Tons of Rust

I pulled the T-stat housing and there was a lot of what looked like copper corrosion. Under the T-stat there is a ton of rust in the cooling channels of the head. In fact there was so much rust that I pulled the head to have a look. Several of the channels seemed to be pretty obstructed by clumps of rusty (for lack of a better word) stuff.

I will scrape away with a screw driver, shoot some air and use the shop vac, but is there a good way to get this stuff out? It seems that it would only end up fouling the radiator and T-stat in short order if it were not removed.

Again, Thank goodness for this forum and everyone in it.

 

http://www.brushresearch.com/brushes.php?c1=65

 

would any of those radiator flush products help with that?

 

that what happens when you run straight water and no antifreze in there

 

Modern radiator flush products may work - but I kind of doubt it.

Rust will dissolve in oxalic acid (OA). OA was the main ingredient in old-fashioned two-part radiator flush products. These products were effective, but were both hazardous (undoubtedly) and environmentally unsound (I presume).

You can duplicate the old-fashioned two-part radiator flush using oxalic acid and sodium carbonate (washing soda, not baking soda - neutralizes the OA) using the principle ingredients, obtained separately.

Here's a thread with instructions on how to do such a flush:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-tech-performance/2395596-radiator-cleaner-flush.html

If you are interested, this is the reaction:

Oxalic acid H2C2O4

Fe2O3 + 6H2C2O4 -> 2Fe(C2O4)3{-3} + 3H2O + 6H{+1}

Apparently iron oxalate is a soluble compound, and drains with the flush.

 

I guess a wire brush it is. The chemicals do not sound to nice to the environment. When I pulled the head the first thing I thought was, "Why did they run straight water".

 

What about taking the head to a radiator shop and having them boil it out?