Best way to Flush a system...

[DickNervous]

I have a system that consists of a Black Ice Pro Chrome rap, MCP350 pump, and a modified (by Voyuermods) NexXxos XP block. (They replaced the top with acrylic and put 1/2ID barbs on it). I noticed about 2 weeks ago that after running for several months that the righ had just shut down. Upon powering it up I saw that the water was not moving and when I checked out the pump it seemed dead, there was no vibration, noise, anything.

So I replace the pump with another I had laying around and a few days later I notice the same thing. This is when I noticed that the green PrimoFlex tubing had gotten a kink in it and was restricting the flow. So, I replace the tubing and the pump. I put my PolarFLO TT pump on there thinking that perhaps this MCP350 had burned out too.

A week later I notice the flow is very slow, a trickle. Barely enough to keep the system from overheating. Upon inspection there was "crap" in the block. Some normal buildup and some stuff that can only be described as "little black wires" that got stuck in the holes of the block.

I remove the block, clean it up, put it back and for 5 minutes all is good. And I see more of the black things. Additionally, I have noticed that the clear tubing I replaced the kinked up tubing with has a green tint to it. Which surprises me since I am using PC Ice as the coolant.

I am assuming that the black things are either plastic of metal shavings that bot into the system when the first pump burned itself out trying to push water past the kinks. I have no idea what the green tint is from.

So know that you know the whole story, here is the question: What is the absolute best way to flush the system. I am assuming that running several gallons of distilled water through it would be a good start, but should I mix anything with it? Should I run something in a loop for a period of time, or just run water through it 1 time?

What does everytone elese here do?

[fivecheebs]

Blocks i tend to dismantle to clean properly. I usually flush my rads in the bath using the shower hose (with the shower head disconnected) to direct water through it. I'll leave it flushing like that for a while twisting and turning the rad as i go. Then i pour through some distilled to get the worst of the tap water out, then ill fill the loop with distilled, leak test, then i'll drain and refill with the mixed coolant.

[2JSC]

how about some of that Prestone radiator flush? I donno if it will hurt anything being that its a different system from a car's... maybe do a search on it. Because that rad flush can clean out some pretty nasty stuff from an auto cooling system.

[Pug]

how about some of that Prestone radiator flush? I donno if it will hurt anything being that its a different system from a car's... maybe do a search on it. Because that rad flush can clean out some pretty nasty stuff from an auto cooling system.
I doubt that'll be of use.
Most of the auto rad flush solutions I've used dictate that you need to run the car up to operating temperature before it becomes effective. Way beyond what you'll get in a PC.

Personally, I backflush, then forward then backflush again (based on the original flowpath).
I do this by hooking up a hose to the faucet and running till clear, whilst rotating the rad through all three planes several times.
To work out the best path of rotation, try to imagine rolling a ball bearing though all the rad channels from one port to the other (but don't actually use one, obviously... ;-)).

SideNote - you should really do this with all new rads prior to use, fwiw.

[DickNervous]

To work out the best path of rotation, try to imagine rolling a ball bearing though all the rad channels from one port to the other (but don't actually use one, obviously... ;-)).


Aww man, I had the ball bearing all ready to go....

So bottom line is high pressure flush with tap water is the way to go. I guess then run some distilled water through it to get all the tap water out and then fill it.

This is pretty much what I was thinking of doing, except using the garden hose, but wante to check if there were any other methods out there that might be better.
THanks.

[Pug]

Aww man, I had the ball bearing all ready to go....
Well, if there's some really stubborn crap in there... :inno: :D

Funnily enough, I learnt a nifty trick for cleaning port stains out of crystal decanters when I used to work at a shooting school (we did a lot of work at stately homes, replete with butlers and the like).
Essentially, you get a shotgun cartridge and cut it open; pour out the lead shot and shake it around inside the decanter to remove all stains and deposits.
Might work for rads too, as long as the channels are big enough. Ya never know... :idea: