Hey,
I went out and got some loctite radiator cleaner stuff, and some mid-priced engine coolant.
I haven't changed anything yet, wanted to know your opinions on this stuff,
and a how to for flushing it out (couldn't find much in the search).

I'll probably do my oil and coolant again in 6 months/1000 miles, but use a more expensive coolant if that might make any difference.

I've never used the cleaner stuff, but I recommend taking the radiator to a NATrad type place and getting them to clean it properly if it's in unknown condition. Whenever I have one out of a car I run the hose through it until the water is perfectly clean, and I fill it with water, put my hands over the inlet and outlet and shake it fiercely.... while the rad is outt, take the thermostat out, put the thermo housing back on with the top radiator hose, put the garden hose nozzle in the rad hose and tighten the clamp up and turn on the tap - I let the water run through the motor till it's perfectly clean too...

then I put the coolant in...

with your loctite stuff, maybe put it in the water, run it for a week or so and then do the flushing as I described - the way I see the loctite stuff is that it's great if it cleans the water, but where does the crud it cleans off end up?

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

The instructions for the loctite are to mix in bucket of water, drain engine, add bicket, run for 15 min, drain and flush, then add coolant.

I have used the Loctite rad cleaner in a Torana and it cleaned it up fairly well. Try it.

Put the flush throught the system and clean it as best you can. Then take the radiator out and give it to the radiator guys for proper cleaning. The reason for doing it in this order is you don't want rubbish in the block after you fix the radiator. I suspect any radiator that has been in a mini for more than a few years with no coolant will be at least partially blocked and most probably unfixable. a quick check is drop the water and look in through the fill hole and if any of the visible tubes are blocked buy a new one as it is stuffed.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

The previous owner had the radiator replaced a short time ago because of overheating problems. The unit still looks new, and I don't particularly want to take it out, yet.

Why do you want to flush it for? You are never going to get the water rust free without stripping the block and hot tanking it. reverse flush it through the heater hose is as good as it will ever be.

_________________
Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.