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Radiator Flush
Cooling-system maintenance
Tom Morr / autoMedia.com
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If the old coolant appears rusty or contaminated, flush the system with a radiator-cleaning product to further remove sediment. With all drain plugs closed, fill the radiator with a flush/cleaner product and plain water. Then run the vehicle with the heater on high for as long as the flush product's instructions specify. Once the engine cools, drain the flushing solution, refill the radiator with plain water, and repeat the sequence following the flush's instructions.
Refilling
Consult your vehicle's owner's manual and the antifreeze bottle for proper coolant-to-water ratio, which can vary between 40% and 70% antifreeze based on vehicle and climate. Fill the radiator appropriately then fill the overflow reservoir to the appropriate level with a 50/50 mix. Clean up any spills immediately. Close the cap(s) and run the vehicle up to operating temperature with the heater on high to circulate the coolant throughout the system. Once the engine cools, check for leaks. After a few days of driving, double-check the coolant mixture with a hydrometer or test strips (both of which are available inexpensively from the parts store) and adjust the concentration as necessary.
Additives
Various chemical additives are formulated to improve cooling-system performance while you drive. Rust inhibitors are designed to reduce oxidation and neutralize acids; many also include lubricants for the water pump and thermostat. Other chemicals improve the coolant's heat-dissipation properties and claim up to a 20-degree F reduction in operating temperature.
Flushing your car's cooling system isn't the most glamorous way to spend a Saturday morning. But just as your refrigerator's coils need periodic vacuuming for proper operation, keeping the car's cooling system clean is cheaper and easier than the consequences of ignoring it.
Resources
Gunk, www.gunk.com, Justice Brothers, www.justicebrothers.com, Peak, peakantifreeze.com, Prestone, www.prestone.com, Redline, www.redlineoil.com, Sierra, www.sierraantifreeze.com, Wynn's, www.wynns.be, Zerex/Valvoline, www.valvoline.com
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Drain the old coolant through the radiator's petcock. Capture the antifreeze in at least a 2-gallon bucket, and mop up any spills promptly?antifreeze is toxic.
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If the engine has drain plugs and they're accessible, remove them to release the old coolant that's trapped in the engine. (Some radiators only hold about 40% of the system's coolant.) Seal the plug's threads with Teflon tape or pipe dope before reinstallation.
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Rusty or murky coolant isn't good?scale and other particles can clog the radiator. This engine needs a serious flushing.
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Flush/radiator-cleaning products are formulated to loosen rust deposits and other sludge. With all plugs and petcocks closed, add the product to the radiator, fill the system with water, and run the engine per the instructions on the bottle.
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Flush kits "back flush" the cooling system by reversing the direction of fluid flow through the block, heater core and radiator. The kit's T-fitting is spliced into the heater-inlet hose and accepts a garden hose. Flush until clear water emerges from the radiator neck.
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Clean the radiator's overflow reservoir then add the recommended amount of antifreeze (40%-70% depending on engine and climate) to the radiator and reservoir. Clean up any spills immediately.
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Cooling-system additives include rust-inhibitors. Add them to the radiator before topping it off with tap water. If the system is really rusty, consider using distilled water, which has fewer minerals. Also, check the service manual about "burping" air from the system.
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If overheating is still a problem, consider adding a coolant additive that lowers the system's operating temperature.
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After driving for a few days, check the ratio of antifreeze to water with a hydrometer or test-strip, then adjust the concentration as necessary.
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