Washing soda

[Eoghan]

The owner's manual calls for flushing the cooling system with "washing soda" and I remember some people saying they couldn't find it locally, but I just stumbled upon this in some random DIY blog so I thought I'd share it:

Homemade Washing Soda
Ingredients
Baking Soda

Instructions
1. Fill a wide baking dish with baking soda.
2. Heat in the oven at 400 degrees until all the baking soda becomes washing soda. Occasionally mix it so that this process happens faster and more uniformly.
3. Use as needed!

The difference between baking soda and washing soda is water and carbon dioxide. Seriously. Baking soda's chemical makeup is NaHCO3 (1 sodium, 1 hydrogen, one carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules). Washing soda's chemical makeup is Na2CO3 (2 sodium, 1 carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules). When baking soda is heated up to high temperatures, it breaks down to become washing soda, water steam, and carbon dioxide.

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but I thought it was nifty!

[Matt Kirsch]

So how come my face doesn't melt off when I eat cornbread that was made with baking soda?

[ScottyD'sdad]

So how come my face doesn't melt off when I eat cornbread that was made with baking soda?

You need the electric charge! Hook yourself to a battery, and then eat corn bread!
Ed

[DickB]

You can buy Washing Soda. Instead of the orange box for Baking Soda, it is a yellow box. Supermarket shelf item here.

[BIGHOSS]

Our Kroger stores stock it. About $3.00 per big box.

[Posco]

Is there a recommended dose? Quantity, that is.

[BIGHOSS]

No precise measuring for me. About a cup or so in a 5 gal bucket and about a half box in 55 gal drum. You really cannot mess up, because It is pretty forgiving.

[Matt Kirsch]

For electrolysis, all that matters is that the water is alkaline.

Even baking soda will work, just not as well.

[Bob McCarty]

Posco, The manual calls for 2 lbs of washing soda in 9 3/4 quarts water for the radiator/block flush. Amounts for electrolysis can vary depending on the power source and tank size (I think TSP is better for electrolysis as it prevents flash rusting).

Bob

[Posco]

Posco, The manual calls for 2 lbs of washing soda in 9 3/4 quarts water for the radiator/block flush. Amounts for electrolysis can vary depending on the power source and tank size (I think TSP is better for electrolysis as it prevents flash rusting).

Bob

Thanks, Bob. That's another project I'll be getting to but I'm still somewhat fuzzy on the electrolysis process. I'll bone up on it.

[Eugene]

Before you use the washing soda, flush the block and lower radiator housing. See the following topic.

viewtopic.php?f=138&t=18457