Cleaning out a used heatercore?
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Cleaning out a used heatercore?
Took a quick look around and searching on Google, but didn't see much info on cleaning out used water cooling components. In particular, I have a heatercore I bought from a scrap yard second hand, which needs cleaning up a bit. I also have a second hand DangerDen RBX which I'd like to flush just to be sure before pitting it into use.
I can clean up with outside of the core with wire wool and a dremel. It's the inside I'm worried about. I was thinking of flushing it with running tap water and maybe some mild bleech. Thing is, putting tap water in it kind of defeats the point of then using distilled water in the system unless that too is well flushed and dried out. Perhaps after I flush it with tap water I could put it in the oven to evaporate out any remaining water?
I can clean up with outside of the core with wire wool and a dremel. It's the inside I'm worried about. I was thinking of flushing it with running tap water and maybe some mild bleech. Thing is, putting tap water in it kind of defeats the point of then using distilled water in the system unless that too is well flushed and dried out. Perhaps after I flush it with tap water I could put it in the oven to evaporate out any remaining water?
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I registered specially to reply to this (Been lurking for a while though).
If you're in the UK, then Halfords stock a dual bottle thing called Heavy Duty Radiator Cleaner. The first bottle allegedly "removes limescale and rust particles" and "clears blocked cooling systems", while the second bottle is neutralising and anti corrosive.
This is what I'm using to clean out the heatercore I bought 2nd hand from Ebay. I'm not sure how safe it is on pumps and tubing, so I'll be using a knackered Hydor and old tubing to pump it round. Might be an idea to put a bucket in the loop to sediment out all the rubbish too.
If you're in the US, then I'd imagine you can find something similar in whatever shops out there sell car bits/paints/cleaning products.
If you're in the UK, then Halfords stock a dual bottle thing called Heavy Duty Radiator Cleaner. The first bottle allegedly "removes limescale and rust particles" and "clears blocked cooling systems", while the second bottle is neutralising and anti corrosive.
This is what I'm using to clean out the heatercore I bought 2nd hand from Ebay. I'm not sure how safe it is on pumps and tubing, so I'll be using a knackered Hydor and old tubing to pump it round. Might be an idea to put a bucket in the loop to sediment out all the rubbish too.
If you're in the US, then I'd imagine you can find something similar in whatever shops out there sell car bits/paints/cleaning products.
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Rad shops can certainly clean out a core, but the cost may be as much or more than a new core. Alternatively if you can find a way to recirculate HOT water through it, you may be able to get it pretty clean with a commercial radiator flush product.
I wouldn't worry about using tap water in the core, that is probably the least of the contaminants in it now... Just plan on doing a flush w/ distilled cycle or two when you put it in service.
Gooserider
I wouldn't worry about using tap water in the core, that is probably the least of the contaminants in it now... Just plan on doing a flush w/ distilled cycle or two when you put it in service.
Gooserider
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pretty much all of the stuff suggested so far would work fine as well, i just thought i'd add another way for flushing it after it's clean, if you aren't immediately using the rad (ie can't just run distilled water through your setup into a bucket for a bit), you could just rinse some rubbing alcohol through it to get the tap water out, will be all dry in a couple minutes.
kind of extreme though, even if you just used tap water to flush it and then let it sit there wouldn't be much of anything left behind by the few mls of water remaining.
kind of extreme though, even if you just used tap water to flush it and then let it sit there wouldn't be much of anything left behind by the few mls of water remaining.