Radiator citric acid flush
 

Hi all,
I want to blow out my radiator, the thing is filthy! Does anyone know how much citric acid (pounds?) per gallon and how many gallons of this solution one should use to flush the radiator? Is there anything else in the official MB product besides citric acid?
Thanks!
Jim

I've heard bad things about citric flush, heard of it taking out radiator, water pump, etc. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend anything else, but I'd shop around.

I recently sucessfully flushed out my clogged matrix on my 190e 2.6 using a citric acid solution. Here, where I live in France, I bought some Adritt descaler tablets from a supermarket called Lidl. I used two tablets (the size of small dishwasher tablets) in a pint of boiling water and left the solution in the matrix for an hour before flushing out with a hose and air. The result, a heater that burns! I'm sure that any descaler products that are made for coffee machines, kettles and the like and contain citric acid will work. Gaggia make a good one.
Good luck
Chris

CHRISALIS, welcome to the forum.
You may have some products in france we don`t have here, or by product name.

Vinegar works in coffee pots like the Bunn with the hot water tank, which scale up with calicium. don`t know if it works in auto engines though.

Mercedes sells Citric Acid in one pound containers for the flush, and I have seen it sold on E-Bay. Don`t think MB would sell he product if it would take out the radiator, water pump etc... Probably was removing gunk and crap that was holding things together that were close to going anyway. would rather find the problem with a flush, than have a failed componet out on the road.

Do a search on Citric Acid, there is plenty of info on it.

Charlie

Search under my name...Ive done the citrus flush twice and both times other components have been taken out, like the radiator, water pump etc. Im not saying dont do it, just be ready - anything that is on the edge of failure will be pushed over. Have your credit card warmed up and parts supplier ready forewarned :-)

In my opinion, if your cooling system is functioning properly, I would not do the citrus flush. Check the t-stat and radiator cap first!

For citric acid you need 2.2lbs to do it to the MB spec. I think 2 lbs is enough. You can get citric acid on ebay -
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-lb-32-oz-Citric-Acid-Premium-Grade-A-Food-Grade_W0QQitemZ250403114730QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a4d304eea&_trksid=p3286.c 0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

The details of the procedure are in the Factory Service manual. (I can send you the article if you do not have it - send me a PM) I think you want to make a 10% solution (dont quote me on that - its in the FSM procedure).

Oh and by the way, this is a miserable job in my book. Dirty coolant, acids, lots of water flushing, failure of components. Make sure you at least start off the day in a good mood.

dd

that is very clever Charlie

I wonder why they call for 'citric acid' when all you really need is a safe, organic acid. Any acid will have accelerated effects with increased temp., to a point.

The only thing that comes to my mind regarding the clear vinegar that we commonly see in large quantities is that it is a petroleum derivative.

apple cider vinegar is 'organic'.. in the hippy sense of the word

Exactly.

Awww man...
 

I take these words seriously after today

I attempted a water change in my car today as well. I took out the thermostat housing and right when I was about to put it back with a new thermostat, 1 of the bolts was cut in half.

Sucks...now half the bolt is stuck in there and no water in the system.

But to stay on topic, my cooling system did have green stuff, but it didn't look like it needed a citric flush. A couple flushes off the garden hose and it ran pretty clear (I hope that's a good thing).