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Removing greasy crud from radiator fins

Hendrik

Hendrik

Member
My Holder two stroke diesel tractor blows partially burnt engine oil from the engine exhaust. (This is the nature of the beast since it has an oil injection system versus a circulation pressure system as found on most four stroke engines.)
The fan pulls some droplets into the radiator. Over the years, a greasy crud has built up on the radiator fins to the extent that you cannot see through the radiator while in a clean(er) area you easily can. The crud causes the engine to overheat. It is a thermo syphon system.
Hoe can I remove this crud? I applied industrial grade degreaser followed by rinsing with hot tap water but that doesn't seem to help much.
Any and all advise appreciated! Hendrik
 
Just do more of the same. the cleaner can only penetrate through so much greasy dirt before you have to flush the loosened stuff off, so that it can penetrate deeper. It's not a good idea to use a real aggressive cleaner like oven cleaner or high pressure like a pressure washer on radiator tubes. Just give it time.
 
Spray with engine cleaner, comes in 16 oz spray cans. Spray on, let it soak for a few minutes and rinse off, repeat. Will clean it right up. tom
 
My MF65 has an oil bath air cleaner that tends to leak oil if overfilled. This plus chaff tends to plug a radiator up pretty solid. I suspect this is why the tractor was sold to me with major overheat damage as the radiator was 100% blocked. I put it in the parts washer and ran solvent through it til it was clean. It took a long time. Several hours if I recall correctly. Got access to a parts washer? What about a tub full of gas kero or diesel? Not sure if the dangers inherent wouldn't outweigh any successes here.

Aaron
 
If you do use a pressure washer. Stand back from it and let the water gently run over it. To close and you can destroy it. Just ask my brother in law.
 
you can get close no problem.But you must hit it square on with the spray. get it on an angle and the fins will be folded over. washed many many rads with the wash gun.
 
Be very careful with a power washer on any fin product. Cna fold up fins in a flash, and you"re going to spens hours with a comb trying to set them back straight. Ask how I know.
 
You might find my archived post here about it from about a year ago. The radiator on my dozer was very clogged because of a past hydraulic leak and years of dust. I ended up buying a spray-on de-greaser made by Zep at my local auto parts store. It worked great using just a garden hose after letting it soak for a few minutes. Make sure whatever you use doesn't say "not safe for aluminum" on the label.
 
Blaster, an air hose, and a water hose. Blow off the excess, spray it with Blaster, and let it soak. We used 4 cans on the dozer a couple summers ago. I don't use a pressure washer on a radiator, but you could, I definitely wouldn't use a stream nozzle, and would stand back if I had to.
 
if you can take your rad out just bring it to a rad shop they can dunk it in a cleaning tank and they can flush the cores out which would not hurt to do once in a while anyway dont think it would cost that much to do cheaper than cooking your engine
 
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