Rad cleaning question

[vyper]

The stuff I ordered hasn't all arrived at the same time and I have the PA 120.3 rad on hand. My question is would it be ok to clean the rad as the sticky suggests with vinegar and distilled water, then leave it until the other stuff arrives? Or should it really be ready to use in a setup as soon as it's been cleaned?

[Fresh Daemon]

As long as you flush it well with distilled water after you're done with the vinegar it should be just fine.

[vyper]

There's no problem with potential rust, or leaving water residue in the rad while I wait for the other parts to turn up?

[Slayer2k3]

Copper/aluminum doesn't rust, it tarnishes. :D

Nah, you will be fine. Just after the flush, as an added precaution, put cotton balls, or tape over the open ends so that no other particles get in there.

[vyper]

Would there be any harm in soaking the rad in vinegar for more than 8 hours?

[Fresh Daemon]

No, the acid isn't strong enough to damage the metal. I left my rad overnight for 10-12 hours a few times while I was cleaning it. No harm done, no leaks.

I wouldn't worry about rust or tarnishing. It's a radiator. It's designed to have water in it. :)

[Sneaky]

the radiator is fine - you'll want to run some vinegar or water through the inside of the rad to clean out any crap from soldering/brazing it at the factory, but DO NOT soak the entire rad in vinegar

[SiGfever]

I just yesterday got through doing two twelve hour soakings with white distilled vinegar. Afterwards I flushed the heck out of it with distilled water and then mounted it in my new U2-UFO. I was going to use some 1/2" Tygon R-3603 tubing that I have but decided to go with 7/16" Tygon R-3603 instead. It should be here Thursday so I can continue my build next weedend. :toast:

[Nanometer]

Copper oxidizes hardcore. The only thing that I hate about copper.

[[XC] Aerosupra]

Copper oxidizes hardcore. The only thing that I hate about copper.

agreed, it turns brown-something in no-time