You are browsing camaro6 
05-21-2024, 04:44 PM
|
#1 |
 
Drives: 2024 2SS Camaro, 1988 IROC Z Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 147
|
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.
__________________
2024 2SS Camaro, Riverside Blue Metallic, NPP, F55, CF5, 5ZZ, VTU, S0O, 5KP, JF5, 2nd Gen GFX
 |
|
|
|
05-21-2024, 04:55 PM
|
#2 |
 |
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, 05:18 PM
|
#3 |
|
Drives: 2024 2SS Camaro, 1988 IROC Z Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 147
|
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, 05:22 PM
|
#4 |
|
Having FUN in the SUN...
Drives: 2022 M6 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 1,110
|
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: Katech Standard Ported Blower + Ported Heads + 103mm TB + Oil Pump + C5R Chain + Valve Covers + Coil Relocation Kit
TSP VVT and DoD Delete Covers + LME Chain Guide + DSX Billet Lid + ATI Damper + 9.17" Lower + 2.4" Upper + MM Wild Catch Can Coated AR Headers + GESI UHO Cats + V Bands + AWE Touring + Magnaflow Center X + MSD Coils + Banks iDash + JMS Booster ALL the BMR Read End Goodies + BMR Motor Mounts + JRE Terminator Cam Package + Big Gulp + GMS High Flow Crash Bar DMS Front HX + Fender Tank + FIC 30's + APEX SM.10's + TOYO 305/345 R888R's = 775rwhp 815rwtq @E55 13.5psi |
|
|
|
|
05-21-2024, 05:56 PM
|
#5 |
 Drives: 2022 Wild Cherry ZL1 1LE Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Fremont, CA
Posts: 457
|
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, 06:55 PM
|
#6 | |
|
|
Quote:
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.
__________________
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, 07:05 PM
|
#7 |
    
Drives: 2020 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Calgary Canada
Posts: 1,595
|
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.
Last edited by CalgaryZL1; 05-21-2024 at 07:20 PM. |
|
|
|
|
05-21-2024, 07:21 PM
|
#8 |
|
Drives: 2023 SS 1LE Sharkskin Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: MAGA MT
Posts: 308
|
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, 07:26 PM
|
#9 |
 Drives: 2022 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Georgia
Posts: 53
|
Thats nothing. Like literally nothing.
|
|
|
|
|
05-21-2024, 09:18 PM
|
#10 |
|
Drives: 2018 ZL1 Convertible M6 Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 54
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
05-21-2024, 11:58 PM
|
#11 |
|
2020 Shadow Gray 2SS
Drives: 2020 2SS - A10, NPP, MRC, CAI Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,092
|
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, Black Lugs/Locks, GM Splash Guards, DD Smoked LED Markers, Smoked Rear Reflectors, Mishimoto Catch Can, Xpel PPF - Full Front, SunTek 35% Tint, CeramicPro coating, RST Stainless Brake Lines, Castrol SRF, MSD Super Conductor Wires Left: My "fun" ride. Right: My "work" ride: a Gulfstream G600. One's top speed is 180 Mph, the other, 620 Mph... BOTH are a lot of fun to operate...  |
|
|
|
|
05-22-2024, 05:51 AM
|
#12 | |
    
Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 3,250
|
Quote:
__________________
2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR2014 1SS 1LE NPP RECARO SIM-SOLD1995 Z28 M6 GSC PGM-SOLD1975 NOVA COUPE 300HP 350 TH350 FLASH RED-SOLD
 |
|
|
|
|
|
05-22-2024, 06:57 AM
|
#13 | |
|
|
Quote:
__________________
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
05-22-2024, 07:44 AM
|
#14 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro SS, 2011 Corvette GS Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Erlanger, Kentucky 41018
Posts: 821
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
