A faulty heating system in the car during the winter can cause some inconvenience, especially if the temperature is below zero. And the point here is not only in the cold, but also in violation of the review due to frosted glass. To avoid such troubles, the heating system must be systematically checked, including in the warm season.
One of the most common causes of malfunction of the interior heater is obstruction of its channels. We will talk about the causes of this malfunction, as well as how to rinse the radiator of the stove and how, in this article.
Symptoms of Malfunction
Cold air from the deflectors at the operating temperature of the coolant and the heating is on indicates that the heating system is operating in emergency mode. It is not difficult to determine the cause of the malfunction. There can be only two options: either the heater tap has broken or its radiator has clogged. In both cases, the symptoms are the same. The radiator inlet will be hot, and the radiator inlet will be cold. But how to pinpoint the problem?
And there’s nothing complicated. If the crane drive cable is intact, and the crane itself works normally and does not flow, then the radiator is a problem. You can, of course, go to a service station and replace it. This option is much easier than washing the radiator on the car’s stove yourself, but more expensive. But why throw money away in vain if the situation can be corrected without buying a new spare part.
Reasons for the malfunction
The causes of obstruction of the heater radiator can be:
- long service life, as a result of which a kind of scale is deposited on the tubes (aluminum or copper);
- the use of low-quality coolant or water with a large amount of salts in the composition;
- the composition of the metal that the radiator is made of that does not meet the technical requirements;
- contact with the cooling system of chemically active substances (oil, fuel) or various debris (dirt).
Easy way out
If the stove of your car is clogged, you can correct the situation by washing it. You can do this in two ways: by removing the radiator and without removing it from the car. The first option, of course, is preferable, since it is more convenient, but in some cars, especially domestic production, dismantling takes too much time.
In this case, you can rinse the radiator of the stove without removing it. It is enough to disconnect it from the cooling system. We will consider both options.
Popular washing products
Now it remains to solve the main question: "How to rinse the radiator of the car stove?" There are many options. Someone uses special fluids for cleaning the cooling system, which are abundant in all auto parts stores, and someone uses old folk remedies that are as effective as purchased ones. Consider the popular tools used to clean the inner surface of the heater radiator.
- Special fluids for flushing the cooling system.
- Means for cleaning sewer communications (Tiret, Komet, Krot, etc.).
- An aqueous solution of citric acid.
- An aqueous solution of caustic soda.
- Milk serum.
- "Coca Cola".
When wondering what it is better to rinse the radiator of the stove, and choosing the necessary tool for this, it is advisable to give preference to special liquids. Their composition is able to clean the heater channels as much as possible without exposing them to harmful chemical effects. Kitchen utensils such as "Mole" and "Comet" can compete with them in terms of efficiency, but no one will guarantee that they will not harm.
For many decades, homegrown car mechanics have been using citric acid, caustic soda, and whey to flush elements of the cooling system, praising their effect. And in recent years, the usual Coca-Cola, capable of dissolving even the most durable deposits, has become a very popular means.
Radiator material
Be that as it may, the choice will always be yours, however, it should be remembered that before washing the radiator of the stove, you need to know exactly what material it is made of. The bottom line is that in no case can an alkaline soda solution be poured into an aluminum heater . Only acid is needed here. Otherwise, the aluminum will oxidize, and the situation will become even worse. Roughly the same thing happens if you pour acid into a copper radiator. For copper, the use of alkali is much preferable.
As for kitchen tools and Coca-Cola, their effect on metal can be different. The most gentle cleaner for both copper and aluminum is milk whey. Therefore, of the available improvised means, it is best to use it.
We clean the heater without dismantling
How to rinse the radiator of the stove without removing it from the car? It would seem that this process is quite complicated and time-consuming, but in reality everything is not so complicated. First you need to install the car in a pit or overpass, and drain all the coolant from the system. Before this, it is advisable to warm the engine to operating temperature. So the coolant drains faster. After that, it is necessary to disconnect the hoses from the inlet and outlet radiator pipes, loosening the clamps with a screwdriver.
Now we need two hoses, which will need to be connected in the same way to the nozzles. Before washing the radiator of the car stove with a pre-prepared or purchased product, it is advisable to rinse it with plain water. Such a solution will allow you to get rid of soft dirt that has not yet had time to deposit on the walls.
Rinse, of course, with running water. To do this, connect one hose to the radiator inlet, and the other to the outlet. Give water to the first. Flush the heater for at least 5-7 minutes.
Only then can you start pouring the cleaning agent. Having previously blocked the outlet pipe, fill the solution into the radiator until it is completely filled. Now give the heater some time so that the dirt can sap away. After a few hours, the liquid must be drained and the stove rinsed again with running water.
How to flush a radiator of a heater, having removed it from the car
This method of cleaning is much more effective than the previous one. In addition, it is much easier to clean the dismantled stove from limescale than to wash the radiator of the car stove without dismantling. And that's why. Firstly, there is no need to connect the water supply. It is enough to substitute the radiator under the falling stream of water in the bathroom. Secondly, you do not need any hoses, watering cans and other devices. And thirdly, pouring a cleaning agent into the heater and keeping it for a while, the radiator can be shaken, thereby contributing to the separation of scale from the inner walls of the channels. And one more plus - the removed radiator can be cleaned from the outside. In its lamellas there is no less dirt and dust than inside the sediments. In all other respects, the cleaning process is similar to the previous one.
Useful Tips
Finally, we give some useful tips that will allow the heater of your car to work as long as possible:
- When solving the question of how and with what to wash the radiator of the stove, refer to the car user manual and specify what the experts of the manufacturer think about this.
- Do not add cheap coolants to the system. They contribute to the rapid formation of scale. You should also not use water, especially untreated, as a coolant.
- In no case do not mix antifreeze in the antifreeze system. They enter into a chemical reaction, which leads to the formation of a specific precipitate and the loss of useful abilities.
- Change the coolant at least after 20 thousand kilometers, and do not forget to flush the system before replacing.
- Periodically replace the hoses along which coolant is supplied and discharged from the heater radiator.