Dex Cool Fool
headscratching
10-15-2009, 03:08 PM
I own a 99 Sl2 and whoever sold it to me must have flushed it and replaced the coolant with good ole green antifreeze...this is fine, however I did not know this, I guess i could have looked in the reservoir and seen it but i didnt, anyways my coolant level was low so I went to napa they told me i need dex cool so i bought it and topped off my coolant and in doing so mixed the two different coolants....now i have sludge.
MY problem is I need to flush my system completely block and all but do not know how to do so because this car has no normal radiator cap, only a overflow reservoir with a cap...so how do I properly flush this system, i can do it myself i just need a little input...do i need to remove the thermostat? what hose if any should i splce the T valve into and where should the flush water come out of while im flushing...thanks to any that can help.
MY problem is I need to flush my system completely block and all but do not know how to do so because this car has no normal radiator cap, only a overflow reservoir with a cap...so how do I properly flush this system, i can do it myself i just need a little input...do i need to remove the thermostat? what hose if any should i splce the T valve into and where should the flush water come out of while im flushing...thanks to any that can help.
RC1488
10-15-2009, 03:38 PM
Radiator draining:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSji7N5ommg
Block Draining:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEoLFrg8IUI
Coolant flush procedure:
"If you are just talking about maintenance and you aren't doing something like cleaning up an engine that's had a cracked head or something. Just draining and filling is fine. However, that's not what you're asking about. Here's how to do it.
Drain the coolant as you normally would.
Remove the thermostat and replace the housing.
Remove the return hose going to the top of the coolant reservoir and run it to something to catch coolant.
Get a bucket of hot water mixed with automatic dish washing detergent and fill the coolant system from the bucket.
Have someone start the car and as the coolant system drains into the container, keep filling it from the bucket.
Do this till it runs clear.
Next run clear water through the system until it's clear of detergent.
Run a couple gallons of distilled water though.
Replace the thermostat.
Reattach the return hose at the top of the coolant reservoir.
Fill with 50/50 mix of ant-freeze and distilled water." - Barnowl
I'd also clean the reservoir while your at it.
Next time get the Universal Coolant that can mix with anything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSji7N5ommg
Block Draining:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEoLFrg8IUI
Coolant flush procedure:
"If you are just talking about maintenance and you aren't doing something like cleaning up an engine that's had a cracked head or something. Just draining and filling is fine. However, that's not what you're asking about. Here's how to do it.
Drain the coolant as you normally would.
Remove the thermostat and replace the housing.
Remove the return hose going to the top of the coolant reservoir and run it to something to catch coolant.
Get a bucket of hot water mixed with automatic dish washing detergent and fill the coolant system from the bucket.
Have someone start the car and as the coolant system drains into the container, keep filling it from the bucket.
Do this till it runs clear.
Next run clear water through the system until it's clear of detergent.
Run a couple gallons of distilled water though.
Replace the thermostat.
Reattach the return hose at the top of the coolant reservoir.
Fill with 50/50 mix of ant-freeze and distilled water." - Barnowl
I'd also clean the reservoir while your at it.
Next time get the Universal Coolant that can mix with anything.
Ruley73
10-15-2009, 07:55 PM
I own a 99 Sl2 and whoever sold it to me must have flushed it and replaced the coolant with good ole green antifreeze...this is fine, however I did not know this, I guess i could have looked in the reservoir and seen it but i didnt, anyways my coolant level was low so I went to napa they told me i need dex cool so i bought it and topped off my coolant and in doing so mixed the two different coolants....now i have sludge.
MY problem is I need to flush my system completely block and all but do not know how to do so because this car has no normal radiator cap, only a overflow reservoir with a cap...so how do I properly flush this system, i can do it myself i just need a little input...do i need to remove the thermostat? what hose if any should i splce the T valve into and where should the flush water come out of while im flushing...thanks to any that can help.
Mixing Dex-Cool with regular coolant does NOT magically instantly create sludge. The belief that it does is just a myth. Any sludge that you are observing was there before you mixed coolants. If you mix Dex-Cool with regular coolant, treat it like regular coolant. Flush/refill the cooling system within 2 yrs/30,000 miles (like you're supposed to with the green stuff anyways) and you'll be fine.
In any case.....follow RC1488's recommendation for the flush to rid of your sludge. I would strongly recommend using a long-life coolant (particularly Peak extended life universal coolant) because it behaves with aluminum better than the regular old green coolant.
MY problem is I need to flush my system completely block and all but do not know how to do so because this car has no normal radiator cap, only a overflow reservoir with a cap...so how do I properly flush this system, i can do it myself i just need a little input...do i need to remove the thermostat? what hose if any should i splce the T valve into and where should the flush water come out of while im flushing...thanks to any that can help.
Mixing Dex-Cool with regular coolant does NOT magically instantly create sludge. The belief that it does is just a myth. Any sludge that you are observing was there before you mixed coolants. If you mix Dex-Cool with regular coolant, treat it like regular coolant. Flush/refill the cooling system within 2 yrs/30,000 miles (like you're supposed to with the green stuff anyways) and you'll be fine.
In any case.....follow RC1488's recommendation for the flush to rid of your sludge. I would strongly recommend using a long-life coolant (particularly Peak extended life universal coolant) because it behaves with aluminum better than the regular old green coolant.
Cat Fuzz
10-19-2009, 05:12 PM
Yeah, what they said ^^
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