Any recommended radiator cleaners for a 1988 Caterpillar 953?

[IamBruce_Driver]

I am getting ready to service the cooling system on my 1988 Caterpillar 953 and would like to clean the radiator while I'm at it. Does anyone have a recommended radiator cleaner that works well on these machines?

 

[Laser_tech03]

I've had good luck with a quality heavy-duty radiator flush, but before adding any cleaner, I'd check the radiator fins and clean out any dirt, chaff, or debris packed between the cores. Sometimes a thorough external cleaning makes a bigger difference than the chemical flush itself on older machines like a 953.

 

[Mr.LiftOperator]

That's solid advice. I've seen clogged fins cause more cooling issues than the coolant itself, especially on older Cats.

 

[Bigbonnet]

Solid advice!

 

[Emmanuel M.]

One thing I've noticed with older Cats is that a good external cleaning often makes the biggest difference. Amazing how much dirt and debris can hide in those radiator cores over the years.

 

[PunchLister]

I've had good results with Fleetguard Restore on older equipment, but I'd definitely clean the radiator fins thoroughly first since airflow issues are often the real culprit on machines that age.