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Steam cleaning your radiator core from the front is NEVER 100%

Vetech63

Vetech63

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
6,440
Location
Oklahoma
It was time last week for me to get this vandalized radiator out of this dozer. The owner stated that the engine had been overheating for the last year or more and wondered if the radiator may be the issue. I asked if they had checked the core, he replied " I think it may have some plugged tubes inside the radiator." I asked him why he thought that............he replied " Well, we steam clean the **** out of that core several times a year so I know its NOT the air flow through the core."
Case1850KRAD1.jpg
OK...........wait for it!......waittttt........
Case1850KRAD2.jpg
That small cooler at the bottom is the hydraulic oil cooler.....100% plugged:eek:. This build up is at least several years old, not just 1 year:confused:.
I sent the owner this last pic just for fun. :D Just cause you pressure washed your radiator core from the FRONT doesn't mean a lot.;)
 
5

56wrench

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Joined
Dec 4, 2016
Messages
2,119
Location
alberta
i don't like using any form of water to wash radiators because if you don't get it 100% clean, all it does is turn the rest to mud which bakes and makes it harder to clean next time,. i only use compressed air unless the rad is out of the machine where i can wash it repeatedly from both sides until its 100% clean
 
Nige

Nige

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Joined
Jun 22, 2011
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29,374
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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
56wrench said:
i don't like using any form of water to wash radiators because if you don't get it 100% clean, all it does is turn the rest to mud which bakes and makes it harder to clean next time,. i only use compressed air unless the rad is out of the machine where i can wash it repeatedly from both sides until its 100% clean
Click to expand...
I must have led a very sheltered existence then, because I don't recall ever seeing a machine radiator that was contaminated only with dry dirt that would blow off, especially on a dozer. The back side is generally always covered with a film of oily residue to which dirt then sticks like sh1t to a blanket.
 
C

Check Break

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Joined
Jan 21, 2012
Messages
469
Location
USA
All of our fans are set up to push. At WOT, I use an air wand from the front to dislodge the dust. The dirt comes out the front and there's no mud to deal with. Oil leaks are unacceptable and dangerous in our line of business so our radiators are probably an exception to the rule.
 
C

Check Break

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2012
Messages
469
Location
USA
We repair leaks when dust starts to stick to the flange/fitting. If there is a real leak, it gets cleaned up. Belly pans cleaned daily. Far cheaper and easier than burning up. We don't over grease the fan. Less grease = less to work on.
 
E

epirbalex

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2017
Messages
554
Location
Akitio
Occupation
peasant
I watched a guy wash a log skidder radiator after soaking it with a white product , he did say what it was , since forgotten . It was well cleaned , hanging from a sling . Low pressure and high volume is the answer using water . I use both water and air to remove small leaves and a light flake of bark that gets sucked into my dozer . Rather hope the dozer sitting at my front gate has reversible blades
 
5

56wrench

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Dec 4, 2016
Messages
2,119
Location
alberta
i am usually the only operator on my equipment and do all the maintenance so i rarely have any oil leaks that are not repaired immediately, so oil residue is dealt with right away using brake cleaner or solvent and and 175psi air pressure. eventually though i will remove the radiator to give it a thorough cleaning if necessary
 
nicky 68a

nicky 68a

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Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
1,164
Location
england
For some reason,I allways enjoy washing the radiators out as it makes me feel better
It’s impossible to get it all of course,but removing the front guards is allways a good idea,not to mention patience.
 
T

Tinkerer

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Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
9,374
Location
The shore of the illinois river USA
Nige said:
I must have led a very sheltered existence then, because I don't recall ever seeing a machine radiator that was contaminated only with dry dirt that would blow off, especially on a dozer. The back side is generally always covered with a film of oily residue to which dirt then sticks like sh1t to a blanket.
Click to expand...

When we tripping topsoil in cornfields and fields overgrown with weeds we used to blow out dozer radiators several times a day with compressed air.
I was a happy guy when the first D8N's came out with the two piece grills that were hinged.
The 8K's and H's took a looong time to clean.
 
kshansen

kshansen

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Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
11,165
Location
Central New York, USA
Occupation
Retired Mechanic in Stone Quarry
epirbalex said:
Low pressure and high volume is the answer using water .
Click to expand...

That's what I liked to use on the machines at the quarry. Biggest problem was when we got in used equipment that had not been kept clean. Once that limestone dust and a touch of oil get hardened not much you can do with radiator in chassis!

Drawing a blank on what Cat called those radiators with the separate panels with the very fine fins. They were about the worst to clean unless you got them new and flushed them out on a regular basis.

Not sure how you can avoid getting the radiator wet when it rains, so saying using water is bad always confused me. And yes a stone quarry can be dusty on a rainy day at times!
 
T

Tinkerer

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
9,374
Location
The shore of the illinois river USA
Yes, folded core.
The contractor I worked for had about 30 new D8N's with them in it and had the dealer change them all to a standard core.
Some were leaking at the bottom of the core with less than 500 hours on them.
The exteriors of them would plug up with debris faster than you could blink an eye.
 
mitch504

mitch504

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Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Messages
5,776
Location
Andrews SC
I was spreading lime for a big cotton company's contracted growers in mid June, when the temps were up around 100f and it was powder dry and dusty. I was running back and forth, trying to stay ahead of planting. I was blowing out the radiators on the spreader trucks 2-3 times a day. There was a father-son team in their first year of high-production agriculture that was falling behind badly because their huge leased Case-Ih ran hot constantly. The dealer techs had been out several times without finding the problem. I asked if the radiator had been blown out recently, and was told in no uncertain terms that that wouldn't cause this.

They were parked waiting for it to cool when one of my trucks started getting warm. I pulled it right up by them, and used a 1/2" open fitting off my 30cfm compressor to cover them and their tractor with dirt out of my radiator! The father started cussing, but the son just calmly asked if he could use the hose when I was done.
 
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