how to flush engine coolant 2000-up chevy truck?

psanchez · #1 09-01-2004, 06:24 PM

does anyone know the procedure in how to flush the engine coolant on a 2000-up chevy truck?

joeprunc · #2 01-29-2006, 10:42 PM

There is a plug on the drivers side of the radiator. I just unscrewed it and drained the fluid into a 5 gal bucket. Then plugged it added tap water till it was full. Ran the engine till it got warm, and pulled the plug again. Repeat this a couple of times then add the GM spec fluid 50/50 with demineralized water. Then you should be good to go.

silverado122775 · #3 02-16-2006, 04:38 PM

this would also be a good time to replace any hoses that need replacing.

Rugerlab · #4 06-28-2006, 10:13 PM

I need to do a coolant flush on my 99 5.3 and is this all you really need to do? I read in the haynes manual and it says also to remove 2 enging block drains and then remove the thermostate etc. I guess i just want to know the proper steps to do a coolant flush on my pickup

jeep_cj4x4 · #5 06-29-2006, 05:40 PM

Did anyone happen to notice the date when psanchez asked the question and when the first reply was posted? 1yr 5mo.

then 1mo, then 4 more months later..... sorry, I look at that kind of stuff.....

(sorry, off topic, question is still a good question though)
ps. Nice avatar Rugerlab.

silverado122775 · #6 06-30-2006, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rugerlab

I need to do a coolant flush on my 99 5.3 and is this all you really need to do? I read in the haynes manual and it says also to remove 2 enging block drains and then remove the thermostate etc. I guess i just want to know the proper steps to do a coolant flush on my pickup

NOt sure if the engine plugs are the easiest to remove, but like any radiator there is a twist screw on the bottom of the radiator that will release the coolant. Turn the engine on to remove all the coolant in the engine. after all the coolant is out, tightrn the screw and fill it back up, with water and coolant flush. follow the directions on the bottle. When filling it back up with coolant, make sure you use the Dexcool and not the normal coolant. it should be a orange liquid..
Hope this helps.

wrparks · #7 06-30-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeprunc

There is a plug on the drivers side of the radiator. I just unscrewed it and drained the fluid into a 5 gal bucket. Then plugged it added tap water till it was full. Ran the engine till it got warm, and pulled the plug again. Repeat this a couple of times then add the GM spec fluid 50/50 with demineralized water. Then you should be good to go.

Hey man, I like that, sounds like a good poor mans flush. Hadn't thought about doing it this way. I've always just done a drain and fill, no flush and had no problems. Your way is probably not as good as the service department flush with the filter running through, but heck I never thought that was something that needed to be done anyway and it has to be better than just a regular drain and fill.

masapell · #8 08-15-2006, 01:46 PM

I thought that I would revisit this topic. Has anyone here installed one of those Prestone flush kits on their truck? Which heater hose did you tap into if you did? They both look like they go into the thermostat housing, but one goes to the line from the recovery bottle. Any thoughts?
Thanks!

Matt

markz71 · #9 12-21-2007, 08:08 AM

03 z71 5.3 bought the truck new been five yrs going to flush engine coolant i am going to change the therostat should i just change hoses to its been five yrs if i do that it might last another 5yrs but the water pump i dont think will last another 5 yrs any input

xjcamaro89 · #10 12-21-2007, 08:27 AM

I have used a kit from prestone before, and it worked really well, the kit is like $8 at walmart or Advance it comes with a T that you cut one of the heater hoses and install this T, and then a spout that comes with the kit pops onto the mouth of the radiator, you then connect a garden hose to the open section of the T and turn on the garden hose while the engine is running and let the hose flush out the system, and everything gets blown out the spout on the radiator. I just let the hose run while the car was running and then shut it off and let it flush and then turned it back on a couple times and let it run till the water coming out of the radiator spout was crystal clear. Then i popped the plug open on the bottom of the radiator and let the water drain and filled the system up with the green stuff (this was in a 2000 blazer, but the systems are the same) cause that dexcool has given me nothing but problems in the blazers. Try it out!

Oh, one more thing, after your are done flushing it i recommend going to the parts store and getting a straight fitting to replace the T you installed in the heater hose, i did have one of the T's break on me and i have to get a straight peice.

rjeffery · #11 12-21-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markz71

03 z71 5.3 bought the truck new been five yrs going to flush engine coolant i am going to change the therostat should i just change hoses to its been five yrs if i do that it might last another 5yrs but the water pump i dont think will last another 5 yrs any input

Personally, I wouldn't change the thermostat if it works and you are not planning to drain the block. Also I wouldn't replace the hoses unless you notice any deterioration. If it ain't broke don't fix it. But it's up to you.

I flushed my system similar to the drain and flush method, except I flushed with 50/50 mix instead of pure water. If you flush with pure water, the engine block will hold a volume of water, and if you fill with 50/50 you won't have the correct concentration. You can still do this if you know how much water the block holds and add the same amount of pure antifreeze followed by a 50/50 mix. I never could get a straight answer on how much the block holds though.

Be sure to use distilled water, tap water can react negatively with Dexcool.

xjcamaro89 · #12 12-21-2007, 01:59 PM

Ya, i think after i flushed with water i added a guesstimate amount of straight antifreeze and then 50/50 mix to make up for the volume of water left in the block. Also i just used tap water cause i replaced with green stuff and everything ran fine, if not better then dexcool

j cAT · #13 12-23-2007, 10:05 AM

if you change from dexcool to silicone base antifreeze [green stuff] you must drain entire cooling system. engine, heater,and radiator then flush with thermostat removed then drain every thing then add at least 50% antifreeze and distilled water. if you do not do this keep watching for coolant sludging. usually heater starts to blow cooler ............

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD