I have an 05 Winnebago Journey diesel. Everything is working fine, but at sustained speeds of 65 mph or over, the water temp goes up to 214 degrees, so I stay below 65. I'm assuming that the radiator needs cleaning.I have done some research on how to do this, and know that it must be done from the front of the charge cooler. My problem is that the fan blades are so large that I can barely get my sprayer wand in there to apply solvent. I'm afraid if I spray the solvent in there that I won't be able to get enough water in there to flush it out after the solvent is applied. I tried shooting water through the radiator from the back side to see if I get any significant flow through the fins, but it appears that the water never makes it as far as the charge cooler. I'm applying water under city water pressure with a nozzle on the hose. Can anyone offer any suggestions before I try to do this?Thanks

Just be sure that you use a solvent that will not damage aluminum Simple Green EXTREME is made for aluminum. Regular Simple Green is not. Since it is equally as hard to apply the solvent, it is just as hard to get it all off of the small spaces. You do not want to use something that will cause corrosion if a little remains on the fins.

I do have the Simple Green Extreme. I'm just trying to figure out how to get enough water in there to flush it out.

I had a 2002 Journey and cleaned the rad annually. I can only tell you what seemed to work for me.I mixed aluminum-friendly Simple Green and Dawn dish soap in a garden sprayer. I would go under the bed thru the engine access hatch and spray the CAC with the engine running. Basically I would aim the spray at the fan. The fan would push the solution onto the CAC.I would shut down the engine and then go outside and soak the radiator as best I could. Let solution sit for 10 minutes or so, then go back inside with garden hose (pulled up thru engine area) and spray CAC with engine running. I would hook the hose to my outside connection in wet bay and use hot water from the on board water tank with water heater on. Shut down engine and go outside and rinse. Start engine and let it blow out thru the back. The first time I did this, I had to repeat to get it clean. After that, I was able to get it clean with only one cleaning as described. I also extended the slobber tube so it exited well below the coach frame. I've read where folks have not been able to clean the cooling pack and had to remove it, finding leaves, plastic bags, etc. between the CAC and radiator. If that is the case, you may have to get it done at a shop who can do this. I had the CAT 3126E (C6) and my local CAT shop said they cleaned them often. I believe they steam cleaned them from the back and from under the coach. I had the coach 8 years and made two cross country trips thru the Rockies and it never ran hot using my method. I did replace my thermostats at some point just to make sure they were OK.We liked that coach and it served us well. However, after having to go thru that process annually, a side radiator was a must have for me when we traded up in 2013. Just spray the radiator with a garden hose from the outside with the motor running and you are done.

I do have the Simple Green Extreme. I'm just trying to figure out how to get enough water in there to flush it out.

No secret methods here. It IS a pain to work around those fan blades. Regular garden nozzle an patience along with Simple Green Extreme is what it takes.Oh, and wear old clothes-- you WILL get dirty.And, if you do have the Caterpillar 3126, make sure that the V belt driving the water pump is not loose.

Trying to clean my rear radiator | Good Sam Community

Ro646a
Explorer
Aug 15, 2017
UPDATE

We are on the road now, after cleaning my CAC and radiator. The cleaning made a HUGE difference. On our last trip, in 85 degree weather over hills in Michigan, if I drove over 65 mph the engine and trans temps both went up to 214 degrees.
On this trip in 85 degree weather, driving through mountains in West Virginia,
on long grades the highest trans temp was 183 and the highest engine temp was 193. On flat ground the trans temp was 175 and the engine was consistently 191 at 70 mph.
tropical36
Explorer
Aug 15, 2017
Ro646a wrote:
We are on the road now, after cleaning my CAC and radiator. The cleaning made a HUGE difference. On our last trip, in 85 degree weather, if I drove iver 65 mph tge engine and trans temps both went up to

Whatever it was and although a good cleaning is always good, 214 F isn't really excessive. I've seen that much in the mountains and I have a dual speed hydraulic driven side radiator.
As for speed, I never drive our behemoth at sustained speed, above 57mph, which is usually what it takes to keep it at max. torque, in 6th gear, over hill and dale.
Ro646a
Explorer
Aug 15, 2017
I don't usually drive that fast, but this is a newly aquired unit and these have
Been shakedown trips to test the systems. All in all we are happy with our purchase.

Thanks for your input.

Best regards.

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