The process of cleaning the cooling system of a car’s internal combustion engine is a job that needs to be done regularly so that dirt and corrosion elements do not accumulate inside the radiator tubes. Flushing the engine cooling system Hi-Gear is an American product designed to clean the internal elements of the internal combustion engine from coke, scale, and other harmful components. Regular use of the product allows you to extend the life of the motor, reducing the degree of harmful effects during operation. The products are produced in containers of 325 and 444 ml and are designed for 7-minute treatment of the radiator of the power unit.
Purpose
The high concentration of the composition allows the additive to be used to effectively remove scale, coke deposits and corrosive particles from the cooling system. Timely use allows you to extend the life of the radiator itself, restore the cleaning properties of the oil and increase its replacement interval. The 7-minute Hi-Gear flush quickly removes traces of coolant from the system; it is used as part of the normal procedure for replacing antifreeze or antifreeze, before pouring in other consumables that differ in composition, density, and properties. Regular use of the product helps protect the engine from overheating caused by clogged radiator pipes.
Video “The principle of working with the engine cooling system”
This video describes in detail the process of operation of the cooling system of an internal combustion engine.
The process of cleaning the cooling system of a car’s internal combustion engine is a job that needs to be done regularly so that dirt and corrosion elements do not accumulate inside the radiator tubes. Flushing the engine cooling system Hi-Gear is an American product designed to clean the internal elements of the internal combustion engine from coke, scale, and other harmful components. Regular use of the product allows you to extend the life of the motor, reducing the degree of harmful effects during operation. The products are produced in containers of 325 and 444 ml and are designed for 7-minute treatment of the radiator of the power unit.
Action
Flushing the Hi-Gear cooling system has a complex effect on automotive components:
- increase in heat exchange processes, increase in the productivity of the cooling system up to 70%;
- reduction of local overheating of automobile cylinders, which appears when scale accumulates in the cooling jacket and contributes to increased wear of the piston group with subsequent jamming of the internal combustion engine and the need for unscheduled overhauls;
- restoration of antifreeze circulation in the radiator system in the presence of deposits;
- reducing the risk of sudden overheating of the engine when the car is idle in a traffic jam;
- protection of the pump and seals from corrosion, the negative effects of decomposition products and oxidation of ethylene glycol.
Distinctive characteristics
- Thanks to the highly concentrated formula, a high degree of cleaning of the cooling system from scale, deposits, and corrosion is achieved.
Scale in the cooling system
- Neutralizes and dissolves toxins that appear as a result of coolant decomposition.
- Makes it impossible to overheat the cylinder block, which can occur due to the cooling jacket being clogged with scale, which is the best prevention of the power unit from jamming.
- Improves coolant circulation by dissolving deposits in radiator tubes, thereby almost doubling the service life of the cooling system.
- Extends the service life of the pump seal, protecting against abrasive inclusions.
- Guarantees long-term protection of the cooling system from rust and prevents the appearance of scale.
Application
The instructions for using the product are quite simple; even a motorist without experience can cope with the task of cleaning the cooling system. Flushing should be applied as follows:
- First you need to turn off the engine and let it cool.
- Open the heating tap, if present, and drain the antifreeze or antifreeze completely.
- Mix the washing composition with clean water (one package will require 4-5 liters of liquid).
- Pour the substance into the radiator system, adjusting the level to normal using water.
- Start the engine at 1500-2500 rpm and let it run for 7 minutes.
- Stop the engine, wait until it cools down and drain the cleaning agent.
- Rinse the radiator with clean water and add new antifreeze.
- The car is ready for use.
One 325 ml package of the substance is designed for a radiator system with a capacity of up to 17 liters, and a 444 ml flush for a 10-22 liter system.
Reviews
Almost all reviews of the American product are positive. Vasily, 29 years old
I've been using the Hi Gear flush for about two years, I've flushed the radiator twice with it, and I can't say anything bad about it. It removes a lot of dirt and scale from the system every time; the cleaning process itself is very fast, taking 10-15 minutes along with preparation.
Igor, 50 years old
A good product, but a little expensive compared to Russian washes. On the other hand, in 5 years of use it has never failed, the engine does not get hot. I change it with each new fill of antifreeze.
Oleg, 38 years old
I recently tried the flushing composition from High Gear, and I am very pleased: after cleaning, I was able to remove a very large amount of coke and scale particles from the tubes. The sensor had previously shown excessive heating of the motor, but after cleaning everything returned to normal. I recommend!
Nikolay, 45 years old
Convenient tool, I prefer it among others. Effective and easy to use, washing takes a quarter of an hour at most.
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The question of how to flush the engine cooling system is of interest to car owners who are faced with problems cleaning the cooling jacket. There are both folk cleaning agents (citric acid, whey, Coca-Cola and others) and modern technological formulations. Let's talk about those and other options in more detail.
Products for cleaning the cooling system from oil, rust and deposits
Compatibility
American Hi-Gear radiator flush does not contain acids and does not require a neutralization procedure, as is the case with a number of analogues. Tests have revealed good compatibility of the products with the materials used to manufacture modern cars (plastic, metal, paint components, etc.) of different brands of cars: American, Japanese, Russian and European.
