Dex Cool Fool

[headscratching]

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.

[RC1488]

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.

[Ruley73]

Originally Posted by headscratching

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.

[Cat Fuzz]

Yeah, what they said ^^