Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Taxi_Driver on 10 July 2007, 20:45:31

Title: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 10 July 2007, 20:45:31
the inside of an expansion bottle?

Bought one from a scrappy today......coz the level sensor on mine is knacked  :(

Just tested the sensor and this one works  :) But the inside of the bottle is covered in crud.....iv tried flushing it with plain water but still some crud remains

Whats best to use?

Cheers

PS i watched as he cut it out of an 2000 v6 Elite  :o
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: TheBoy on 10 July 2007, 20:48:03
Forte cooling system stuff removes the crud, but tends to stain the bottle in my experience.
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: markrl on 10 July 2007, 20:53:06
Try a bit of hot water and household kettle descaler.
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 10 July 2007, 20:54:40
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Forte cooling system stuff removes the crud, but tends to stain the bottle in my experience.

Ive just discovered a bag of soda crystals under the kitchen sink....in looking for something suitable....worth a go?? bung the holes up and fill it up with warm water and let it soak overnight?
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Kevin Wood on 10 July 2007, 23:00:08
Dishwasher powder is good. Lob some in with a bit of hot water, cover holes and give it a good shake. If that doesn't shift it immediately give it a soak.

Kevin
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 10 July 2007, 23:39:34
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Dishwasher powder is good. Lob some in with a bit of hot water, cover holes and give it a good shake. If that doesn't shift it immediately give it a soak.

Kevin

Well....on James's advice ive just lobbed the whole bag of soda crystals in it and filled it with hot water to soak overnight......well actually he didnt.....but he was standing there while i did it....so if everything melts overnight....i'll blame him  ;D
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 11 July 2007, 01:01:46
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Quote
Dishwasher powder is good. Lob some in with a bit of hot water, cover holes and give it a good shake. If that doesn't shift it immediately give it a soak.

Kevin

Well....on James's advice ive just lobbed the whole bag of soda crystals in it and filled it with hot water to soak overnight......well actually he didnt.....but he was standing there while i did it....so if everything melts overnight....i'll blame him  ;D

I said no such thing... it's a lie!!!!  ::) ::) ;D
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: DaveL on 11 July 2007, 05:49:04
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Quote
Quote
Dishwasher powder is good. Lob some in with a bit of hot water, cover holes and give it a good shake. If that doesn't shift it immediately give it a soak.

Kevin

Well....on James's advice ive just lobbed the whole bag of soda crystals in it and filled it with hot water to soak overnight......well actually he didnt.....but he was standing there while i did it....so if everything melts overnight....i'll blame him  ;D

I said no such thing... it's a lie!!!!  ::) ::) ;D

..i have had good results before with Stredent tablets and water in other plastic bottles. Does the same as the Forte stuff but does not stain. Hope the soda crystals do not melt the plastic. :o

Perhaps when you get the replacement you will try my idea. ;D ;D ;D

 8-)
DaveL
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 July 2007, 08:22:25
Soda crystals......thats probably buggered it then!
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 11 July 2007, 08:30:36
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Soda crystals......thats probably buggered it then!

Nope it didnt.....actually its done sod all.....didnt even remove any crud  :(

Ive got a few suggestions to try.....
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 July 2007, 08:48:37
You need a de-scaler......I got reasonable results with clear vinegar when left for a period of time.
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 11 July 2007, 09:23:22
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You need a de-scaler......I got reasonable results with clear vinegar when left for a period of time.

Just found (again under the kitchen sink  ::) ) Packet of 'Lime Lite' says on the packet destroys stubborn limescale dirt and scum for use in washing machines, kettles, dishwashers, irons and coffee makers....no mention of expansion bottles tho  ;D.......so ive just chucked two tablets in the bottle and filled it up with boiling water and given it a shake...i'll see what that does.
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Markie on 11 July 2007, 11:25:07
....and also a very long thin brush ( like the tiype home brew makers use for cleaning brewing bottles)
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: markrl on 11 July 2007, 11:27:55
The Kettle descaler should do the job without any damage to the plastic, you may need several attempts to shift the lot though.
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: VXL V6 on 11 July 2007, 11:40:21
What would a new one cost from the dealers? Probably mega bucks I suppose? :-/
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: stevief on 11 July 2007, 12:43:32
Tried all the chemicals from under the sink, at different times  :y, on an 85 Escort RS restoration last year. The only way I could get rid of the crud was a small steam cleaner and a baby bottle brush to break up the film that was left. The discolouration of the tank itself would not shift no matter what I tried but the staining was caused by 22 years of soaking so overnight wasn't going to achieve much.

Steve

Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 11 July 2007, 13:05:57
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What would a new one cost from the dealers? Probably mega bucks I suppose? :-/

£40 + VAT
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: VXL V6 on 11 July 2007, 13:36:27
Not as bad as I thought.

Did google the subject and someone on one of the Alfa forums used 'cillit bang'  :o guess you'd want to wash it out thoroughly afterwards.....

Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 11 July 2007, 13:43:12
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The Kettle descaler should do the job without any damage to the plastic, you may need several attempts to shift the lot though.

It is shifting it  :y Its had a few hours soak.....i'll leave it the rest of the day as i can still see some crud....a small brush, as suggested would probably help.
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 11 July 2007, 13:45:39
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Not as bad as I thought.

Did google the subject and someone on one of the Alfa forums used 'cillit bang'  :o guess you'd want to wash it out thoroughly afterwards.....


Thanks for that  :y.....i'll get some on the way home.....and let it soak overnight. Im in no rush to fit the bottle as ive put up with 'Check Coolant' for months now  :(


Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: VXL V6 on 11 July 2007, 13:52:52
Trouble is.... as soon as you open the lid that bloke screams at the top of his voice at you about doing the penny test.......... BANG! and the expansion bottle was gone..... ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: CaptainZok on 11 July 2007, 19:35:02
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Trouble is.... as soon as you open the lid that bloke screams at the top of his voice at you about doing the penny test.......... BANG! and the expansion bottle was gone..... ;D ;D ;D ;D
Is it me getting old and grumpy but don't you just hate shouty man. ;D
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: smoothomega on 11 July 2007, 20:40:00
Fernox, you cant beat Fernox  ;D
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 11 July 2007, 22:58:06
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Quote
Not as bad as I thought.

Did google the subject and someone on one of the Alfa forums used 'cillit bang'  :o guess you'd want to wash it out thoroughly afterwards.....


Thanks for that  :y.....i'll get some on the way home.....and let it soak overnight. Im in no rush to fit the bottle as ive put up with 'Check Coolant' for months now  :(



I tried cillit bang.....but only left it in there for 1/2 hr coz it smelt really strong and said on instructions to only leave a min.....seemed to remove a bit of debris....i gave the bottle a good hosing out and is fairly clean now....so confident that most of the crud is out and will restest the sensor and fit at the weekend  :y
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 12 July 2007, 02:33:02
Good stuff...

I seem to remember someone on here cleaning prefacelift headlights with cillit bang!
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: omegaman2 on 12 July 2007, 12:48:31
bung up the holes and add bicarbonate soda{baking powder} with warm water ,leave and rinse
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: Big Rod on 12 July 2007, 13:02:00
I've been recommended to use clothes washing powder in the past.

Never tried it myself, but I'm told it works a treat.
Title: Re: Whats the best way to clean.....
Post by: amigov6 on 12 July 2007, 17:12:42
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I've been recommended to use clothes washing powder in the past.

Never tried it myself, but I'm told it works a treat.
:)Bottle of coke might help. Works on oily workshop floor. :D