What is the slime from and is it even a problem? All the cleaning
suggestions rely and whatever is being used has to be able to flow through
the tubes. If the radiator can flow why clean it? Radiators really only need
to be cleaned if they are badly neglected and the tubes are blocked with
deposits and scale. "Rodding" a radiator involves removing the end caps and
pushing a rod through each of the tubes. Not a regular practice for
radiators with plastic end caps. Some slime is normal from the inhibitor
package in antifreeze. Vanagon radiators fail for a number of reasons. A
common one is the end tanks breaking internally. This causes the coolant to
short cycle going in one side and coming out the other without actually
passing through.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mark Dearing
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 11:35 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: What to soak radiator in to dissolve slime

In a message dated 5/14/2010 7:12:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
thewestyman@GMAIL.COM writes:

am  trying to find a way to get the radiator soaked into something that
would lift  the slime from the inside of it, so I can just blast it out with
water and  compressed air.  I have a copper radiator and an aluminium one.
They are both loaded with slime.
I know, I can buy a new one.   That's not the question now.  There are many
of us on the list who would  like to know this.  And maybe it is a good
practice to rinse it  sometimes, I guess.  It can be done while still in the
car.  Then we  would not have to replace it.
I think of something acid or alkali  kind.  Maybe there is one that is
already being used long time and I just  don't know of.  One maybe for
aluminum
one for  others.
Anyone?

hey guys  we have used draino on these and heater cores without any
problems.  normally we let them soak for a couple of days.  these were  done
this
way because the customers couldn't afford to fix them  right.    So far none
of them that was fixed this way have had  any problems  later  mark dearing