Soap to degrease your coolant system? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300DPETE · #1 10-29-2005, 02:26 PM

1982 300D

I just ordered 5lbs. of citric acid from vitiglo for $15.20 and $5 shipping...I'm sure there are cheaper sources, but these guys have good customer feedback so I'm a little less concerned about handing over my credit card.
http://www.vitaglo.com/7325.html

Anyways, in searching this forum, I noticed a few posts on degreasing with Tide or dishwashing detergents before you use the citric acid flush.

Is this correct? Is there anything that is recommended in particular? If so, how much of each soap do you use with each fill-up with the hose? Do you do just one flush with the soap, or a few to degrease?

Can all of this soap and acid have a negative effect on the coolant system? Does it do anything bad to certain types of metals? (I have an auxillary VO system that has aluminum parts in it and uses engine coolant to heat the VO). I'm doing it because I noticed a fair amount of rust in a coolant hose I removed.

Thanks,

Pete.

kip Foss · #2 10-29-2005, 03:18 PM

Pete,

Citric acid will not de-grease. It is an acid which will not cut grease, only caustic and petrolium products will do that. Acids will rremove mineral scale but in my experience don't have much effect on oil based dirt.

When I worked on the supertankers in the Middle East we used to clean steam boilers with vast amounts of lye. Once the oil was removed we de-scaled them with hydrochloric acid. The acid had been altered, I can't remember the exact term, to prevent it from eating the steel. This process involved large tanks, hoses and circulating pumps. It went on for days. Not a fun job. Plus it ate the crap out of your pants.

300DPETE · #3 10-29-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kip Foss

Pete,

Citric acid will not de-grease.

That's why I'm asking about which degreaser to use before I use the citric acid flush....

....read a bit further in my original post.

Thanks, though.

Pete.

iceman3876 · #4 10-29-2005, 04:26 PM

I am watching you on this one...I want to do the citric flush thing...but I to am curious about degreasin'

Iceman

whunter · #5 10-29-2005, 06:49 PM

http://www.colgate.com/app/Palmolive/US/Home.cvsp?cid=GoogleCorp_palmolive

I have used Palmolive, a wash tub, a submersible sump pump, remove the thermostat, flush the heater core, flush the block, flush the radiator.
I removed the reservoir tank and cleaned it by hand.

300DPETE · #6 10-29-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

http://www.colgate.com/app/Palmolive/US/Home.cvsp?cid=GoogleCorp_palmolive

I have used Palmolive, a wash tub, a submersible sump pump, remove the thermostat, flush the heater core, flush the block, flush the radiator.
I removed the reservoir tank and cleaned it by hand.

How much soap did you put in while you were flushing the block, heater core and radiator?

Thanks,

Pete.

dkveuro · #7 10-29-2005, 07:00 PM

Use two bottle tops of TIDE liquid in a cooling system and run engine for 10 min's at high idle. Drain coolant system.
Repeat until coolant stays clean. I do this with thermostat...seems to work okay.

.

whunter · #8 10-29-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300DPETE

How much soap did you put in while you were flushing the block, heater core and radiator?
Thanks,
Pete.

Several ounces, it varies with how massive the sludge is.

whunter · #9 10-29-2005, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkveuro

Use two bottle tops of TIDE liquid in a cooling system and run engine for 10 min's at high idle. Drain coolant system.
Repeat until coolant stays clean. I do this with thermostat...seems to work OK.

.

I shall try this.
Looks easier than my way.

boneheaddoctor · #10 10-29-2005, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkveuro

Use two bottle tops of TIDE liquid in a cooling system and run engine for 10 min's at high idle. Drain coolant system.
Repeat until coolant stays clean. I do this with thermostat...seems to work okay.

.

did you use the one quart or the one gallon bottles?

or do you really want to say capfulls....

dkveuro · #11 10-29-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

did you use the one quart or the one gallon bottles?

or do you really want to say capfulls....

Sorry....typographical error...Yes....brain fade today. One gallon bottle cap.

.

boneheaddoctor · #12 10-30-2005, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkveuro

Sorry....typographical error...Yes....brain fade today. One gallon bottle cap.

.

We all suffer from that time to time....

300DPETE · #13 10-30-2005, 09:42 AM

Hey, I don't have Drain Bramage....

I'll be singing "Tiny Bubbles" when I undergo this procedure (on my car, that is).

MTUpower · #14 10-30-2005, 01:31 PM

Try Calgon. It's used on older large marine diesels here in SF when they have a dirty coolant system. Use at least 20%, and let it stay in there for at least an hour of regular driving, and up to 30 hours.

whunter · #15 10-30-2005, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

Try Calgon. It's used on older large marine diesels here in SF when they have a dirty coolant system. Use at least 20%, and let it stay in there for at least an hour of regular driving, and up to 30 hours.

I shall look into this one, it has me interested.