I recently bought a 2007 Santa Fe with a damaged engine due to timing belt failure. As part of my work (hobby) in restoring this car to good running order should I clean the radiator and if so how should it be done by myself or by a radiator specialist?
franc123,
Sep 14, 10:42pm
If the coolant appears to have been in there for several years by all means flush the coolant and replace it, I dont think I would bother removing the radiator if the tanks and seals appear good.
kazbanz,
Sep 15, 9:37am
I think it comes down to how far you have gone with the engine. By that I mean if you are going engine out to sort the bent valves etc then likely the rad is coming out anyways. So why not have a rad company test the tanks and clean out the cores. Not because of the engine failure which I picture as a sudden top end failure so no oil in water/water in oil issues. More just checking due the the age of the vehicle. Kinda like a PP inspection. if they find nothing you think waste of money. if they find blockage or early signs of tank cracking you dodged a bullet.
intrade,
Sep 15, 10:39am
modern radiators are not manufactured to be cleaned. What does this mean. Well basically like everything its made to only just be good enough to do the job its not engeneerd to last abuse its designed to function correctly only under the ideal conditions`So you replace a radiator if it has any problems. as its simply not made to be cleaned nor serviced.
intrade,
Sep 15, 10:45am
if you have to clean aradiator core on a modern car you better put the car in a crusher because you be having way bigger problems as all components are made to only just last . when one thing is abused all dominos are falling so good luck replacing one domino when the next one is already falling. you have to go in with the big gun and remove all dominos that are falling including a few that are about to fall To stop the domino effect That nukes modern cars. the day of cleaning out a model T radiator and messing with a few wires to keep going are well and truely over.
alowishes,
Sep 15, 12:10pm
Good thing my newest car is from 1988 eh!
mack77,
Nov 18, 10:42am
Thanks everybody for your helpful comments. Since I have removed the radiator I will get it checked.
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