Cleaning of cooling radiator fins

[319cssb]

I was cleaning off some crud and noticed a lot of dirt running out from the fins of the radiator. I tried to rinse it as best as I could.
what is the best way to do this?

 

[Suprman]

Garden hose from the engine bay side out.

 

[319cssb]

There are several layers of radiators plus a quite large area to cover through a relatively small and obstructed opening.
makes one wonder how effective a far gen hose really is.

 

[Suprman]

I have done it. Don’t want too much pressure. Nozzle on strong spray with regular garden hose pressure worked for me

 

[Duckworthe]

Garden Hose is the best way and use some cleaners if needed. I saw a guy clean his radiator at the car wash once. I said be careful, he said he knew what he was doing. Then I heard him cussing. Wait.......Wait for it..........Yep he destroyed it! HA guess he did know just what he was doing (buying a new radiator)! Your location and offroad activities dictate the cleaning process, but never use a high pressure water or air. It WILL bend the fins and then you will be using a radiator comb to fix it if you even can. I like to spray a cleaner into the radiator if needed and just flush, flush, flush with water. I've seen some that were required to be removed and soaked in tubs of water to be cleaned being caked in mud/clay. Of course cap the inlets and outlets first. Clay, its a terrible thing. Probably even worst than sand for equipment.

 

[WillWagner]

You can use a steam cleaner too, just remember to NOT direct the stream at one spot too long. I do this on dump trucks, trash trucks, off road equipment and OTR trucks that have plugged cores, had good luck doing this for 30 years.