I see three on the market:
I have a tractor that had the factory coolant in for 9 years. Although there are no problems, I'd like to chemically clean the system vs. doing a flush.
Which of these works best??
Not knowing any more than what you posted I would think the different chemicals would: oxalic acid removes iron Sodium citrate removes aluminum TSP removes oil
After 9 years, any of them might remove gaskets.
You're not supposed to leave cleaners in for 9 years!! Directions range from 10 minutes to 6 hours followed by a complete flush.
The John Deere manual recommends that any cooling system flush include a "cleaner that's safe for aluminum".
An old guy at a radiator shop taught me this trick. Use Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent. (I was told the reason to use dishwasher detergent instead of regular dish soap was that dishwasher types don't foam.)
Run the engine for a few hours then do your normal cooling system maintenance. I have done this trick on iron, aluminum and iron/aluminum engines with GREAT results each time. Coolant passages always looked 100% clean and new afterward. (Just be sure to rinse thoroughly!)
:) :) What I meant was that coolant tends to break down after a couple of years and your gaskets and system start to rot and corrode. The corrosion may be the only thing sealing the engine and system. Remove the corrosion and things may start leaking - like head gaskets.
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