draining coolant any tips
newibe
07-01-2008, 02:08 PM
Hello
Coolant is a bit brown on my 99 ford escort i would like to change it and flush the system anyone able to give me some tips how i go about draining the coolant completely and refilling with fresh
Thanks
Coolant is a bit brown on my 99 ford escort i would like to change it and flush the system anyone able to give me some tips how i go about draining the coolant completely and refilling with fresh
Thanks
mightymoose_22
07-01-2008, 05:18 PM
Drain the system from the valve at the bottom of the radiator as well as from the plug in the engine (located behind the exhaust manifold, but accessible from underneath).
After that refill with WATER ONLY.
Start the engine and let it run for a bit, then drain from radiator again. Continue to refill and drain from the radiator until the drainage is clear. When you are satisfied with the flush, refill with a coolant mix.
After that refill with WATER ONLY.
Start the engine and let it run for a bit, then drain from radiator again. Continue to refill and drain from the radiator until the drainage is clear. When you are satisfied with the flush, refill with a coolant mix.
Arnoldtheskier
07-01-2008, 10:44 PM
I did mine awhile ago by getting 2 empty containers, and a pump (about $15 from Wally).
The pump came with a hose that was long enough to reach to the bottom of the rad.
Off came the rad cap,in went the hose,out came the coolant into the containers,back in went some water.
Talk about easy!,neat,clean.
Drove it for a while/re-did it.
The pump came with a hose that was long enough to reach to the bottom of the rad.
Off came the rad cap,in went the hose,out came the coolant into the containers,back in went some water.
Talk about easy!,neat,clean.
Drove it for a while/re-did it.
tripletdaddy
07-03-2008, 10:02 AM
Anyone have a strong opinion on disconnecting the lower radiator hose for draining, doing flush with thermastat removed, disconnecting the heater hoses to get more anti-freeze out, using flush cleaners?
As some parts of the cooling system will always trap some coolant or water if flushed with water a lot, I like to put straight coolant in first equal to half the system's capacity. Then, I will add 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water, keeping track of how much I used to compare to the system's capacity. I'll add water and 50/50 accordingly. I will deliberately use too much straight antifreeze, so I can without worry, dilute it later if all I can find is water.
As some parts of the cooling system will always trap some coolant or water if flushed with water a lot, I like to put straight coolant in first equal to half the system's capacity. Then, I will add 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water, keeping track of how much I used to compare to the system's capacity. I'll add water and 50/50 accordingly. I will deliberately use too much straight antifreeze, so I can without worry, dilute it later if all I can find is water.
Arnoldtheskier
07-03-2008, 04:30 PM
Anyone have a strong opinion on disconnecting the lower radiator hose for draining, doing flush with thermastat removed, disconnecting the heater hoses to get more anti-freeze out, using flush cleaners?
As some parts of the cooling system will always trap some coolant or water if flushed with water a lot, I like to put straight coolant in first equal to half the system's capacity. Then, I will add 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water, keeping track of how much I used to compare to the system's capacity. I'll add water and 50/50 accordingly. I will deliberately use too much straight antifreeze, so I can without worry, dilute it later if all I can find is water.
I've had bad experiences and know others who have had bad experiences with cooling system flushes(especially with chemicals/power flushed) over the years. There are also a lot of experts in the field who don't agree with aggressive coolant flushes.
There is also the old adage..if it ain't broke don't fix it.
If the cooling system has been that neglected..ie coolant not changed every 2 years or so(allowed to become way too corrosive),coolant not flushed with head gasket failures,water pump failure,rad failure,leaks sealed with stop leak etc.,etc. or it is a used car that you just bought. You can really,really open up a big can of worms with aggressive flushing.
Aggressive flushing..especially with chemicals exposes the ENTIRE system to EVERY weakness. Sure I guess it tells you that everything is 100%..that is until the crap that was in there has now been put into circulation and has plugged the heater core.Maybe just me..I wouldda rather the crap stayed where it WAS.
Rusted flakes of metal..especially a combination of different metals, along with sealer,as well as muck in there can wreak havoc with rads and especially heater cores as well as water pump impellers,bearings when it is put back into circulation. Ideally you get it out with the flush. If you don't? .
A coolant system flush on a newer,well maintained car is a whole lot different than one on an okler used car.
Sure..of course..pulling the lower hose is better. Messy and a pita..But if there is that much crap already in the system..I dunno. I like to keep the crap in suspension and GENTLY..with water..another flush..GRADUALLY remove it.
I just pump out almost 2 gal coolant and put back the same..1 gal af/1 gal water.
Flush with the engine warm and the t.stat should be open.
Nothing wrong with a very gentle reverse flush of the heater core.. Neccessary? If the car has/had good heat and has been well looked after I don't see any point. I mean if you are already facing a plugged heater core(replacement) what harm now in an aggressive even chemical reverse flush.
As some parts of the cooling system will always trap some coolant or water if flushed with water a lot, I like to put straight coolant in first equal to half the system's capacity. Then, I will add 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water, keeping track of how much I used to compare to the system's capacity. I'll add water and 50/50 accordingly. I will deliberately use too much straight antifreeze, so I can without worry, dilute it later if all I can find is water.
I've had bad experiences and know others who have had bad experiences with cooling system flushes(especially with chemicals/power flushed) over the years. There are also a lot of experts in the field who don't agree with aggressive coolant flushes.
There is also the old adage..if it ain't broke don't fix it.
If the cooling system has been that neglected..ie coolant not changed every 2 years or so(allowed to become way too corrosive),coolant not flushed with head gasket failures,water pump failure,rad failure,leaks sealed with stop leak etc.,etc. or it is a used car that you just bought. You can really,really open up a big can of worms with aggressive flushing.
Aggressive flushing..especially with chemicals exposes the ENTIRE system to EVERY weakness. Sure I guess it tells you that everything is 100%..that is until the crap that was in there has now been put into circulation and has plugged the heater core.Maybe just me..I wouldda rather the crap stayed where it WAS.
Rusted flakes of metal..especially a combination of different metals, along with sealer,as well as muck in there can wreak havoc with rads and especially heater cores as well as water pump impellers,bearings when it is put back into circulation. Ideally you get it out with the flush. If you don't? .
A coolant system flush on a newer,well maintained car is a whole lot different than one on an okler used car.
Sure..of course..pulling the lower hose is better. Messy and a pita..But if there is that much crap already in the system..I dunno. I like to keep the crap in suspension and GENTLY..with water..another flush..GRADUALLY remove it.
I just pump out almost 2 gal coolant and put back the same..1 gal af/1 gal water.
Flush with the engine warm and the t.stat should be open.
Nothing wrong with a very gentle reverse flush of the heater core.. Neccessary? If the car has/had good heat and has been well looked after I don't see any point. I mean if you are already facing a plugged heater core(replacement) what harm now in an aggressive even chemical reverse flush.
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