How to Use Vinegar to Remove Lime Deposits in an Auto Radiator

Regular maintenance and cleaning of your car's radiator will keep the water flowing more efficiently, thus keeping your heating and cooling system in operable condition. Lime and mineral deposits will build up over time, and if not remedied, will clog the system, preventing sufficient water flow. You can clean your car radiator and be environmentally conscious by just using some plain white vinegar.

Things You'll Need

• Several gallons white distilled vinegar Garden hose

Instructions

In The Car (Quick Clean)

1. Drain the car's entire cooling system. If you have antifreeze in it, dispose of the fluid properly. Refill the radiator about half way full. Pour in a gallon of white distilled vinegar. Fill the radiator the rest of the way up.

2. Close the system with the radiator cap. Start the car and let it run until the engine reaches it's normal temperature. Shut the car engine off. Let the car sit for several hours or overnight.

3. Drain the water system by removing the bottom hose or by opening the drain valve on the car's radiator. Flush the radiator out with a water hose as it drains. The vinegar is environmentally safe so you don't have to be too cautious, but you might want to catch the deposits and build up of minerals and lime that will be flowing out.

Out of the Car

1. To clean up an exceptionally dirty radiator that is already out of the car, you will need to clamp hoses to the outlets on the radiator. Small hoses that will allow the radiator to lay on it's side so the water does not escape will work well.

2. Fill the radiator up with pure distilled vinegar. You can pour the vinegar into the hoses while the radiator is laying on its side. Fill it with enough vinegar so that the vinegar is coming back up the hoses. Shake the radiator a bit to let any air escape.

3. Let the radiator sit until the next day. Shake the radiator one more time then dump the vinegar and sediments out of it. Use a garden hose to thoroughly flush the radiator out before installing it into your car.

4. Give the radiator a thorough cleaning with the vinegar at least once a year to keep the lime and mineral build up under control. This is a very safe and cost effect way to remove the lime deposits in the radiator.