Taylor,
Yes, you could neutralize the acid with maybe half a cup of baking soda
followed by 2-3 flushes with water. I would be OK simply with 3-4 flushes with
plain water.
One interesting note . . .
Alan I think it was sent us an article from a Jag person who writes and I quote
"I thought about buying a gallon jug of vinegar,
but it is mainly water and less than 5% acid. Instead, I went to a photo
supply and bought Kodak 28% acid, intended as a stop bath for film and
paper processing.
I drained my anti freeze, and flushed the system with water to get as
much antifreeze out as possible. I then added the 16oz bottle of acid to
a gallon bucket of water and poured that into the radiator,"
Well, according to my math diluting 28% from 16 ounces to 128 ounces works out
to 3.5% - less than the standard 5% concentration of acetic acid in vinegar!
I guess this explains why Jag owners would pay more money for a Jag when they
could have an equally good LBC in a Healey!!! :) :) :)
No flames please. Just poking harmless fun.
Keith Pennell
>
> If you use vinegar at full strength(seems a little harsh) should you use
> distilled vinegar? Would you then need to nutralize the acidity? How would
> you do that or could you just flush it a few times with H2O?
> Taylor
> 55BN1
> P.S. Have the JB Weld ready for radiator repair.
>
>
> What is the radiator pressure relief cap supposed to do?
>
> Dave
>
> pennell@cox.net wrote:
> >Bob,
> >
> >I would be hesitant on using the vinegar. Its concentration is OK and it
> >would indeed do a cleaning if run for say an 45 min or so. Only problem is
> >that it evolves significant vapors of hydrogen acetate. Having the gas
> >build up in the system could cause pressure buildup and blow out a hose or
> >possibly a weak spot in the rad core.
> >
> >But I guess on the other hand one would want to know if you have a weak
> >spot in the cooling system huh????
> >
> >Keith Pennell B.S Chemistry
> >
> >
> >>I've never used vinegar to clean out a radiator, but it should work well
> >>on alkaline deposits. There may, however, be some deposits that it
> >>wouldn't be so good on. Since regular white vinegar is only 5% acetic
> >>acid, I suppose you might want to use it full strength. Bob Frisby, '62
> >>tricarb (original centershift!), Boise, Idaho
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