embarrased to ask this but..
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Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 25
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From: Midwest U.S.
embarrased to ask this but..
How does one flush the radiator/cooling system? I got to thinking about maintenance with my truck, 97 4.6, 78k. I just realized, I am real good with oil changes but I have never changed the coolant, brake fluid or power steering fluid. I can recall only having the trans oil and filter serviced, that was at about 40000 miles. Upon third thought, never changed the belt or any hose either.
I think I can do the trans by myself. I am less certain about brakes, needs two to bleed after fluid replacement? I have flushed a cooling system before. The "old" days, where you splice a garden hose link into a heater line and run water and the vehicle at the same time. Is it the same now? Geez, I am WAY behind. Any hints or info would be a big help. Thanks.
I think I can do the trans by myself. I am less certain about brakes, needs two to bleed after fluid replacement? I have flushed a cooling system before. The "old" days, where you splice a garden hose link into a heater line and run water and the vehicle at the same time. Is it the same now? Geez, I am WAY behind. Any hints or info would be a big help. Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 3
From: Eastern TN
A. Guy -
I flushed mine in a slow manner, but it was easy. I installed the Prestone "Flush And Fill Kit" in the heater hose. I opened the radiator drain and let it run into a big pan.
After it finished draining, I turned on the hose and started the truck. After it finally filled up the radiator, I closed the drain valve, turned off the hose and let it run until it warmed up.
I repeated this sequence until the water drained from the radiator no longer had any green color to it.
Don't forget to rinse out the radiator overflow bottle too.
BTW, take a look at your brake fluid. If it isn't nice and clear, it would be a good idea to flush it out. I just did mine a few weeks ago. It was so dark I couldn't see through it. It took over a quart of fluid to completely flush it out.
I flushed mine in a slow manner, but it was easy. I installed the Prestone "Flush And Fill Kit" in the heater hose. I opened the radiator drain and let it run into a big pan.
After it finished draining, I turned on the hose and started the truck. After it finally filled up the radiator, I closed the drain valve, turned off the hose and let it run until it warmed up.
I repeated this sequence until the water drained from the radiator no longer had any green color to it.
Don't forget to rinse out the radiator overflow bottle too.
BTW, take a look at your brake fluid. If it isn't nice and clear, it would be a good idea to flush it out. I just did mine a few weeks ago. It was so dark I couldn't see through it. It took over a quart of fluid to completely flush it out.
This is what I do for a flush. First off get a good system cleaner like Prestone super flush, drain your engine thru the radiator valve, mine is on the left side of the radiator on the bottom, open both engine block plugs (mine come out with an allen wrench). I then close the radiator valve and run a garden hose wide open and flush with clean water for a few minutes. Follow the instructions on the container. After that is done, dont forget to backflush the heater core to remove contaminants. Pull the heater outlet hose off and insert a female garden hose attachment and water hose. Pull the heater inlet hose off and direct it towards the ground. Turn on the water wide open and off a few times, what you want is a good surge here to loosen any particles in the core, and let the water run a few minutes. Button everything back up, fill the system with a 50/50 mix of good antifreeze and you are good to go.
