cleaning radiator after road trip

rsm1113 · 05-02-2008, 06:29 PM

Hi all. I've had the pleasure of driving my SI from one state to another and back. The problem is I drove at night and i have a lot of moths and other bugs in my radiator fins (I guess more specifically the condenser fins). What is the proper way to clean out the front of the fins so that I don't bend or pop a hole in the condenser?

rsm1113 · 05-05-2008, 04:15 PM

No one has any suggestions?

***IceWindius*** · 05-05-2008, 05:12 PM

Easiest, just blast it with a pressure hose. Maybe presoak it in some Simple green before hand.

wheeler · 05-05-2008, 05:19 PM

Just make sure you don't use too narrow a stream or you could bend up the fins

kenchan · 05-05-2008, 05:56 PM

takes forever but after the bugs are all dry, i take some masking tape and gently
tape the dead bugs and peel them back.

then any remaning crap, i use my 90 degree-bend pick tool and remove crap one by one.
also fixing the fins straight for those that got bent from the impact.

but i only do that for my hobby cars though..

***SiliconX*** · 05-05-2008, 06:17 PM

Poorboy's Bug Squash, and brush it out with a soft brush. Then hit it with some Simple Green or DP's Exterior Cleaner and again with the soft brush and then rinse it off.

Good as new!

rsm1113 · 05-06-2008, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the great advise. When you say a soft brush and since it is such a tight spot to get into behind the grille, are we talking about a tooth brush or is there a special 90 degree brush?

rsm1113 · 05-06-2008, 10:53 AM

What I mean is I like silicon's advise, and I want to buy the cleaners and do as he suggested. On another car, I've tried to blast it in the car wash and learned of how weak those fins are. I know what you all are thinking, what a dumba$$ but no one told me. So I'm much more careful to ask first then proceed.

kenchan · 05-06-2008, 12:56 PM

i seriously doubt you can get it as clean as mine with just some brush. you literally
have to dig out the crap one by one, not push it in further with water and a brush.

:) well, if you're willing to spend the time you can clean it completely. but is it worth
it? not sure. lol i would definitely recommend it on any intercoolers though.

rsm1113 · 05-06-2008, 02:24 PM

Ok i appreciate your input Kenchan. I wonder if it's even a big deal but i just don't want the condenser to overheat and have AC troubles. ON my 98 DX, the AC compressor started to shoot out freeon due to the extreme high pressure of the condenser being overheated. The problem was the guy before me would travel from Dallas to Chicago many times so a lot of junk got into the condenser and the air couldn't pass through it.

Do they sell a "screen" of some sort that I can place in front of the condenser that captures all the debris and bugs, and if so, is it recommended for or against getting?

kenchan · 05-06-2008, 03:42 PM

yah, i think there are screens available. i dont know the name off hand, but ive
seen them online somewhere.

rsm1113 · 05-06-2008, 03:56 PM

Thanks a lot. I think i will just clean it off for now since putting a screen will impede on air flow therefore causing the same effect I'm trying to get away from.

05-02-2008, 06:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
rsm1113 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 35 Ramez iTrader: 0 / 0%	cleaning radiator after road trip Hi all. I've had the pleasure of driving my SI from one state to another and back. The problem is I drove at night and i have a lot of moths and other bugs in my radiator fins (I guess more specifically the condenser fins). What is the proper way to clean out the front of the fins so that I don't bend or pop a hole in the condenser?

05-05-2008, 05:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
*IceWindius* Cpt of the Silver Ice Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cold, frozen, windy Rocky Mountains Age: 28 Posts: 1,420 8thgen FG Crew #094 iTrader: 2 / 100%	Easiest, just blast it with a pressure hose. Maybe presoak it in some Simple green before hand. __________________ 8th gen Honda Civic Cabinet Air filter DIY Replacement

05-05-2008, 06:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
*SiliconX* is stuck at work... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 1,299 Eric iTrader: 2 / 100%	Poorboy's Bug Squash, and brush it out with a soft brush. Then hit it with some Simple Green or DP's Exterior Cleaner and again with the soft brush and then rinse it off. Good as new! __________________

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05-05-2008, 04:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
rsm1113 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 35 Ramez iTrader: 0 / 0%	No one has any suggestions?

05-05-2008, 05:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
wheeler Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Lex, VA. Posts: 240 Dave iTrader: 1 / 100%	Just make sure you don't use too narrow a stream or you could bend up the fins

05-05-2008, 05:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
kenchan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,157 iTrader: 1 / 100%	takes forever but after the bugs are all dry, i take some masking tape and gently tape the dead bugs and peel them back. then any remaning crap, i use my 90 degree-bend pick tool and remove crap one by one. also fixing the fins straight for those that got bent from the impact. but i only do that for my hobby cars though..

05-06-2008, 10:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
rsm1113 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 35 Ramez iTrader: 0 / 0%	Thanks for the great advise. When you say a soft brush and since it is such a tight spot to get into behind the grille, are we talking about a tooth brush or is there a special 90 degree brush?

05-06-2008, 10:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
rsm1113 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 35 Ramez iTrader: 0 / 0%	What I mean is I like silicon's advise, and I want to buy the cleaners and do as he suggested. On another car, I've tried to blast it in the car wash and learned of how weak those fins are. I know what you all are thinking, what a dumba$$ but no one told me. So I'm much more careful to ask first then proceed.

05-06-2008, 12:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
kenchan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,157 iTrader: 1 / 100%	i seriously doubt you can get it as clean as mine with just some brush. you literally have to dig out the crap one by one, not push it in further with water and a brush. :) well, if you're willing to spend the time you can clean it completely. but is it worth it? not sure. lol i would definitely recommend it on any intercoolers though.

05-06-2008, 02:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
rsm1113 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 35 Ramez iTrader: 0 / 0%	Ok i appreciate your input Kenchan. I wonder if it's even a big deal but i just don't want the condenser to overheat and have AC troubles. ON my 98 DX, the AC compressor started to shoot out freeon due to the extreme high pressure of the condenser being overheated. The problem was the guy before me would travel from Dallas to Chicago many times so a lot of junk got into the condenser and the air couldn't pass through it. Do they sell a "screen" of some sort that I can place in front of the condenser that captures all the debris and bugs, and if so, is it recommended for or against getting?

05-06-2008, 03:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
kenchan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,157 iTrader: 1 / 100%	yah, i think there are screens available. i dont know the name off hand, but ive seen them online somewhere.

05-06-2008, 03:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
rsm1113 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 35 Ramez iTrader: 0 / 0%	Thanks a lot. I think i will just clean it off for now since putting a screen will impede on air flow therefore causing the same effect I'm trying to get away from.