Damaged radiator fins (I'm hating myself)

Annihilate · 05-21-2024, 05:44 PM

So I went on a road trip
Had a lot of bugs
Had a new electric power washer
Never really used one on a car before
Trying to clean radiator
Now I'm cursing at myself

I'm at 1100 miles and I'm already damaging my car.

Really beating myself up over this.

Possible solutions/fixed or am I boned?

Will this cause issues? What's a replacement cost and would it be worth it ?

Ugh. I'm really besides myself here. Makes me feel like I don't deserve something so nice.

22SS1LE · 05-21-2024, 05:55 PM

I cant see how an elec pressure washer could bend the fins. Did you use the 0 degree tip at like 3" away? Also a few fins bent like that isnt the end of the world. it will happen over time with road debris.

Annihilate · 05-21-2024, 06:18 PM

Well I didn't expect it to either.

I was probably about 3 or 4" away at maybe 2 or 3° .

I just didn't even think about it until it occured.

SOCAL.M6.ZLE · 05-21-2024, 06:22 PM

No issues mechanically. If it bothers you aesthetically, you can try to straighten some of them out with a small pick, or just bite the bullet and use this opportunity to upgraded to a larger unit

Jofu · 05-21-2024, 06:56 PM

I personally would take this as an excuse to stop sweating the small stuff, and just drive and enjoy the car as it was meant to be, my man

I won't lie, I did a couple of silly things to my own car... I still love it and wash it when I can to make it proud and shiny, but I'm not letting that get in the way of ultimately enjoying the car!

Best,

Geoff

22SS1LE · 05-21-2024, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annihilate

Well I didn't expect it to either.

I was probably about 3 or 4" away at maybe 2 or 3° .

I just didn't even think about it until it occured.

Dont use anything below 25degrees on the car for the presure washer tip.
Also dont worry about it as it will end up looking like that eventually with small rocks flying in and bending them. Its very soft.

CalgaryZL1 · 05-21-2024, 08:05 PM

If you want to take the time, you can actually get a radiator fin comb, but it’s daunting. A small straight blade screwdriver is equally effective. And stick with an orange or green tip, 15° orange and 25° green.

MT-SS1LE · 05-21-2024, 08:21 PM

I wouldn't worry about it, it's not going to effect anything. You could bend them back as suggested, but the problem is reaching them. I primarily use a 40 degree nozzle on my pressure washer, sometimes 25 degrees on the wheels only. When cleaning the radiator, I use a regular hose nozzle from about 2 feet away. Cleans the bugs off and causes no damage.

BMLMZ · 05-21-2024, 08:26 PM

Thats nothing. Like literally nothing.

discgolf01 · 05-21-2024, 10:18 PM

I wouldn't worry about that at all. You're going to take rock hits that do more damage than that. The radiator is engineered in anticipation of some amount of fin damage.

2SS Capt · 05-22-2024, 12:58 AM

A few bent fins aren't going to hurt anything (I honestly thought your picture was a "Before" picture and was waiting for the "After" picture with all fins bent and no possible way for air flow-through)...

You can straighten those very carefully with small flat head screwdriver... And even if you did nothing, you aren't going to notice any cooling degradation...

cdb95z28 · 05-22-2024, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22SS1LE

I cant see how an elec pressure washer could bend the fins. Did you use the 0 degree tip at like 3" away? Also a few fins bent like that isnt the end of the world. it will happen over time with road debris.

It sure can, I damaged a small area of mine doing the same thing. I have a small electric Ryobi for cleaning the cars.

22SS1LE · 05-22-2024, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

It sure can, I damaged a small area of mine doing the same thing. I have a small electric Ryobi for cleaning the cars.

like i said was it a 0 degree and 3" away. he said thats basically what he did. Using a proper 25-40 degree nozzle will not damage anything

Spaceme1117 · 05-22-2024, 08:44 AM

Clearly totaled. So sad.

That's nothing. Just use a small flat-blade screw driver or pick to straighten them.

And be careful with a pressure washer. They can strip paint and flesh if you are not careful.

05-21-2024, 05:44 PM	#1
Annihilate Drives: 2024 2SS Camaro, 1988 IROC Z Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: United States Posts: 206	Damaged radiator fins (I'm hating myself) So I went on a road trip Had a lot of bugs Had a new electric power washer Never really used one on a car before Trying to clean radiator Now I'm cursing at myself I'm at 1100 miles and I'm already damaging my car. Really beating myself up over this. Possible solutions/fixed or am I boned? Will this cause issues? What's a replacement cost and would it be worth it ? Ugh. I'm really besides myself here. Makes me feel like I don't deserve something so nice. Attached Images __________________ 2024 2SS Camaro, Riverside Blue Metallic, NPP, F55, CF5, 5ZZ, VTU, S0O, 5KP, JF5, 2nd Gen GFX