HG9014 / 325 ml, HG9017 / 444 ml
How often to wash
Before we move on to a direct description of certain products, I would like to remind you how important it is to regularly flush the car’s cooling system. The fact is that, depending on the coolant used, rust, oil deposits, antifreeze decomposition products, and scale accumulate on the walls of the tubes that make up the radiator. All this leads to difficulty in coolant circulation and reduced heat transfer. And this always has a bad effect on the performance of the engine and increases the wear of its individual parts with the risk of their premature failure.
It is worth noting that flushing the system can be both internal and external (external cleaning involves flushing the radiator from the outside to remove particles of dirt, dust, and insects on its surface). It is recommended to do the internal flushing of the cooling system at least once a year . It is best to do this in the spring, when there is no longer frost, and a hot summer lies ahead.
On some cars, there is a light on the dashboard with a picture of a radiator, the glow of which may indicate not only a decrease in the antifreeze level, but also that it is time to change it. This may also serve as a signal that it is time to clean the cooling system. There are also a number of indirect signs of the need for such cleaning:
Recommendations
During the operation of a vehicle, various deposits, including scale, are deposited on the walls of the power device. The degree of contamination depends on the quality parameters of the antifreeze, the characteristics of the cooling system and signs of care for the device.
Scale is considered a heat-insulating element, so it impairs the removal of heat from the components, and this is the reason for overheating of the motor. Impaired cooling contributes to premature engine wear and sudden repairs.
To prevent plaque build-up, periodically apply a 7-minute Hi Gear Cooling System Flush, the simplest and most effective solution. It is recommended to use this technical tool every time you replace antifreeze or when the car engine often overheats.
Folk remedies for flushing the cooling system
As we indicated above, there are two types of cleaning products - traditional and special. Let's start with the first ones, as they are cheaper and more proven.
Lemon acid
Using citric acid to clean the cooling system
The most common citric acid, diluted in water, can clean radiator tubes from rust and dirt. It is especially effective if ordinary water is used as a coolant, since acidic compounds are effective against rust, and alkaline ones are effective against scale . However, remember that a citric acid solution is not able to remove significant stains.
The composition of the solution is as follows - dissolve 20-40 grams of the substance in 1 liter of water, and if the contamination is strong, then the amount of acid per liter can be increased to 80-100 grams (a larger volume is created in a similar proportion). The ideal option is when adding acid to distilled water, the pH level is around 3 .
The cleaning procedure itself is simple. It is necessary to drain all the old fluid and fill in a new solution. Next, you need to warm up the engine to operating temperature and leave it for several hours (or better yet, overnight ). Next, drain the solution from the system and look at its condition. If it is very dirty, then the procedure must be repeated 1-2 more times until the liquid is clean enough. After this, be sure to flush the system with water. Next, fill in the product that you plan to use as a coolant.
Acetic acid
Using acetic acid to clean the cooling system
The action of this solution is similar to that described above. An acetic acid solution is excellent for flushing the cooling system from rust. The proportions of the solution are as follows - half a liter of vinegar per bucket of water (10 liters). The cleaning procedure is similar - drain the old fluid, fill in new fluid and warm up the car to operating temperatures. Next, you need to leave the car with the engine running for 30-40 minutes so that chemical cleaning occurs in the radiator. Next, you need to drain the cleaning liquid and look at its condition. Repeat the procedure until the liquid becomes clear. Next, you need to rinse the system with boiled or distilled water, and then fill in the coolant that you plan to use on an ongoing basis.
Fanta
Using Fanta to clean the cooling system
Similar to the previous point. However, there is an important difference. The fact is that, unlike Coca-Cola, which uses orthophosphoric acid, Fanta uses citric acid , which has a lesser cleansing effect. Therefore, some car owners use it instead of antifreeze to clean the cooling system.
As for the time during which you need to drive like this, it all depends on the degree of contamination of the system. In particular, if it is not very dirty, and cleaning is done more for prevention, then it is enough to let the engine run for 30-40 minutes at idle speed. If you want to thoroughly wash out the old dirt, then you can ride like this for 1-2 days, then pour distillate into the system, ride it some more, drain it and look at its condition. If the distillate is dirty, repeat the procedure until the system is clean. At the end, do not forget to rinse it thoroughly with water and fill it with new antifreeze.
Lactic acid or whey
An excellent option for flushing a car engine cooling system is lactic acid . However, a significant problem lies in the fact that lactic acid is very difficult to obtain today. But if you manage to get this substance, then you can pour it into the radiator in its pure form and drive it for a while (or let the car sit with the engine running).
