Cooling system not able to keep up

[Mopar1973Man]

If there is puke in the radiator fins, can you clean it out without removing the radiator?

No. You'll have to remove the radiator to clean it up. Even I've got to pull my radiator every few years to clean the baked in mud out of the bottom of the radiator from all the off road usage. There is no way for me to clean mud out let alone you de-greasing both faces (front and rear) and getting the grease out.

[joecool911]

Might be best to take out the radiator and take it to a shop for cleaning and flushing and pressure testing. What's a new radiator cost?

[dripley]

Go ahead and take it out, it will be much easier to clean. I had to take mine out on the side of the highway about 2 months ago. Took all of 45 minutes to remove and I had never taken one out before.

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Go ahead and take it out, it will be much easier to clean. I had to take mine out on the side of the highway about 2 months ago. Took all of 45 minutes to remove and I had never taken one out before.

[rancherman]

As quick as it takes to remove the radiator, I'd sure remove it and really get it clean. You'll also have good access to clean the condenser and exchanger too... I just did my '00 this way, and it went to running the fan clutch all the time (before cleaning) to only hearing the fan clutch come on occasionally. I had plenty of gunk on both sides of the radiator, (grass seeds and bugs on front, blowby/dust/gunk on the backside) I soaked it in a heavy solution of simple green overnight (shallow pan so no soap would get into the core) then power washed the snot out of it. I really felt the difference in amount of air flowing even at idle! Moparman has had decent luck by shooting water through the fins and letting the fan do the rest. He doesn't have the oil gunk problem though... check out his modification on breather tube http://articles.mopar1973man.com/2nd-generation-24v-dodge-cummins/26-engine-systems/46-engine-what-happens-if-you-keep-the-stock-crankcase-vent

[joecool911]

As quick as it takes to remove the radiator, I'd sure remove it and really get it clean. You'll also have good access to clean the condenser and exchanger too... I just did my '00 this way, and it went to running the fan clutch all the time (before cleaning) to only hearing the fan clutch come on occasionally. I had plenty of gunk on both sides of the radiator, (grass seeds and bugs on front, blowby/dust/gunk on the backside) I soaked it in a heavy solution of simple green overnight (shallow pan so no soap would get into the core) then power washed the snot out of it. I really felt the difference in amount of air flowing even at idle! Moparman has had decent luck by shooting water through the fins and letting the fan do the rest. He doesn't have the oil gunk problem though... check out his modification on breather tube http://articles.mopar1973man.com/2nd-generation-24v-dodge-cummins/26-engine-systems/46-engine-what-happens-if-you-keep-the-stock-crankcase-vent

Thanks for the info. Perfect.

[thefox311]

after reading this sounds like i need to pull mine out and do the same....will have to be a weekend project at my father inlaws for this tho.