911 radiators - do you pressure wash or vacuum them?
Discussion
In case you are imagining cleaning them properly without removing the bumper - No can do.
You might even make matters worse with any even low pressure washing by driving the muck further inwards and compacting it.
Removing the bumper is easy enough though, having done it a zillion times (let's not go there right now!) it should not take longer than 30 minutes.
There are instructions, so I'll be brief, but the main starting point is jack up the entire front of the vehicle as far as possible, remove wheels, and front wheelarch liners, then attack the bumper.
You only need torx bits, philips, and flat because it's basically screws and levering out plastic "rivets".
OOops not so brief, but to jack up and support the front, you jack up from the rear of the vehicle and the entire side will lift, so you then place the jackstands under the front points.
Bumper off, 4 torx screws each side attach the condenser frame to the rad, so these off and the condenser can be angled up a little bit so that you can remove the sandwich fillings. If you use any water obviously avoid the rad fan motor.
You might even make matters worse with any even low pressure washing by driving the muck further inwards and compacting it.
Removing the bumper is easy enough though, having done it a zillion times (let's not go there right now!) it should not take longer than 30 minutes.
There are instructions, so I'll be brief, but the main starting point is jack up the entire front of the vehicle as far as possible, remove wheels, and front wheelarch liners, then attack the bumper.
You only need torx bits, philips, and flat because it's basically screws and levering out plastic "rivets".
OOops not so brief, but to jack up and support the front, you jack up from the rear of the vehicle and the entire side will lift, so you then place the jackstands under the front points.
Bumper off, 4 torx screws each side attach the condenser frame to the rad, so these off and the condenser can be angled up a little bit so that you can remove the sandwich fillings. If you use any water obviously avoid the rad fan motor.
Thank you for your reply...
996TT02, thank you for the instruction, but not having enough courage to do this (yet). the other issue it is a 991 with front parking sensor which may make removal more comlicated...
Hoover may be a good idea however, last week I used pressure washer and it appears it did clean the leaves... I used low pressure (i tested the flow pressure first on my hand).
996TT02, thank you for the instruction, but not having enough courage to do this (yet). the other issue it is a 991 with front parking sensor which may make removal more comlicated...
Hoover may be a good idea however, last week I used pressure washer and it appears it did clean the leaves... I used low pressure (i tested the flow pressure first on my hand).
996TT02 said:
You might even make matters worse with any even low pressure washing by driving the muck further inwards and compacting it.
Not sure of that.... Low setting pressure washer is less flow than wet motorway driving isn't it?!7and911 said:
996TT02, thank you for the instruction, but not having enough courage to do this (yet). the other issue it is a 991 with front parking sensor which may make removal more comlicated...
I don't know about the 991 but I don't think there should be anything too different. Re the parking sensors - what you'd expect, as you pull away the bumper, is to find access to a connector that you would simply disconnect, that's it, so it's really nothing to even consider.You may or may not find instructions for the 991 but in all probability instructions for a 996 or 997 will give you an idea of what to expect, if not exactly what you will find, I am pretty sure that bumper removal will always be a straightforward job.
Edited by 996TT02 on Wednesday 30th April 08:05
7and911 said:
With the lack of grill cover, a known issue with 911 radiators is leaves stick onto radiator surface which may result into corrosion....
How do you usually look after your radiators (regular maintenance without removing them):
A) pressure washer
B) Vacuum
C) leaf blower
D) none....
Iv'e cut and placed some isopon aluminium mesh in front of each radiator.£1.99 each from the big H . Once a year I remove them ( under 5 seconds each) clear all debris then replace ( maybe 10 seconds each side)How do you usually look after your radiators (regular maintenance without removing them):
A) pressure washer
B) Vacuum
C) leaf blower
D) none....
7and911 said:
Thank you for your reply...
996TT02, thank you for the instruction, but not having enough courage to do this (yet). the other issue it is a 991 with front parking sensor which may make removal more comlicated...
Hoover may be a good idea however, last week I used pressure washer and it appears it did clean the leaves... I used low pressure (i tested the flow pressure first on my hand).
Unless after the washing process you had a (wet) pile of leaves/trash and dirt (well, mud) on the pavement after the washing all you did was compact the stuff and make it wet.996TT02, thank you for the instruction, but not having enough courage to do this (yet). the other issue it is a 991 with front parking sensor which may make removal more comlicated...
Hoover may be a good idea however, last week I used pressure washer and it appears it did clean the leaves... I used low pressure (i tested the flow pressure first on my hand).
996TT02 said:
You might even make matters worse with any even low pressure washing by driving the muck further inwards and compacting it.
Not sure of that.... Low setting pressure washer is less flow than wet motorway driving isn't it?!The only time I apply any water and I seldom do to the radiator ducts is after I have removed the bumper cover, unbolted the condensers and swung them gently out of the way and vacuumed and by other means removed all the trash, dirt from the bottom of the ducting, under and between the condenser and radiator.
What I did one time was to then spray some mild cleaner on the hardware and after a bit rinse it away with a gentle flow of water from a garden hose. I then let the car sit in the sun for a while before buttoning everything up.
7and911 said:
So, would a wet/dry vacuum be the "ideal" answer then?
Radiators are rather delicate so knocking them about with a vacuum is not ideal.All you need is a paintbrush. Most of the crap will fall out when you separate the condensers and the rads and you just brush the rest out.
Assuming the 991 is similar to the 996/7 in setup.
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