"Swing Out" Radiator to Flush from the Back

SacsTC wrote:

ncrowley wrote:
I brought my coach to the Cat dealer to check the radiator fluid and flush as needed. I have a 2004 Cat C7 that has not has much maintenance until I purchased it last year. It has a rear radiator. I have been doing Simple Green flushing from the rear since I cannot get to the other side. The Cat fellow said he "swung out the radiator" to flush it from the inside and it was in very bad shape. Obviously, my Simple Green from the back cleaning was not doing any good.

First question: How do you "swing out the radiator"? Is this something I should even consider doing myself?

Second question: He said to take it to a high pressure car wash once per year and flush from the back with hot water. He said to be sure and point the muzzle straight on so the fins are not damaged. Has anyone done this? Can I purchase a pressure washer to do this? He said it takes a lot of pressure to go all the way to where the gunk builds up.

#1..."He Lied". I have never seen a radiator set up on Hinges so that you can "Swing them out" from their original position. If you can find some sort of hinge mechanism, let us know.....PLEASE

#2... YES you can purchase a High Pressure washer that will work for this purpose. Better yet, wash it from the engine side of the radiator. Simple green works fine. If you have two radiator assemblies spaced approx. 1" apart, it makes the job harder...

I am not sure he lied because I have read that there are some coaches with rear radiators that have bottom hinges on them. But You do have to disconnect the hoses. I do not think mine has that, but I had heard of some coaches having them.

I use an electric sprayer they do not have as much pressure, but do an excellent job of cleaning from the front to the rear. I crawl under the rear of the coach on the passenger side. Lots of room to work under. Add some Simple Green to the container on the high pressure washer and work the wand behind the shroud. Give it a good spraying with the Simple Green which would be on the front of the CAC. Then go to the rear of the coach and spray the radiator with Simple Green also. Let it soak for about ten minutes, THEN use a nozzle that does not spray hard and flush from the inside out. Then do the same from the rear of the coach for the radiator. Flush it real good with water. Then start your engine and the fan will blow every bid of water that is left out. I have been doing this at least once a year for the last ten years and my coach does not over heat.

I strongly argue the direction of spray to the radiator with most everyone else.
My theory?
The air flows from the front (engine side) to the rear and outside.
So the dirt accumulates in the same direction. Makes sense to me that you need to wash it out backwards, back to where it entered.
I use a pressure wash and Simple Green but I'm careful to direct the spray squarly to the face of the radiator so I don't bend any of the fins.
Yes, I will get on my hands and knees under the RV and spray the engine side too but just to clear off any accumulation that covers the fins.

You DO have a sandwiched cooling system.

Let's start at the "front": engine, fan and fan shroud, CAC (Charge Air Cooler), radiator, back grill.

And the air flows in just that way front to back.

You have to clean it from the front, since the front of the CAC is the "filter" that catches the vast majority of the debris.

You have to access it from the bedroom or closet-- you need access to the front of the fan housing, as you will be spraying soap and water in the front of the fan shroud/between fan blades.

To check on the condition of the front of the CAC, use a strong flashlight (best after dark). Shine it from the bedroom/closet into the front of the fan shroud. Verify that the perimeter, particularly lower perimeter is as clean as the center (the fan blades sling the dirt to the perimeter).

Also make sure that your crankcase breather hose has been extended to behind the fan shroud. Will cost about $10 in "parts" if you want to do this yourself.

I would NOT recommend the use of high pressure on the front of the CAC or radiator-- way too easy to bend fins.

ncrowley wrote:
I brought my coach to the Cat dealer to check the radiator fluid and flush as needed. I have a 2004 Cat C7 that has not has much maintenance until I purchased it last year. It has a rear radiator. I have been doing Simple Green flushing from the rear since I cannot get to the other side. The Cat fellow said he "swung out the radiator" to flush it from the inside and it was in very bad shape. Obviously, my Simple Green from the back cleaning was not doing any good.

First question: How do you "swing out the radiator"? Is this something I should even consider doing myself?

Second question: He said to take it to a high pressure car wash once per year and flush from the back with hot water. He said to be sure and point the muzzle straight on so the fins are not damaged. Has anyone done this? Can I purchase a pressure washer to do this? He said it takes a lot of pressure to go all the way to where the gunk builds up.

#1..."He Lied". I have never seen a radiator set up on Hinges so that you can "Swing them out" from their original position. If you can find some sort of hinge mechanism, let us know.....PLEASE

#2... YES you can purchase a High Pressure washer that will work for this purpose. Better yet, wash it from the engine side of the radiator. Simple green works fine. If you have two radiator assemblies spaced approx. 1" apart, it makes the job harder...