Over the last year, my temp gauge has been creeping up a little... Although I try to regularly look in the air scoops and clean out any debris, I thought it was time to take the bumper off and actually clean the radiators.

I followed some good instructions on YouTube.

All I can say is, "Holy crap! There was a lot of crap in there!"

So, I made a video: why to clean them

 

Great vid Van. How long before you cleaned them, was this your 1st time? By the way...no fair using a lift, that's cheating. Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for sharing Van! Great reminder for all of us as to "Why" to clean 'em!

 

I've had the car almost 3 years - and it's the first time I cleaned them.

 

Good job Van! I cleaned mine last month as well. My car runs a tick over 180 now. The clean radiators dropped about 8 degrees from operating temp. Definitely suggest doing this at least once a year.

 

Was stuck in traffic yesterday....what else is new...but temp barely hit the 0...turned on the AC kept the fans going and Im sure having cleaned the radiators a couple months back helped big time!! Not concerned about the heat as much now. Very happy.

 

nice vids man!.... that looks so easy to do on the lift.

 

It is amazing what is stored in there, just like a chipmunks cheeks.

 

Now I have to do this. Thanks, Van.

But that video had the ugliest broad I have ever seen. I hope you never show us how to wash the car.

 

You don't want to see me in a bikini?

 

Great reminder for those that have not done this neeeeed to! Look at the crap I pulled out of mine


Beer cans also

 

Last time I cleaned mine, I took a hose to the radiators and cleaned the gunk off completely. How were you able to do that on the lift or did you take the car off the lift for that step?

 

 

Whoa! You must live where the hill billies throw the bear cans out the window!


I put the front wheels back on, backed it out of the garage, and pressure washed the radiators in the driveway. Then put it back on the lift to put it together.

 

I'd go as far as pulling the rads and condensers apart so you can thoroughly get what's between them. The PO of my car never did this. Over time, the leaves and crap in there soaked up brine from winter roads and actually rotted the radiators, causing both blockage and leakage. I had to replace both of them last year. Having no place to work on my car, I have to pay people to do stuff like this... it wasn't a cheap day. Word to the wise.