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Topic: Cleaning exterior of radiator (Read 676 times) previous topic - next topic

Cleaning exterior of radiator

Hello again,
Does anyone have experience blasting bugs and stuff from inside to out on side radiator coach? Doesn't appear to be very feasible at first look.
Tom
1998 U320 40'

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #1 –
Yes, it is good to flush the RADIATOR from the back (engine room).  BUT, the vast majority of the debris is on the outside (coach outside) of the CAC (Charge Air Cooler). The CAC can really only be cleaned from the outside.

Said another way, if you used enough pressure from the engine-side to go through the radiator, space and CAC with enough force to knock debris off the outside of the CAC (where the debris is deposited), you would be bending lots of fins on the radiator.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #2 –
For 'stuff' protection, we have a piece of hardware cloth behind the grill slats. Screening catches leaves and grass, but probably does little to capture bugs. Hardware cloth screen is held against back side of grill with cable ties.

Years ago, we removed grill slats and lowered bottom conveyer belt material and spend hours flushing the space between intercooler and radiator with a water hose with a small nozzle. We flushed out lots of debris, like leaves, paper, twigs, that seemed to have gathered mostly near the bottom of this space. To prevent re-occurrence, we added the screen.

It seems that the hydraulic fans act like a vacuum cleaner, and when driving slowly in a campground narrow road that just has had its grass cut or has piled leaves, radiator has a tendency take some of the debris with us.

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #3 –
 Most road dirt and debris also gets thrown up between rad and CAC by the dual wheels. When I was rebuilding the CAC I used some belting to close off all areas around the rad etc so this would not happen. It seems to be working. The main are are the vertical sides of them as I figured it was not so much coming thru side opening as thrown up.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #4 –
For skinning this cat, understand first that you will never be satisfied cleaning the coils of your radiator.  I do the best I can with a High HP shop vac and a cleaner of some sort to remove the binders that attract and hold dirt/trash.  Whatever procedure you come up with I'd suggest steering clear of any and everything that could be described as high pressure.  I've used a hand pumped bug sprayer with detergent and a garden hose.  Finishing up with the brushy end of a shop vac that will pick up a bowling ball. 
Do this until you have run out of patience or you get happy knowing you've done the best you can do. 
The only time I'd tackle this project would be in conjunction with cooling system issues (cause it ain't no fun.)
Last thing would include adding RMI 25 to the system for the interior (i love the stuff.) pc
 
S/W Houston 95" U320C SE/40' 
Build #4778  Cummins M11
Repairs & Covered RV Parking (BAO)
PPL is close..

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #5 –
I guess I was doing something wrong or our rear radiator has steel fins because I cleaned it about a week and a half ago and in addition to engine cleaner I used a leaf blower and my pressure washer that puts out 230 PSI. Never bent a single fin but did remove a little of the black paint. I did have the nozzle set to fan shape spray so maybe that was it. Or are the "newer" coaches more fragile than mine?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #6 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
I guess I was doing something wrong or our rear radiator has steel fins

Interesting that Oshkosh would use steel fins. Twenty five years later it still is ok.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #7 –
Don't want to sound ignorant but to be sure that turbo cooler is air to air? Yes at least I hope so . Finished building Timber Box and filling with 2inch gravel then crush and run top off. As we backed coach in place and dumped air we were looking at how awesome all engine, tranny ,and rear end draining will be now that rear is cantilevered and elevated when much to my disappointment I smelled antifreeze. upon furthe inspection it became apparent that this ol girl had been run aground at some point and the turbo cooler in front on radiator was where it touched.
  The core is slightly deformed at bottom and tabs that hold it onto radiator had snapped. Good news looks like removing both radiators shouldn't be to overwhelming after taking umteen screws out of louvered body panel and setting it aside. now have to decide if I want to trust a Nashville area radiator shop to clean and recore or find comparable all alluminum deal that fits nice and move onto air system?
Tom
1998 U320 40'

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #8 –
Yes, the CAC IS, repeat IS air to air.  So, no coolant from it.

Sorry, don't know anything about radiator shops in Nashville.  But, nothing exotic about your components.

So , what is the source of the coolant?

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020
 

Re: Cleaning exterior of radiator

Reply #9 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Yes, the CAC IS, repeat IS air to air.  So, no coolant from it.

Sorry, don't know anything about radiator shops in Nashville.  But, nothing exotic about your components.

So , what is the source of the coolant?

Brett
Can't tell,smell it more than see it. Inclined to get that louvered panel off then remove Air cooler [have it pressure tested due to minor dent] then have a closer look. Of course once I've gone that far, might as well rules start to apply! It is a 19 year old cooling system.
Tom
1998 U320 40'