Keeping a radiator clean???

Looks to me like the commander needs a side deflector. Looks like your own tires could be throwing up the dust and mud that clogs the radiator. I fought the same issue on my Rhino and side shrouds from James (WVHR) solved that issue. The Rhino would still clog but it would be after days of riding.



My Can-am 800, 800R Ltd, and Honda Rincon all have side shrouds and have zero overheating issues.

We have the shrouds Randy. I take mine off after every ride to clean. I leave them off and put them back on before I leave.

If you have the shrouds then that's not it... Looks like a garden sprayer is needed. Riding in groups is always worse since it tends to be slow with lots of dust...

I've never had a problem with dust or following someone throwing mud. It comes from being azz deep in mud. The purpose of the fan controller is that a cooler engine makes more power, commanders fans come on around 205 to 210 degrees to get them to pass emissions. A cooler engine also has a cooler exhaust, resulting in a cooler cabin in the warm interior of the commander.

Bobby D wrote:

Carry a Garden sprayer full of water

Been doing this for several years, but primarily to clean the heavy stuff off the windshield without scratching it. Might work ok for the radiator too....might need a different nozzle with more direct / heavier flow of water.

CommAndrew wrote:

As you've all seen I had to be towed back yesterday due to my commander overheating. The cause was a radiator caked with mud. Any ideas of how to prevent this on the trail?

Well hell. Had this really insightful analysis, as a draft, and can't retrieve it. OK. The small grill opening lets sludge pile up on the same small area of the radiator, run down and dry on the lower fins. Taking the best of TBone's app. and Jets potential invention (a slanted mesh screen like the old claimer dirt cars used to run), on a bumper mount should help. Clean it on every stop. Simple, huh?

I have twenty sets being made. 15 sold to dealer. Some time in the next week or so I should have a set to photo and post in detail. I certainly won't make any claims as to them curing the problem 100% but I feel pretty good about them cutting down on the mud build up. Generally the dealership is taking my money, not giving me theirs.

i made a guard much like Tbone has using door screen and zip ties

Back side of the teryx radiator is pretty exposed to splash from backside and the lower half of the front gets alot from the winch hole

Has anyone tried mounting the radiator up higher and using a hood scoop to direct the air through it? I have thought about doing that on the Rhino and maybe RZR too if I have problems. Plenty of room on the Rhino... I havent had trouble overheating yet but just wondering if this would work... looks easy enough to do.

CommAndrew wrote:

As you've all seen I had to be towed back yesterday due to my commander overheating. The cause was a radiator caked with mud. Any ideas of how to prevent this on the trail?

Another thing that is more compact to carry is a "super soaker" type squirt gun deal. Throws a lot of water. Stop by a creek, even a shallow one and can get water and pinpoint the washing. I've carried one for a couple year now....of course I haven't needed it since carrying it....mainly because I avoid the mud these days....more work to clean them and more breakage opportunities. It's a lot more compact than the garden sprayer I used to carry as well, you'll just need to find a water source on the trail.

on the rhino I took the rad and oil cooler and raised them up and half way layed them down by adding one inch on top of the front frame rails and then raised the hood mountd one inch plenty of room under hood for that

Gary wrote:

on the rhino I took the rad and oil cooler and raised them up and half way layed them down by adding one inch on top of the front frame rails and then raised the hood mountd one inch plenty of room under hood for that

I think you have the fix. If the radiator top extends forward incoming slush tends to fall off and not coat the rows below. And, a blast of cleaner water from creek crossings doesn't wash top mud into lower fins.