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Cleaning Metal With Muriatic Acid

J

jon_allen

Regular Contributor
Hi Gang,

Could someone give me some advice on cleaning cast iron manifolds as well as copper tube stacks with muriatic acid? I'm wondering how much dilution with water as well as soak times. Thanks in advance.





Thanks,
Jon Allen
 
I think we would need a chemist to give the molar concentration that's accurate. But, I hear that 50/50 pool acid (muriatic) and water should work on the iron in just a few minutes. For the soldered copper stuff, you need to be more careful. People also use that acid there with care and speed, but Barnacle Buster comes highly recomended by many. It will take some hours, but is safer all around.
 
The mix % is not that important, but watch it closely. As soon as it stops 'foaming', get it out and flushed with plenty of clean water.
Better to do it multiple times in a high concentration and for short periods at the time than a long soak in diluted acid.
 
There are several threads on cleaning oil coolers with acid...50/50 will work as will straight out of the jug from the hardware store.
 
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