How do I clean oil out of the cooling system?

[mtman]

What's the cheapest, fastest way to clean oil out of the cooling system?

[sawyer1]

Not sure but heres a BUMP for you!

[lone_wolf108]

Oil floats on water and antifreeze ...so I would try to just keep topping up your coolant resevoir untill the oil flows out the top.....do this with the truck running to "flush" all the oil out

[460+]

We use either Dawn dish soap or Cascade dishwasher soap, working on semis with oil in cooling. You have to use soap once and then keep flushing with water till its clean. Let engine warm up when doing this.

[mtman]

That's a great idea! How much do you think I need to put in?

[460+]

Not very much if you use Dawn because it keeps sudsing up.dawn works better but takes longer to get out (more flushing).Cascade works good probably about 1/2 cup to a 1/4 cup maby 1st time.

[william_04_x]

the most important thing is to get it ALL out...simple green MAX works well...the oil in the water can degrade your cooling system hoses...it's a lot of running detergent through and flushing to do it right..

[npccpartsman]

Use Cascade (or some dishwasher detergent) because of it's lower foaming properties. Dawn is good for oil but makes a huge mess, is hard to get out, and foams WAY too much. It will take a fairly good amount, do it twice, and flush with distilled water when you're finally done.

Did your oil cooler fail?

[bfloyd4445]

Originally Posted by william_04_x

the most important thing is to get it ALL out...simple green MAX works well...the oil in the water can degrade your cooling system hoses...it's a lot of running detergent through and flushing to do it right..

I wouldn't use simple green as it has 2,4-D butyl ester, in the form of, 2-butoxyethanol (<6%) (Butyl Cellosolve), which will may react with head gasket marterials if you don't get it all out. Dawn shouldn't be a problem. The stuff is fairly reactive so degrades into a more stable form rapidly but all contact with skin should be avoided. Dawn is much safer to you, your engine and the environment.

[bigcountrysg]

Lots and lots of water. Just keep running fresh water through the cooling system. Until you have nice clean water coming out of the cooling system.