05-21-2024, 05:55 PM	#2
22SS1LE Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE 6M Join Date: May 2022 Location: Pittsburgh pa Posts: 556 View My Garage	I cant see how an elec pressure washer could bend the fins. Did you use the 0 degree tip at like 3" away? Also a few fins bent like that isnt the end of the world. it will happen over time with road debris. __________________ 2022 1SS 1LE 6M in Riverside blue Found exact build local- ETA 7/31/22 New ETA - 7/26, 7/30, 7/31, 8/1, 8/8, 8/15, 8/21, 8/28, 9/17 8/24. IT HAS ARRIVED at the dealer 8/25- It is in the Garage ACS ZL1 Sideskirts, 20% tint, CAI Intake

05-21-2024, 06:18 PM	#3
Annihilate Drives: 2024 2SS Camaro, 1988 IROC Z Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: United States Posts: 206	Well I didn't expect it to either. I was probably about 3 or 4" away at maybe 2 or 3° . I just didn't even think about it until it occured. __________________ 2024 2SS Camaro, Riverside Blue Metallic, NPP, F55, CF5, 5ZZ, VTU, S0O, 5KP, JF5, 2nd Gen GFX

05-21-2024, 06:22 PM	#4
SOCAL.M6.ZLE Having FUN in the SUN... Drives: 2022 M6 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 2,056	No issues mechanically. If it bothers you aesthetically, you can try to straighten some of them out with a small pick, or just bite the bullet and use this opportunity to upgraded to a larger unit __________________ 2022 M6 ZLE: GMS Stage.III KONG X.PORT Package + DMS Lid + 10.RIB Package + GMS Rear Bumper Belly Pan + GMS Hood Bracket + GMS Stage.III HX System + MONSTER Triple S Clutch + XDI.50% Injectors + CLICK FOR FULL BUILD LIST or www.GRIFFIN-MOTORSPORTS.com

05-21-2024, 08:05 PM	#7
CalgaryZL1 Drives: 2020 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Calgary Canada Posts: 1,652	If you want to take the time, you can actually get a radiator fin comb, but it’s daunting. A small straight blade screwdriver is equally effective. And stick with an orange or green tip, 15° orange and 25° green. Attached Images Last edited by CalgaryZL1; 05-21-2024 at 08:20 PM.

05-21-2024, 06:56 PM	#5
Jofu Drives: 2022 Wild Cherry ZL1 1LE Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 483	I personally would take this as an excuse to stop sweating the small stuff, and just drive and enjoy the car as it was meant to be, my man I won't lie, I did a couple of silly things to my own car... I still love it and wash it when I can to make it proud and shiny, but I'm not letting that get in the way of ultimately enjoying the car! Best, Geoff

05-21-2024, 08:21 PM	#8
MT-SS1LE Drives: 2023 SS 1LE Sharkskin Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Montana Posts: 384	I wouldn't worry about it, it's not going to effect anything. You could bend them back as suggested, but the problem is reaching them. I primarily use a 40 degree nozzle on my pressure washer, sometimes 25 degrees on the wheels only. When cleaning the radiator, I use a regular hose nozzle from about 2 feet away. Cleans the bugs off and causes no damage. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

05-21-2024, 08:26 PM	#9
BMLMZ Drives: 2022 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Georgia Posts: 54	Thats nothing. Like literally nothing.

05-21-2024, 10:18 PM	#10
discgolf01 Drives: 2018 ZL1 Convertible M6 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: USA Posts: 64	I wouldn't worry about that at all. You're going to take rock hits that do more damage than that. The radiator is engineered in anticipation of some amount of fin damage.

05-22-2024, 12:58 AM	#11
2SS Capt 2020 Shadow Gray 2SS Drives: 2020 2SS - A10, NPP, MRC, CAI Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: SoCal Posts: 3,690	A few bent fins aren't going to hurt anything (I honestly thought your picture was a "Before" picture and was waiting for the "After" picture with all fins bent and no possible way for air flow-through)... You can straighten those very carefully with small flat head screwdriver... And even if you did nothing, you aren't going to notice any cooling degradation... __________________ 2020 SGM 2SS - A10, NPP, MRC, Red Calipers, Black Fender Badge, Footwell Lighting *After delivery:* - GMP CAI, GMP Black Strut Tower Brace, MRR017 1LE Wheels, SS Armrest, Black Fuel Door, Stainless Pedals, SS Wheel Caps, GM Splash Guards, DD Smoked LED Markers, Smoked Rear Reflectors, Mishimoto Catch Can, Xpel PPF-Full Front & Rockers, 35% Tint, CeramicPro coated, RST Stainless Brake Lines, Castrol SRF, MSD Plug Wires, Mamo V3 Ported TB *Left: My "fun" ride (455 HP). Right: My "work" ride (52,000 HP): a Gulfstream G600. One's top speed is 180 Mph, the other, 620 Mph. BOTH AWESOME to operate...*

05-22-2024, 08:44 AM	#14
Spaceme1117 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS, 2011 Corvette GS Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erlanger, Kentucky 41018 Posts: 856	Clearly totaled. So sad. That's nothing. Just use a small flat-blade screw driver or pick to straighten them. And be careful with a pressure washer. They can strip paint and flesh if you are not careful.

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