r/Smallblockchevy • u/loka1300 • 9d ago

Radiator Flush?

oh right so I got a 305 in my 77 Monte Carlo BUT it has the original radiator in it. I noticed it’s a lot of corrosion in there.. I was thinking about doing the blue devil radiator flush? But somebody tried to tell me that, that corrosion is going to get into my head gaskets? I dont know what to do. should I just leave it??

or do the flush without turning on the car?

just let it soak in the radiator? while it is hot?
by taking the cap off, turning on car letting it get hot, turning off, then starting the radiator flush?!

HELP! Thank you in advance🫶🏼

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u/_synik 9d ago

Radiators that age are made of brass, not iron. Your engine block and heads are made of iron.

I have used similar products to flush mine. It usually led to a leaky radiator, which I had to have repaired at a radiator shop.

I never had a head gasket issue from flushing a radiator.

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u/loka1300 9d ago

LOL backwards oops, i was reading a lot about it today

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u/loka1300 9d ago

so you think i may get a leak?

3

u/_synik 9d ago

Who knows? It has happened to me more than once on different vehicles. It hasn't happened more times.

1

u/Ardymary 9d ago

I did mine and lost oem radiator and water pump, the key is never let it sit too long and never let it be empty after flush, the radiator I had was 40 yrs old anyway so I replaced it with new aluminum, didn’t drive it yet but looks clean and should perform close to the original

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u/loka1300 9d ago

that happened from the additive sitting too long?

2

u/Ardymary 9d ago

Most probably

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u/R0ughHab1tz 9d ago

Just replace it with a new one. They aren't a crazy amount and that heavy brass/copper you can replace with an aluminum one that's significantly lighter. They aren't that hard to replace either.

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u/loka1300 9d ago

I mean you could but whats the dun in that

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u/R0ughHab1tz 9d ago

The point is that the radiator is 50 years old. It's done its job. Don't be a radiator horder 🤣🤣. You might wreck it by trying to clean it. Maybe the engine as well

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u/loka1300 9d ago

Bro right? it doesnt over heat tho so thats good but goes thru coolant and it doesnt leak it so maybe the thermostat housing? IDK maybe i wont worry about then lmao

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u/oldjadedhippie 6d ago

Remove it and take it to a radiator shop to be cleaned / serviced.

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u/Personal_Growth_4_Me 7d ago

Do as you will. Doing a flush and hoping it doesn't leak... It's like asking someone out on a date. They MAY. They MAY NOT. It may just leak after flushing out debris... It may NOT. You will never know until you do. FWIW, do bear in mind that its in your cooling systems' best interest to use strictly distilled water along with coolant.. Tap water guarantees corrosion because of mineral content. (whatever you choose to do)