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Marci

Marci

Marci

Associate
Joined
8 Mar 2003
Posts
486
Location
Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Radiator Cleaning - ThermoChill rads use water-based flux and as such should be cleaned by circulating HOT water for an hour or two, then with plain distilled for 15 mins... drain... rinse... hook into your loop and ready to roll.

Other manufacturers may be different...
 
So now are you saying the use of white distilled vinegar is NOT advised? We could all really do with a specific 'official' guide on this as there are no instructions provided with the rad as to how to clean correctly. I don't want to kill or destroy my rad (or advise other to destroy theres!) :confused:
 
Prior to ROHS Compliancy, white vinegar was fine - the flux wasn't water-based. Since ROHS Compliancy, everything's been switched to waterbased flux, which merely needs flushing with hot water.

Note - this only applies to OUR radiators. I'm not speaking for the entire industry. So far, I think we're the ONLY manufacturer who has commented on the entire issue... all others haven't contributed any input, and what goes for our rads may be different to what goes for everyone elses.

Note - I didn't say use of vinegar wasn't advised, I'm merely stating that with water-based fluxes, it's unnecessary.
 
I wasn't having a pop at you or thermochill marci as you rightly point out no other manufacturer gives any info at all on how to clean there rads and any input you have is much appreciated. I am just concerned that I may have damaged my rad by using the vinegar method (on your advice) to remove waterbased flux. Bought a PA 120.3 beginning of January - not had chance to fit it yet but have cleaned it (with vinegar) as in the sticky. :( BTW emailed your 'trust' address regarding something ;)
 
I never bothered to clean mine when i first installed it (8 months ago), been running without a water change until a couople of weeks ago and when i drained the loop, the stuff that came out wasnt just 8 month old distilled water.
 
Nope - using vinegar won't have caused any damage... The reason for this post is because some ppl are now considering using high strength acids and other corrosive cleansers in an attempt to solve the issue, which WILL cause MAJOR damage.

The main fact is, folks are blaming radiators for clouded coolant or tubing... even after cleansing, so are looking into ways to cleanse further - in reality, it isn't anything leftover in the radiator causing the clouding if that rad has already been cleansed via either the old vinegar method, or my hot-water advice. Yes, flux can be a contributing factor, but it isn't the SOLE factor...
 
BTW emailed your 'trust' address regarding something
Click to expand...

I have a "trust" address?? Haven't a clue what address they've got for that then... used to be a blueyonder based address but haven't had that for a while. Correct one is me at thermochill...

EDIT: Yep, was still set to my old blueyonder address - have now updated it. Resend whatever it was.
 
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Many thanks Marci for the heads up; I like many others use vinegar to flush new radiators and often leave soaked for a few hours.

Might be a silly question but could you please explain exactley what water-based flux is and tell us if there is anything else that can be used, possibly with the hot water method to increase the initial clean of a new radiator.

Many thanks
 
And herein lies the problem... people always want better or more than that which is recommended or advised... JUST use HOT WATER... you don't NEED anything else. Otherwise we then have the whole debate about which flux cleanser is better than another, and we're back at square one - folks'll start saying tubes and coolant are cloudy because you didn't use Brand X flux cleanser and used Brand Y instead. All water-based fluxes are water-soluble, and therefore can be easily cleaned by flushing purely with hot water. Failing that, an alcohol based solution can be used, but isn't necessary.

If folks MUST use something other than water, the only thing I can advise is a proper Flux Remover - http://www.mbouk.co.uk/pdf/aquasafe.pdf - certainly no household products available (besides hot water), and then after it's use, flush with hot water to remove any traces of the flux remover. But then folks'll be blaming cloudiness on not flushing out all the flux remover.

It's a never-ending spiral. Hence, stick with hot water imo.

Am still awaiting full MSDS sheet for the current flux in use.
 
Marci said:
I have a "trust" address?? Haven't a clue what address they've got for that then... used to be a blueyonder based address but haven't had that for a while. Correct one is me at thermochill...

EDIT: Yep, was still set to my old blueyonder address - have now updated it. Resend whatever it was.
Click to expand...

Resent m8, thx.
 
I have just bought a Thermochill 120.2 and used HOT water from my kettle, i left it in the radiator for about 20mins till the radiator was luke warm. i used roughly 1pint, i filled it until the water was nearly overflowing out of the in/out holes. If you tilt the radiator you will hear the water rushing the the copper pipes and will hear a gurgling noise the first time you do it, it will then let you fit more hot water in, top it up to the top again.

below is a photo comparing normal water and the flux water that came out of the radiator after putting HOT water in.

The water in the vase is EXACTLY how much water fit in the radiator, the boddingtons glass is water straight from the tap. I used a kettle and tap water btw, not distilled or de-ionised.

dscf0863gj0.jpg


High res: http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/7333/dscf0863bp7.jpg

hope this helps you guys!
 
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