jstanfield

The heat in my 98 Blazer is at best cold. I would like to change the t-stat and flush the cooling system. How difficult a task is it? Is there a site that I can get directions from?

The dealer wanted $500 to flush and change the t-stat.

blazee

The thermostat is extremely easy to change, it is located in the housing where the upper radiator hose enters the engine, just pull the two bolts, take out the old stat, put the new one in and then put the bolts back piece of cake.

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blazee

forgot to mention... you need to drain out a gallon of antifreeze before you start or it will make a mess when you pull the bolts

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blazee

If you want to flush it yourself, follow one of these methods;

For system with Sludge:

Buy the following:
2 gallons of distilled water $1
2 gallons of Dexcool $20
Prestone Flush 'N Fill kit $4
Prestone Radiator "Flush" $4

Turn your heater on and leave it on for the entire process

Drain the anitfreeze from the system.

Install the "T" from the Flush 'N Fill kit and follow the directions that came with it.

Disconnect the water hose, close all the drains, add the Prestone Flush, fill with water, get engine up to operating temperature and run for 20 minutes, allow to cool then, drain the system.

Connect your water hose to the Flush 'N Fill "T" and flush one more time. Drain.

Fill the system with a 50/50 mix of DexCool and distilled water. Continue to fill the system over the next few days as the air is worked out of the system.

Throw the stock AC Delco Radiator Cap away and buy a Stant from Advance Auto.




For clogged, neglicted, or extremely dirty systems:

Buy the following:

2 gallons of distilled water $1
2 gallons of Dexcool $20
Prestone Flush 'N Fill kit $4
Prestone Radiator "cleaner" not "flush" $6

Turn your heater on and leave it on for the entire process

Drain the anitfreeze from the system.

Install the "T" from the Flush 'N Fill kit and follow the directions that came with it.

Disconnect the water hose, close all the drains, add the Prestone Cleaner, fill with water, run the engine 3-6 hours (you can leave it in for a few days if neccessary), drain the system.

Connect your water hose to the Flush 'N Fill "T" and flush one more time. Drain.

Fill the system with a 50/50 mix of DexCool and distilled water. Continue to fill the system over the next few days as the air is worked out of the system.

Throw the stock AC Delco Radiator Cap away and buy a Stant from Advance Auto.

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BlazerLT

Walk away from that dealer and NEVER go back there again.

$500 for a stat and flush and fill?

try $150 MAX

In fact, go in there and rip them a new asshole for trying to rip you off.

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blazee

I agree $500 is way too much, but that is probably what most dealers would charge. Their procedure is about the same as I recommend for neglicted systems. That $500 includes:
6 hours of labor for the flush
the cleaner
two radiator caps
a flush 'N Fill kit
two gallons of dexcool

and they are probably charging an hour for the ten minutes it takes to change the stat as well as the cost of the thermostat.

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Rick Norwood

Stay away from the stealerships! It is a fairly simple job if you are mechanically inclined and have a few basic tools.

Are you saying that the heater for inside the truck is blowing cold air? Or the engine runs Cold? Does the engine seem to reach its normal operating temperature? Is the antifreeze muddy and nasty looking?

You can do a reasonably good flush job at home with a bottle of Radiator Cleaner and a garden hose. The T-stat shouldn't be more than a couple of bolts and a rubber gasket. I would suggest a Prestone Flush and Fill kit available at AutoZone or any Parts store. Make sure you get a new Radiator cap too.

If you think your system is in pretty bad shape, I recommend you find a local Garage that can do a Reverse Power flush. Get out your Yellow Pages and call local Radiator shops or reputable garages asking for quotes on a Reverse Power Radiator Flush. This will clean your system as good as can be done without a lot of trouble. I would think the entire job would run approx. $100 - $200 USD which would include the new thermostat and antifreeze.

jstanfield

-The engine is running about two ticks the left of 210.
-The system is blowing cold unless it about 30 degress outside, then it is warm, but not hot.
-The fluid is clean.

jstanfield

I appreciate the quick responses. Thank you.

Rick Norwood

You might just need the heater core flushed out. With the engine cool and not running, remove BOTH heater hoses from the connections at the Firewall (You will spill a little coolant) and flush the connectors with a garden hose. I would alternate back and forth flushing the core in both directions. This should blow out any sediment. Re-attach the heater hoses and top off your Antifreeze.

jstanfield

Do you think my engine is running a little cold?

Rick Norwood

It does seem a little on the cold side, you may need to go ahead and change the T-Stat too.

BlazerLT

Nope, that is a RIPOFF period.

I had my stat stick open two years ago and they flushed my system, triple reverse flushed my heater core, installed new coolant and a new stat for $143 canadian.

That is US$120 bucks which included taxes.

Saying that 500 for this job is warranted is pure nonsense.

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Rick Norwood

Here's a quick question.

Which way does the coolant flow through the heater core, In through the large hose and out through the small hose or vice-versa?

Knowing this would help when performing a reverse flush on the Heater Core.

BlazerLT

Doesn't really matter seeing you should be flushing both ways for a proper flush.

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