drive again the next day, then drain and flush.

The final step is to neutralize any remaining acid with a mix of washing soda and water and run the engine again for a while, then drain and flush and finally fill with coolant, but using distilled water instead of tap water, this time.

This method really works exceptionally well.
My decade old engine had serious scale and rust build up, when I got it.
Before the treatment and despite a new 3 core radiator, coolant temps easily climbed above 180 during the hot summer months with harder use.
After the treatments, the same engine needed the thermostat to even get up to 180 degrees, even in the summer.

Repeat after one year, then every 2-3 years.
Click to expand...

hoop · Feb 13, 2022

Thermo-Cure by Evaporust.Worked great for me.

indyjps · Feb 13, 2022

Oxalic acid dissolves in water, all types of water.

Whatever process you use, a filter or panty hose is needed. All the stuff you're breaking loose will go thru your water pump. Leave the heater core for last until the system is clean, loop the hoses to bypass until then.

mercjoe · Feb 13, 2022

Thanks Indy. But what part should the filter go ? Return hose to the radiator ? Pump input hose ?
Btw. Is the panty hose really about using a panty as a filter ?

indyjps said: ↑

Oxalic acid dissolves in water, all types of water.

Whatever process you use, a filter or panty hose is needed. All the stuff you're breaking loose will go thru your water pump. Leave the heater core for last until the system is clean, loop the hoses to bypass until then.
Click to expand...

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Technical Radiator rust! SOS

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