Technical Vinegar to clean a block.. How long?

I put vinegar in cooling system at 5 pm eastern.... Did 75% vin to 25% water... How long shoul I keep it in?


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I did it in a Model A and left it in for a week and ran from time to time. It was during the winter so I only drove it a few miles.

Neal

 

Wow.... That long
I'm getting mixed messages, some folks say 1 hr??


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Vinegar will take time. I had my EAB heads in it for probably 6 weeks. It creates a redish coloring on everything and its hard to get off. Ive stained clothes and concrete.

 

Going on day 2....think ill drain and flush it tomorrow..

 

I did mine in a week. Wish i would have put panty hose over the top hose though.

 

Agitation and heat will speed up the chemical process.
As in driving for at least 30 minutes or even an entire day.

If it sits in cold temp, the process takes a lot longer.

Vinegar from the stores is usually diluted and not very strong anyway.

I have used oxalic acid before (wood bleach in the hardware store) which is twice as strong as pure vinegar and cheaper and more effective.
Takes about one hour or two driving to completely clean a badly rusted and scaled motor.

Always neutralize with a weak solution of washing soda, to counteract the acid.

Years ago, the oxalic powder and washing soda was sold at car parts stores packaged as an 'engine cooling system flush'.

 

Use the vinegar full strength and drive it to get the vinegar hot.

You're almost there..........don't give up now.

 

Last really rusty cooling system I cleaned took about five weeks, and had to be flushed out twice. Sure did the trick, though.

Most store bought vinegar is 5% acidity.

---John

 

I pulled the radiator before I added the vinegar and plugged the upper and lower hoses. Tomorrow ill run the motor for a few and let it heat up..

 

Use a couple table spoons of cascade.run it a day, drain fill with fresh water run a day, drain ad your 50 50 ..watch the gunk fly.

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I have done this twice. One time the water pump started leaking after the vinegar bath. I figured that was just the price to pay. I have heard others have had the same thing happen. Just a heads up that it may happen.

Neal

 

Diet coke works good too.Dont dilute it and drain the whole system before filling it.

 

That's what I did when I descaled/derusted my old worn engine.
I also removed the thermostat and left the upper hose connection unplugged to avoid pressure that could pop the plugs.

I connected a 1/2 HP electric motor to the water pump and ran the engine temp up close to 180 and before the acid solution would want to come out the top.
Then I ran the electric motor to agitate the acid solution inside the block until the temp went back down and started the whole process again.

With a sulfamic acid solution (hard water scale remover aka. Grout Cleaner) followed by an oxalic acid solution (rust remover aka. Wood Bleach) I did that in two days for 5 hours each, leaving in the acids overnight each time and the crap that came flushing out the block afterwards was unbelievable.

Followed it up with driving for 30 minutes with a washing soda solution and for the first time in years that engine has been running cool at any speed and outside temp ever since.


Your 75:25 vinegar:water solution is so mild it won't harm the radiator, so you can connect it and just drive it for many hours.

 

I've used it many times. I guess the EPA put the kibosh on acid-flushing.

 

I use Apple Cider Vinegar, straight.
Let it sit about 5 days. Powerful rust remover.

About the 3rd day I actually dig the smell. Crazy?

 

Vinegar is slow....and how long it takes depends on how much rust you started with.