has anyone ever used Bar's Radiator cleaner | FerrariChat
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has anyone ever used Bar's Radiator cleaner

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by Mondi Cab, Mar 7, 2024.

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  1. Mondi Cab

    Mondi Cab Karting

    Oct 9, 2019
    170
    EU
    Full Name:
    J.Schulz
    #1 Mondi Cab, Mar 7, 2024
    Greetings to the community,

    Getting ready for spring, I checked all fluids, but my coolant / water was rather rust-brown. No loss of fluid, but dirty.
    I read the site at Bar's and it sounds ok, but has anyone actually ever used it on the Mondial ?

    Don't want to ruin it by pouring in some "aggressive buffing agents" as they advertise.

    Thanks,

    Mondi Cab
    (1992 T cab US)
     
  2. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,955
    Isle of man- uk
    #2 mike32, Mar 7, 2024
    Holts radiator cleaner in very popular in the uk, used in my long gone mondial . Be sure to flush out the old coolant first or it will not do a good job
     
  3. Mondi Cab

    Mondi Cab Karting

    Oct 9, 2019
    170
    EU
    Full Name:
    J.Schulz
    #3 Mondi Cab, Mar 7, 2024
    ah, good thinking Mike32.
    I would have chucked it into the old water indeed.
    Thanks for waking me up....
     
  4. gunn

    gunn Formula Junior

    Aug 30, 2021
    319
    Full Name:
    Gunn S
    #4 gunn, Mar 7, 2024
    How are you planning to clean the radiator? Will you just disconnect it at both ends and flush it in the car (or remove it and flush it by itself)?
    - My biggest concern about flushing old radiators is that some of that crud might be sealing it.
    - While it's a bit of a lost art (I'm sure that 99% of radiators are just swapped), I might consider finding a local radiator shop that still does rebuilds just in case you spring a leak with your cleaning.
     
  5. Mondi Cab

    Mondi Cab Karting

    Oct 9, 2019
    170
    EU
    Full Name:
    J.Schulz
    #5 Mondi Cab, Mar 8, 2024
    Hello Gunn,

    Car is never overheating, even in 38+°C (100+°F) conditions, neither in a traffic jam, nor at 200km/h (125mph) open roof yet airco blowing.....
    So I doubt I have any blockage in the ratiator.
    I am just not happy about the brown color of the coolant. This is rust-color and that makes me nervous.
    Therefore the plan is:
    1. drive the car a bit, just to get things circulating after 6 months of dormancy
    2. detach the hose just under the radiator up front to flush the dirty stuff out (thanks Mike32)
    3. fill up with just water and the cleaner in it
    4. drive a good end (min. 4h as advised on the cleaner's tutorial)
    5. repeat step 2
    6. fill up with the best coolant I can find.
    (7. start looking forward to my aprox. 2000km (1250mls) road trip this summer)

    In case of a pinched radiator, yes there is one of the last rebuilders in my region (but he knows his value as musea are relying on his art for even 30's SSKs)
    Probably I'd just hope to get lucky at RedBay's.

    Cheers,
    Mondi Cab
     
  6. gunn

    gunn Formula Junior

    Aug 30, 2021
    319
    Full Name:
    Gunn S
    #6 gunn, Mar 8, 2024
    I'm just a little concerned that whatever you use on the radiator to clean it will work some crud loose so even if you don't have a leak now, you may develop one after cleaning. If you have a backup plan (aka the rebuilder), go for it.

    As far as further corrosion is concerned, ill bet it's from having different metals in the cooling system (brass or copper?) radiator, aluminum cooling pipes, etc.

    Is there a sacrificial anode in the stock system? If not, I'd look for a way to put one in (say replace the radiator drain plug)
    This way the ions can attack the anode vs any iron in the system.
     
  7. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,955
    Isle of man- uk
    #7 mike32, Mar 10, 2024
    Once you have the cleaner in the system be sure to get the engine revs up, so the water pump has a big output to scrub the deposits out of everything. Nothing stopping you doing it twice to be sure.
     
  8. schelle_pelle

    schelle_pelle Karting

    Oct 22, 2021
    197
    Berlin, Germany
    #8 schelle_pelle, Mar 10, 2024
    Do you still have the original water reservoir in place? Then it might be the source of the rust.
    Cleaning won't help as the source of the rust still remains.
     
  9. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #9 PAP 348, Mar 11, 2024
    It's a great product, used it plenty back in the day, but not on a Ferrari.

    Works well but and it may help you out.
     
  10. Mondi Cab

    Mondi Cab Karting

    Oct 9, 2019
    170
    EU
    Full Name:
    J.Schulz
    #10 Mondi Cab, Mar 12, 2024
    Hmm, it is indeed the original...
    any hints how to solve ?
     
  11. gunn

    gunn Formula Junior

    Aug 30, 2021
    319
    Full Name:
    Gunn S
    #11 gunn, Mar 12, 2024
    Options:
    1) Replace it.
    2) coat the insides with a stop rust product like POR15 makes. It's an epoxy paint I suspect this version is thinner to more easily coat the inside of a tank then what I've used for my frame components

    POR-15 Fuel Tank Sealer, Stops Rust, Corrosion and Leaks, Resistant to All Fuels, Alcohols and Additives, 8 Fluid Ounces https://a.co/d/hpyawRF

    They make this product to be resistant to fuels so I doubt it would be reactive to coolant even with additives. You should research it though.
     

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