Can I Pressure Wash A Radiator?

[gregski]

Finally after getting yelled at by my friends for wanting to wash all my engine parts in the kitchen sink, and get every car part squeeky clean, I thought I came accross a part they wouldn't mind me getting wett, the radiator. Well even now I may be wrong as people tell me I should not pressure wash the radiator becauce I may damage the fins. So what's the verdict can I pressure wash a radiator or not?

By the way this is a radiator I picked up off of Craigslist for $20 bucks I know it's not a Mustang radiator, but it will work in the engine test stand, for extra credit can you guess what it is off of? Circa 1971.

 

[iskwezm]

like your friends said, depending on the pressure, you might damage the fins. a running hose and scotch brite pad will be fine.

 

[blown65]

yup, it will probably bend the fins over unless your very careful. Doesn't take much.

 

[D.Hearne]

I wash em with a pressure washer all the time, just use common sense in aiming the spray, it'll do fine.

 

[gregski]

She came from a ...

1971 Ford E100 1/2 Ton Van 5.0L V8 302

 

[v8only]

looks a little like my old maverick radiator.

I pressure wash them off all the time, just don't put the washer 1 inch away from the fins...it'll come plenty clean.

 

[gregski]

use elbow grease

Having heard a popuri of advice ranging from don't you dare to it's ok, to use your judgement, I decided to clean it the old fashion way, with a pucket, brush, car wash soap, garden hose, and a can of elbow grease (not shown) below.

Please use caution as you clean 30 year old parts as you may find useful information lurking beneath the dirt and grime such as part numbers and covered up old repair work.

I learned that those pretty black radiators are actually yellowish brown brass underneath, yes call me dense but I knew the fins were aluminininum however I didn't know the bigger bits were brass. So the scraped nuggles paid for themselves on this one.

Here be some photographs: