Cleaning a radiator - GIF

Cleaning a radiator.

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Previously:

Blasting radiator with compressed air - GIF
Induction brazing radiator coils - GIF
Radiator hose lubricating tool - GIF
Radiator pressure washing wand - GIF
Repairing an old radiator - GIF
Scalding coolant erupts after man removes radiator cap - GIF
Victorian radiator plate warmer - photo

That's what happens when you use chocolate milk instead of anti-freeze. I didn't know anyone bothered with that anymore. I just buy new ones.

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Originally Posted by Floradawg

That's what happens when you use chocolate milk instead of anti-freeze. I didn't know anyone bothered with that anymore. I just buy new ones.

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Some people have more time than money...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floradawg

That's what happens when you use chocolate milk instead of anti-freeze. I didn't know anyone bothered with that anymore. I just buy new ones.

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In many countries obtaining spare or repair parts is difficult. Here in the USA too many people just throw things away which could otherwise be cleaned or repaired.
However due to the costs of doing business IE taxes, insurances, safety protocols, building overhead, employee entitlement benefits, and other compensations, Business owners cannot justify rebuilding or repairing most things anymore. Just huck it in the recycle bin or the landfill and move on. charge your customer 3 times the cost of the replacement item and make your pocket fatter you customers will never know the difference.

The main reason I didn't think people cleaned them out anymore is because of the plastic used in most radiators now. I didn't think they could be disassembled. I guess I never looked closely enough at how they were put together.

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Originally Posted by Floradawg

The main reason I didn't think people cleaned them out anymore is because of the plastic used in most radiators now. I didn't think they could be disassembled. I guess I never looked closely enough at how they were put together.

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The reasons for using plastic in radiators and a host of other things is because it is cheap to mold or form plastics. The up side for the manufactures is plastics will only last for a limited time before degrading causing the need for replacement. If it lasted forever than there would be no reason for people to buy new vehicles or buy replacement parts.

Labor costs make a huge difference in deciding whether to repair or replace a part. Here in the US, I'll replace a $120 radiator because it would cost double that to repair it. In Pakistan, a radiator rebuild job (disassembling, cleaning, reassembling, and brazing any pinholes) is under $10, so you'd repair it instead. In one place labor is $50/hour, in the other it's $6/day.

It's the same reason they have vendors that will disassemble and repair LED lightbulbs. You'd never spend a half-hour of technician time to do that here, but it's worth it there.