What is the best way to store used radiators?

[Barefooter]

I'm just curious how other people store their used radiators.  I usually buy new radiators flush them real good and then use them right away, but I recently bought a used case that came with three EK 360 rads.  There was still green coolant residue inside, so I hooked up my sink adapter and ran warm tap water through them for about 15 minutes to get all the old coolant out, but I don't plan on using them right away.

 

I drained as much of the water out of them as I could.  Would it be best to just let them air dry and store them with the ports open to air, or would it be better to cap off the ports after they are dry?  I could also fill them with coolant since I have extra on hand and then cap them off.

 

Recommendations please.

 

 

[Avacado]

58 minutes ago, Barefooter said:

I'm just curious how other people store their used radiators.  I usually buy new radiators flush them real good and then use them right away, but I recently bought a used case that came with three EK 360 rads.  There was still green coolant residue inside, so I hooked up my sink adapter and ran warm tap water through them for about 15 minutes to get all the old coolant out, but I don't plan on using them right away.

 

I drained as much of the water out of them as I could.  Would it be best to just let them air dry and store them with the ports open to air, or would it be better to cap off the ports after they are dry?  I could also fill them with coolant since I have extra on hand and then cap them off.

 

Recommendations please.

 

 

Coolant would be ok for short term storage <1 year. Usually after cleaning, I use a heat gun over the fins for awhile till all of the moisture has evaporated then cap with stop fittings. Either way it doesn't really matter as you can remove any oxidation that may form with an acidic solution. 

 

I mostly cap them to prevent insects from moving in more than trying to keep excess humid air out.

Edited September 18, 2023 by Avacado

[T.Sharp]

I was also wondering about this, whether to store them filled with coolant to minimize oxidation, or just get it as dry as possible. I think getting them bone dry and then capping would be the best bet. You can blow out a lot of the water with an air compressor or a datavac. Avacado's idea of using a heat gun is great. I was thinking you could also put it in the oven at a very low temp (like 150f) to dry, assuming your oven goes that low. 

[Sir Beregond]

I prefer to store dry as it becomes one less thing to worry about from a timing perspective if the rad ends up sitting way longer than you intended. I had an unused rad sitting in my closet for 8 years and only finally got to using it recently. Story there is it didn't fit my original intended use for it when I bought it.

 

Definitely cap it even if dry and then when you are ready to use, clean again. I'm a big fan of Mayhems Blitz kits. Some prefer just flushing hooked up to a sink, or doing something more homemade with vinegar and baking soda.

 

But yeah, stored dry and capped, you can store pretty much indefinitely.

 

I never thought to try a heat gun @Avacado - that's a great idea. I usually just blow my data vac into it to blow out all the water.

Edited September 18, 2023 by Sir Beregond

[keeph8n]

My normal procedure is to rinse thoroughly with tap water, a quick splash of distilled, let it drain with ports down for 24 hours and then stop plug it and put it on the shelf

[Fluxmaven]

I have so many rads laying around that I just toss em in the closet. I'll blitz and flush them when/if I ever use them again.

 

I've cleaned and dried, or left filled and capped but I always end up cleaning them again before reusing anyway.

[Barefooter]

On 18/09/2023 at 11:23, Sir Beregond said:

I prefer to store dry as it becomes one less thing to worry about from a timing perspective if the rad ends up sitting way longer than you intended. I had an unused rad sitting in my closet for 8 years and only finally got to using it recently. Story there is it didn't fit my original intended use for it when I bought it.

 

Definitely cap it even if dry and then when you are ready to use, clean again. I'm a big fan of Mayhems Blitz kits. Some prefer just flushing hooked up to a sink, or doing something more homemade with vinegar and baking soda.

 

But yeah, stored dry and capped, you can store pretty much indefinitely.

 

I never thought to try a heat gun @Avacado - that's a great idea. I usually just blow my data vac into it to blow out all the water.

Yes I always run Blitz part 1 and part 2 through new rads and will do the same with these when and if I ever use them.

 

 

9 hours ago, keeph8n said:

My normal procedure is to rinse thoroughly with tap water, a quick splash of distilled, let it drain with ports down for 24 hours and then stop plug it and put it on the shelf

Yeah I let them drain for a few days, then gave them a quick blast with the datavac and was surprised how much water was still in there.

 

 

8 hours ago, Fluxmaven said:

I have so many rads laying around that I just toss em in the closet. I'll blitz and flush them when/if I ever use them again.

 

I've cleaned and dried, or left filled and capped but I always end up cleaning them again before reusing anyway.

I ended up leaving them open to the air for a few weeks after the air blast and then capped them off.

 

 

 

Thanks all for your input!

Edited December 4, 2023 by Barefooter