A more affordable alternative to lactic acid is whey. It has similar properties for cleaning the radiator and other elements of the cooling system. The algorithm for using the serum is as follows:
Using whey
- Prepare about 10 liters of whey in advance (preferably homemade, not from the store);
- strain the entire purchased volume 2-3 times through cheesecloth in order to filter out large pieces of fat;
- first drain the existing coolant from the radiator and pour in the serum in its place;
- drive 50-60 kilometers with it;
- It is necessary to drain the whey while it is hot, so that the dirt does not have time to stick to the walls of the tubes again ( be careful when doing this! );
- let the engine cool down;
- pour pre-boiled water into the radiator;
- start the engine, let it warm up (about 15-20 minutes); drain the water;
- let the engine cool down;
- fill in the antifreeze that you plan to use on an ongoing basis;
- Bleed air from the system and add more coolant if necessary.
Caustic soda
This substance is popularly called differently - sodium hydroxide, “caustic alkali”, “caustic soda”, “caustic” and so on.
In accordance with the official instructions of the manufacturer of copper radiators, it is necessary to act according to the following algorithm:
- remove the radiator from the car;
- rinse its insides with plain water and blow with compressed air (not exceeding a pressure of 1 kgf/cm2) until clean water flows out of the radiator;
- prepare about 1 liter of 10% caustic soda solution;
- heat the composition to at least +90°C;
- pour the prepared mixture into the radiator;
- let it brew for 30 minutes;
- drain the solution;
- for 40 minutes, rinse the insides of the radiator with hot water and blow with hot air alternately (the pressure should not exceed 1 kgf/cm2) in the opposite direction to the direction of pump operation .
As a result of the chemical reaction, white foam may appear from the radiator pipes. If this happens, do not be alarmed, this is normal. The tightness of the cooling system after cleaning must be carried out on a cold engine, since hot water quickly evaporates, and finding the suspected leak location will be problematic.
Special liquids for flushing the radiator
The means listed above, of course, can be used to flush the radiator and cooling system of a car, but they have already become obsolete both morally and technologically. Currently, auto chemical manufacturers offer consumers a wide range of different cleaning products that cost quite reasonable money, that is, affordable to the average car owner.
Types of liquids
There are several types of cleaning fluids for radiators, which are divided by chemical composition. In particular:
- Neutral . Such liquids do not contain aggressive substances (in particular, alkalis and acids). Therefore, they are not able to wash away significant contamination. As a rule, neutral compounds are used as prophylaxis.
- Acidic . As the name implies, their composition is based on various acids. Such liquids are excellent for purifying inorganic compounds.
- Alkaline . Here the basis is alkali. Excellent for removing organic contaminants.
- Two-component . They are produced on the basis of both alkalis and acids. Thus, they can be used as a universal cleaner to flush the cooling system of scale, rust, antifreeze breakdown products and other compounds.
Popular liquids
We present for you an overview of the most popular liquids in our country for flushing a car’s cooling system, as well as some reviews from car enthusiasts who have used this or that liquid. We hope that the information below will be useful to you, and you will know the best way to flush your cooling system.
TOP 3 best liquids for flushing the cooling system
LAVR Radiator Flush
LAVR Radiator Flush Classic . LAVR is a Russian brand of auto chemical goods. LAVR Radiator Flush Classic is an excellent solution for flushing the cooling system of any car. Product catalog number is LN1103. The approximate cost of a 0.43 liter package is $3.5, and a 0.98 liter package is $5.10.
A 430 ml bottle will be enough for you to use in a cooling system with a total volume of 8.10 liters. The composition is poured into the system and topped up with warm water to the MIN mark. After this, the engine should run for about 30 minutes at idle speed. Next, the product is removed from the system and washed with distilled water for 10.15 minutes with the engine running at idle. After this, you can fill in new antifreeze.
The useful properties of the product include an increase in the service life of antifreeze by 30.40%, effective removal of scale, antifreeze decomposition products, rust, and dirt. Contains a corrosion inhibitor, increases the life of the pump and thermostat.
Positive feedback | Negative reviews |
I simply used the Laurel wash because literally shortly before I had just used a ring decarbonizer under the same name, I saw the result, so I decided not to tempt fate and use a product from the same company. | No negative reviews found. |
At one time I also used Laurel on a VAZ-21099. The impressions are only positive. But I also did washings every two years. So I never had dirt in the cooling system. | . |
7-Minute Hi-Gear Radiator Flush
Hi-Gear Radiator Flush - 7 minutes . Manufactured in the USA by Hi-Gear. Sold in the CIS countries, as well as Europe and America. Hi-Gear cooling system flushing is a very popular remedy among motorists all over the world. Article: HG9014. The price of one 325 ml can is about $4.6.
A 325 ml can will be enough for you to flush a cooling system with a volume of up to 17 liters. The product can be used to clean cooling systems of cars and trucks. A distinctive feature is the short operating time, namely 7 minutes .
The useful properties of the product include the fact that it increases the efficiency of the radiator by 50.70%, eliminates overheating of the cylinder walls, restores coolant circulation, reduces the likelihood of engine overheating, and protects the pump seal. The product does not contain acids, does not require neutralization, and is not aggressive to plastic and rubber parts.
Positive feedback | Negative reviews |
I have been using Hi-Gear (USA) flushing products from this company since I purchased my first car, I have never had any complaints, especially with “injector cleaners” | I liked the Hadov washing system better + it’s cheaper. |
After the cheap wash it didn't get any better, but high gear helped | . |