OK, WHAT IS THE FINAL VERDICT. DOES IT WORK OR NOT? SINCE THE ORIGIONAL POST TURNED PERSONAL, THOUGHT ANOTHER MIGHT ALLOW "INTELLIGENT" DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC. HELP ME OUT ON THIS. MY CURIOSITY IS GETTIN' TO ME. DON'T KNOW WHY, BOTH MINE ARE AIR COOLED, I'D STILL LIKE TO KNOW THOUGH.
XPLR

 

i used soap to clean out my truck radiator i don't know how it would do on an atv. it worked fine in my truck when i flushed my rad. out. i would be scared to try it in an atv myself.

 

Hey xplr thanks for getting us out of there.
It would be nice to hear if this works or not.

98 SC 500

 

I'm not sure if the Dawn will work or not, but I do work for the company that makes Dawn (P&G, and I make a different soap). I know that glycol (can't remember if it's ethylene or propylene) is used in the formula to make the detergent. I think it would be HIGHLY UNLIKELY that adding 1 cap full of Dawn would hurt anything. Although, it would bond with any grease/oil/dirt that would happen to find its way into the cooling system, and would "suspend" it in to mixture. So if you used it as a "flushing" agent, it would probably help to clean out the system. Maybe run it in there for a day or two and then flush the system? Just my thoughts, if any one has any solid info, lets us know.
Later,

 

Was just thinking which could be dangerous.
In the other thread it was speculated that there may be some foaming and I dont think there would be. Because the cooling system is a closed pressurized system. The coolant may not foam because there is no room for expansion. Like shaking a beer can there is no foaming until you open the can.
Yes , No , Maybe so ?

98 SC 500

 

I dought it does any good but really don't know. Sounds like too simple of a fix. But what could it hurt? Nothing I would think.

 

Now don't take this to the bank or anything , but , if soap would work , crop oil would work better . It is the stuff farmers use in there spray rigs to make the water mist easier . (makes the water wetter) I don't believe it would foam as easy as soap . Whether it would help any , I don't know.

 

I talked with a couple of machinist at work, they're the type of guys who are into a little of everything...cars, farm equip, home repair, "jack of all trades" they had never heard of anybody using dish detergent this way. I've got a couple of guys I know in racing, I'm gonna try to get an answer out of them. Thanks for posting guys maybe we can get a good feel for this and not end up with WWIII on here
xplr

 

Why not just use the commercial product that Red Line makes or what Highlifter sells (may be Red Line also)called "Water Wetter"? That way you know you are getting a product made specifically for that purpose and less likely to cause any problems. It can't be all that expensive.
For you ATV owners with water cooling-what does the manual say to run? 50/50 mix of water and anti-freeze, or what?

 

I thought I had heard of a specific additive. It was alluded to in the post from which this one was derived. I myself currently have two air cooled atvs, but thought it interesting that something as simple as detergent might help others, unfortunately the last post degenerated quickly before much info was gathered. Thanks for the info.
xplr