Radiator clogged after power flush. Why?

I had a power flush on my cooling system on my '99 Ford Taurus SE 90,000 miles. The mechanic it was very a very nasty flush and really needed it, and to expect possible leaks afterwards. It leaked some, but he added clogging additives when he replaced the coolant and it soon stopped. So I have been driving it and even took it out-of-town. No problems. So 3 months, I went out of town. About 96 miles out. The temp shot-up and the water reservoir looked dry but muddy. Was able to drive to gas station and I had my friend's step-father look at it. He added water and backed-washed it. Tons of rusty-colored water poured out. It seemed to unclog a bit and I was able to drive it home.





He said the place I took it to ripped me off and didn't flush it properly. I think radiator was too old and rusty and the radiator just rotted further and clogged the system. What do you think. Should I just go ahead and replace it?

Radiator clogged after power flush. Why?
Sounds like your step-father in law has no idea what he is talking about, I wouldn't listen to him for any auto advice. A power flush wont un-clog the radiator. It sounds to me as if the factory scheduled maintenance wasn't followed in regards to the cooling system, hence the clog. Replace the radiator and flush the system again. No rip off anywhere, just a neglect for maintenance.
Reply:You can't polish a turd (your car, in this case). It's limited what a shop can perform with a power flush if the car is in bad shape. If it took 3 months for the car cooling system to go bad you can't really blame the shop. Replacing the radiator may or may not fix your problem, if there's gunk stuck in other parts of the cooling system.
Reply:REplace it only after u re-flush the engine an rest of sys. properly.
Reply:There's such thing as POWER flush. It is just a flush. And there's only so much a flush will take out.





In general your car was in bad shape, so flush basically didn't do it. Don't blame the mechanic. At least he try to save you money by giving you a low cost option.





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As to the question if you should replace it, yes of course.








Good Luck...
Reply:Replace the Radiator, Hoses %26amp; Clamps!! By the Sounds; Take the Thermostat Out (Junk It), Bypass the Heater Core for now (Unless you money to Replace it Now?), Sounds as if now you're ready for a Water Pump. "After the Cooling System is Repaired "Properly" Boil/Flush Out the System, Install a New Thermostat and "Coolant=50-50 Clean Water %26amp; Anti-Freeze used All Year Round" NOTE; "Stopleak (Clogging Additive) is for emergancies to get home ONLY!!"



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