cleaning rads

DataVampire · 9 Oct 2014 at 14:08

So while I wait for my order from ocuk to arrive. I thought I would clean one rad I already got here. I remember reading somewhere to use white vinegar.

Can I find the stuff anywhere no chance. the only thing I can find is malt. distilled and pickling, anyone any idea where to buy white vinegar.

Alas I cannot afford to buy the decent mayhems blitz kit, as I have spent around £600 odd on this watercooling build already and am now officialy skint lol.

Ideas/sugestions please.

thank you

stuie · 9 Oct 2014 at 14:43

distilled vinegar should be fine just be aware to do a thorough flush with plain distilled water afterwards

topgun06 · 9 Oct 2014 at 16:50

I've always used distilled vinegar. Poured some in the radiator and given it a shake around. Is this the most effective way??

west1980 · 9 Oct 2014 at 17:16

I bought some white distilled vinegar from asda in little glass bottles

DataVampire · 9 Oct 2014 at 17:20

thanks guys.

I have seen distilled everwhere just not usre it was the correct one to use.

For the record I have also seen white "malt" vinegar also, hense the question lol

fireman999 · 9 Oct 2014 at 21:05

You might want to flush the rad with a bicarbonate of soda water mix after the vinegar-water mix.
This kills the acidic reaction of the vinegar in the rad.
Then finish off with a quick flush with distilled water.
This is basically what the mayhems blitz package does.

DataVampire · 9 Oct 2014 at 22:00

fireman999 said:
You might want to flush the rad with a bicarbonate of soda water mix after the vinegar-water mix.
This kills the acidic reaction of the vinegar in the rad.
Then finish off with a quick flush with distilled water.
This is basically what the mayhems blitz package does.

Thanks for the tip

vsg28 · 9 Oct 2014 at 22:10

The main difference between Blitz and vinegar is the acid used. Vinegar is mostly acetic acid which isn't very good with solder flux at low concentrations and can start affecting solder/brazed alloys at higher concentrations whereas Blitz uses a phosphoric acid which is good with solder while helping remove flux out.

DataVampire · 9 Oct 2014 at 23:17

vsg28 said:
The main difference between Blitz and vinegar is the acid used. Vinegar is mostly acetic acid which isn't very good with solder flux at low concentrations and can start affecting solder/brazed alloys at higher concentrations whereas Blitz uses a phosphoric acid which is good with solder while helping remove flux out.

thank you for that.

So am I better of mixing vinegar with hot water then shaking the rad for 20 mins or so. then tip that out then flush with a mix of bicarbonate of soda shake for 20 mins or so. tip that out and then fianly flushing out with distillted water ?

thanks in advance

vsg28 · 9 Oct 2014 at 23:27

No need to heat up the water if adding vinegar, depending on the vinegar and the composition use a 1:10 by volume mixture in water (distilled/DI preferred but its ok if you go with regular) and pour into the rad. Leave it inside for a couple of hours and then flush it out. See how the effluent looks- clear vs blueish, presence or absence of flakes/residue etc. Then flush with water, then a bicarb (or any base) solution and then distilled again.

DataVampire · 10 Oct 2014 at 00:35

vsg28 said:
No need to heat up the water if adding vinegar, depending on the vinegar and the composition use a 1:10 by volume mixture in water (distilled/DI preferred but its ok if you go with regular) and pour into the rad. Leave it inside for a couple of hours and then flush it out. See how the effluent looks- clear vs blueish, presence or absence of flakes/residue etc. Then flush with water, then a bicarb (or any base) solution and then distilled again.

Thank you very much for the advice