flushing a radiator

[tie_one_on]

What do you guys do to flush auto radiators?
'00 Explorer 130,000 miles.
Leave thermostat in or take it out?
Use a flush product like Prestone Super Flush?
What else?
Thanks.

 

[dolluper]

Re: flushing a radiator

Do you want to do a complete system flush or just the rad,if justthe rad >>on a cold engine pull the lower rad hose off ,either take overflow canister out and put above rad or jack up that sideof vehicle

 

[tie_one_on]

Re: flushing a radiator

I'd like to do a complete system flush. What's a good cleaner? Something store bought or a home remedy? Thanks

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: flushing a radiator

If your having overheat problems I would have a radiator shop clean the radiator then flush the engine with the t-stat out while they're cleaning the radiator.

If just a maintenance flush, flush the engine and radiator separately. You don't want what's in the engine to end up in the radiator.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: flushing a radiator

First I would do this:
When cold after sitting over night, open the petcock in the bottom of the rad.
If you get clean, clear or even a bit murky water, close it and don't bother to flush anything.
If it comes out muddy, slimey or like a milk shake or rusty muddy, etc. then flush it all.

 

[tie_one_on]

Re: flushing a radiator

What do you guys use as a flushing agent? Anything? Plain water?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: flushing a radiator

Not real sure for over the counter flushes but would think Prestone would be as good as any and better than a few.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: flushing a radiator

If you do flush your engine at home with a rad flush kit make shure you pull at least one heater core hose and back flush it well.Also flush your engine well.If any of the cleaner stays in the cooling system it may eat away at your cooling systems internal parts.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: flushing a radiator

I would not use any cleaner to flush out the cooling system. You don't want to erode the metal in the heater core...very expensive repair!

Turn on the heater and drain your radiator. Refilll with water..get the engine warm...drain again. Keep doing this until the water comes out clear.

I just did this on my Lexus which has an easy to get at block drain. I buy distilled water because I don't use tap water in it and flush with the distilled.

because I know I can't get all the water out of the block, I fill the system with straight anifreeze until I put in half of my coolant capacity and fill the remainder up with distilled.

 

[tie_one_on]

Re: flushing a radiator

Thanks for all the replies.
Here's what I did.
Drained the system (removed lower hose).
Removed upper hose (cut thermostat center out to put back in, the thermostat had a big o ring for sealing)
Put hose in garden hose in upper radiator hose, flushed raditor until clear water came out the bottom.
Put garden hose in where themostat went, used a rag to sort of seal it, flushed engine until clear water ran out lower hose.
Filled system with water, added Prestone Super Flush, drove a full day.
Repeated all the step above except installed a new thermostat.
Does this seem satisfactory?



bruse58 you brought up a good point about distilled water. What do service centers use? I would bet regular tap water.

Thanks again.

 

[rwise]

Re: flushing a radiator

someone told me once to use laundry soap, guess I used too much cause it took a week to get out all the soap

flushing did not help me dodge, and the coolant was clean but, when I pulled the moter and knocked out the freeze plugs the block was packed with (stop leak powder??) to just above the freeze plugs and tthey were mostly roted out and not leaking because of whatever that was in it. If it will ever dry up under my tree I'll get it back in,,,,

Edit: did not use the laundry soap on the dodge, don't think I;ll try that again.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: flushing a radiator

Not many people use distilled water and I am sure service centers don't.

If you stay on top of your car/truck and change your coolant every other year and use the distilled water, you won't be having so much crud in your radiator or block and won't have to resort to using these cleaners.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: flushing a radiator

wouldn't use laundry soap, but liquid dishwasher soap works fine- so does any of the "10 minute rad flush" type products. I always do about 4 or 5 flushes with fresh water after.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: flushing a radiator

Use hot water to fill the system.
The water heater virtually "creates" distilled water or is the next best anyway.
And if you get a antifreeze tester, don't change it until you have too.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: flushing a radiator

The water heater virtually "creates" distilled water or is the next best anyway.

No it doesn't.

A water heater would be completely coated with minerals after a month if that was true.

 

[tie_one_on]

Re: flushing a radiator

I just read an article in Car Craft about not using distilled water in aluminum radiators. Something about no ions in the water causes it to be caustic to aluminum. Causes electrolosis to occur. The latest recommendation is soft water (the slight saltyness is beneficial) if not available then plain tap water.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: flushing a radiator

I just read an article in Car Craft about not using distilled water in aluminum radiators.

That is just hilarious! Since distilled water has no ions in it, there can't be any current flow through it. Besides, the coolant itself would provide more ions than anything tap water could provide. Maybe the article was debating using 100% water vs a 50/50 anti-freeze water mix.

Reminds me of the old wives tale that drinking distilled water is bad to drink because it pulls ions out of your body.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: flushing a radiator

No it doesn't.

A water heater would be completely coated with minerals after a month if that was true.

It is still better than using cold well water especially if your in a high mineral area.

Perhaps filtered rain water is best as it is distilled is it not?

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: flushing a radiator

I have a rule of thumb, if the engine has never been flushed with a chemical cleaner, dont do it. It will dislodge everything and plug up the radiator.

Dont use DEIONIZED water, distilled water is ok. There is a difference between the two.

Water naturally likes ions in it, and if you DEIONIZE it, it will try to suck ions away from anywhere, and your radiator is made of a great ion called copper or aluminium.

Ken

 

[bruceb58]

Re: flushing a radiator

Water naturally likes ions in it, and if you DEIONIZE it, it will try to suck ions away from anywhere, and your radiator is made of a great ion called copper or aluminium.

This could possibly be true if you were using 100% water. If you are using any mixture of anti freeze and water , there are plenty of ions to prevent a leaching problem.