How to Clean Willow Catkins in the Car Radiator?
3 Answers
Here are the methods to clean willow catkins from the car radiator: 1. For external cleaning, use high-pressure air from an air pump to blow out debris from the gaps instead of washing with water; 2. For internal cleaning, use chemical methods to remove scale. Professional car radiator descaler can be used to clean the inside of the radiator without disassembly; 3. It can also be cleaned while the car is running. Follow the instructions carefully, directly pour the specialized scale remover into the car's water circulation system, let it soak, idle or drive for 20-30 minutes, then drain the descaler from the radiator and the system.
When cleaning willow catkins from the radiator myself, I first use a household water hose set to shower mode to rinse the radiator surface. The water pressure shouldn't be too high, or it may bend the cooling fins. Focus on flushing the gaps and corners of the radiator where catkins tend to accumulate. If the catkins are stubbornly stuck, I gently brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush, then use compressed air cans to blow along the direction of the fins. Remember to wear goggles during operation as debris can easily fly into your eyes. Check annually after the spring willow catkin season. I also bought a ¥80 stainless steel bug screen from Taobao to block most catkins. For emergency situations, a car vacuum can remove some surface dust, though with limited effectiveness.
If you find the radiator clogged with willow catkins, never use a high-pressure water gun to flush it randomly, as the cooling fins can easily get flattened, leading to repair costs of several hundred yuan. I recommend going to a professional car wash for treatment—they have all the necessary tools: first, use foam cleaner to soften the willow catkins, then use a low-pressure rotating water gun to flush the hard-to-reach areas, and finally, use a steam gun for high-temperature disinfection. Removing the front bumper for a thorough cleaning yields the best results, with labor costs around 200 yuan. If you need a temporary fix, you can use a hairdryer set to the cold air mode to blow through the gaps in the radiator grille—it works well in emergencies. Installing a dust-proof mesh before the weather warms up is especially important. Choose a 304 stainless steel material with fine mesh holes that can even block poplar catkins.
