Clogged Radiator

Why would you apply a bandaid when the right solution is to replace the defective part? I know these cars are expensive to maintain, but they run correctly and wonderfully when they're properly outfitted, and CLR is not by any stretch of the imagination any sort of appropriate solution. Either do the right thing and replace the radiator, or sell the car. Jeez!

CLR will not solve the problem; remember these scales have been accumulating for at least five years. However, if you lived with an overheating car for 5 years, why would you all of a sudden develop a conscience now?.

Try some recommended flushing chemicals. Flush well, maybe 2 times, try to backflush and rinse well. I think some flushing chemicals you might be able to drive around for a few days. I will be trying a flushing chemical in my Jeep which is experiencing problems very similar to yours.

If that doesn't work then a new radiator is a lot better (labor and dollar wise) than a new engine and new radiator! ;-)

I think that some people have used CLR along with boiling water AFTER they remove the non-aluminum radiator so it can sit for XX minutes. CLR will supposedly eat away certain metals like aluminum. from

"If an alkaline based flush makes you feel good, get some aluminum foil and chop it up and dump it in some plain Drano [or just sodium hydroxide]. Do this outdoors in a well-ventilated area with no flames nearby, as this is how the US military generates hydrogen gas for weather balloons. " Even the Radiator Flushing chemicals are dangerous! Be careful and friendly to the environment! ;-)

Replace the radiator before it springs a leak. It happened to me on my '98 A4 2.8.

Listen, when I need to spend money on my car, I do so. But a car is a car. I'm not going to open up my wallet at every occasion for a 10 year old car. It is worth about $4000; and adding up a few other repairs that have emerged, I am looking a significant portion of the car's value. I might just sell it, as you suggested and buy something newer.

As a mechnical engineer, I am well aware that replacing the radiator is the easiest, most obvious and most expensive solution. I might just replace it with a new one, or call up shokan and get a tested used one; but before I dump my money, I will ask for the alternatives. Jeez back at ya.

The car doesn't overheat 99.9% of the time. Here on the coast of CA, a hot day is above 75 degrees. My car runs great almost all the time. In fact, it is only looking back at a few occasions (90+ going up a mountain) I noticed that the temperature gauge went past half way. Only a few weeks ago, while driving the Mojave, did I see significant problems, thereafter diagnosing a logged radiator. Driving around town, I would have never found out about the problem, until total failure.

Thank you for the heads up regarding CLR. That's why erred on the side of caution, to see if I was way out in left field. But, really, I was eliciting suggestions just like you gave me, thank you for the link.

My Audi mechanic already flushed the system and changed the bottle. I might try it again.

Thanks

the other big issue you encounter with chemical flushes is all that debris that has accumulated inside your cooling system may be stopping a few leaks... once you wash it all out you might well start losing coolant.

Then it is time for that new radiator! AFAIK you should flush out your cooling system before installing a new radiator/engine/water pump anyway.