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Re: 2002 malibu coolant flush
I did the same thing.... the Haynes manual says that is the radiator drain, but mine did the same thing. I gave up on that and pulled the lower radiator hose and the block drain plug (located near the oil filter) to drain old coolant out. Open the expansion tank cap to allow air in, and you can also easily pull the top radiator hose loose on the engine end from the thermostat housing.
I use a large mortar pan (bought at home depot) to catch the coolant, and then insert a water hose in the top radiator hose to flush out old coolant from the radiator. I also stick the hose into the top of the expansion tank, and flush from that direction.
This is a limited flush I am sure, it does not really address the coolant in the heater core.... You can buy the Prestone flush kit, which is a water hose connector that you splice into the return heater line where it comes back from the heater core to the engine block. You get a better flush with this installed.
The only way I know to really get all the water/coolant out is to blow the radiator and block out with compressed air.... I am not sure about this, I have heard it suggested in this forum before....
I was having problems with my coolant light coming on and off, sometimes staying on, etc. I removed the coolant expansion tank and took it out to my shop and flushed in out for a long time with hot water... while banging on it to loosen up all the clotted Dexcool. I was amazed at how much junk I got out of it. Since then, no coolant light problems... apparently this is a known issue with Dexcool, and some say due to oxidation related to leaky expansion tank cap. Replace the expansion tank cap when you flush!
I have been hard pressed to get my cooling system to take more than about 8 quarts of coolant after the flush, though the book says it takes 13.6 qts.... Mine simply won't hold that much.... even after run and cool cycles and adding more coolant....
Make sure the set the heater to high heat when refilling the cooling system, and running the car until the heater starts to blow hot air.... if the heater does not blow hot air, then you have air trapped (no coolant flow) in the heater core.... in the two times I have done this on my 02 Malibu, I have had no problems getting the coolant flowing again!
Sorry for the long winded post! Good Luck... Search this forum, lots of posts here about horrors of Dexcool!
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ShadeTreeBill
1989 525i Cirrus Blue Automatic
2002 White Malibu (wife's car!)
shade tree mechanic - an amateur or otherwise marginally competent mechanic who primarily works on cars out back under a "shade tree" which serves both to provide a cool place to work, and a handy tree limb to attach the block and tackle to remove the engine.
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