Cleaning Radiator and Condenser Fins - How To

Is there a procedure anywhere to gain access to the condenser and radiator fins to clean them? Seems like this should be a routine maintenance thing but I am having trouble finding any results on Google.

 

Spray through the radiator with a hose. I use pressure but it's set low.

 

Do you bother trying to remove the radiator fan shroud or just spray through that?

 

Remove the lower splash shield that connects to the skid plate and you will have lots of access.

 

I was experiencing poor A/C cooling in traffic and at idle.
I checked the R134a pressure and it was good, so I assumed the airflow to the condenser via the fan was meeting resistance from clogged cooling fins.
Here is what I ended up doing to get in between the condenser and radiator and wash away the dirt and built up cottonwood seeds that were covering the cooling fins.

You need a stubby host sprayer like this


Remove the skid plate, filler plate, and radiator support covers to have full access to condenser and radiator.

Loosen the radiator top bolt and bracket support bolt on both sides of the radiator.
Also remove the 3 bolts for the coolant overflow tank, and the 1 bolt for the fan shroud on that side.



Now the top of the radiator can move out of the bracket and can expose about a 1" gap. You can see in the picture there was alot of build up.



I first sprayed through the gap to loosen as much of the debris off and washed it downwards.
Then I sprayed through the fan shroud and tried to get all areas. You can see the water flow all the way through to the front, effectively back flushing.


Followed that up with spraying from the front of the condenser, and finally a second rinse through the gap.

I left the hood open and it all dried up in a couple hours. Reassemble and you're done.