Ferrari Mailing List: Re: end of cleaning of radiator saga

[Jim Conforti (lndshrk]

To dissolve hard water deposits, you need an ACID.

Brass is part Copper, part Zinc.

Zinc dissolves in acids.

Use your imagination for the rest.

Even Vinegar (5% acetic acid or less) will cause
brass to "turn pink" on prolonged exposure.

(It's used to clean copper and brass with SHORT
 exposure - but would require longer to dissolve
 the typical hard water deposits)

The turning pink effect is the removal of Zinc from
the alloy on the surface.

Acids also "etch" aluminum (normally used for painting)

Sodium EDTA *might* be used to chelate the hard water
deposits in a radiator, but I'd test it on bare Brass
or Al for q24h before trying it on the radiator.

Jim