Radiators and cores, back to bare metal
A radiator core is hundreds of parallel passages a millimetre wide — unreachable by brush, ruined by rod, and progressively strangled by scale on the water side and grime on the air side. CoreKleen's strong acid chemistry (pH 1) dissolves what blocks them: mineral scale, corrosion products, and the protein soils food-plant and agricultural work bake on.
Cores immerse whole, chemistry reaches every passage simultaneously, and flow returns to specification without a single fin bent. It is the radiator shop's staple for a reason no alternative has ever displaced.
Strong acid means strong rules: never zinc or cadmium plate, watch immersion times, and rinse thoroughly. The Pro variant (pH 6) exists for exactly the assemblies that fail those rules.
Where it earns its keep
Radiator and core descaling; protein soils in food-plant hardware.
Dose: 10–30%. The trial sets your exact process values; the TDS governs.
The working process
A freshly cleaned ferrous part is chemically active — protective films gone, surface warm and wet, rinse ions acting as electrolyte. Rust bloom can start within the hour. DI water rinsing slows it; protection stops it.
Inhibitor in the final rinse before hot-air drying, an Anti-Rust dip between processes, or a water-displacing film for storage — matched to the next process. Tell us what happens next and the protection specifies itself.
Right product, right job
CoreKleen — pH 1 standard
Radiator and core descaling at full strength.
CoreKleen Pro
pH 6 for mixed metals & soldered assemblies
View →CoreKleen HX
Exchanger bundles, metallurgy-matched
View →CoreKleen RTU
Field-ready, no dilution
View →
Anti-RustProtect the freshly bared metalView & buy →
Rinse AidSpot-free final rinseView & buy →
| Mild & carbon steel | Sulfamic acid — time-limit cycles, flash-rust risk |
| Stainless steel | Safe in prescribed use |
| Cast iron | Safe in prescribed use |
| Aluminium & titanium | Do not use |
| Magnesium & soft alloys | Do not use |
| Zinc & galvanised | Do not use |
| Copper & brass | Safe in prescribed use |
| Plated finishes (Cd·Cr·Ni) | Do not use |
| Plastics & rubbers | Safe in prescribed use |
| Painted / coated surfaces | May dull coatings — test first |
| Transport | Not classified as Dangerous Goods for road and rail |

