I have a 1969 Camaro that the previous owner had used some type of fleet coolant in it and I want to get all of this older coolant out and replace it with new store bought Zerex coolant. I know usually I could just remove the upper hose from the radiator, start the car, wait for the thermostat to open and stick a hose in the rad. until it runs clear, then drain the block of the remaining water and fill. Problem is I currently have a stripped oil filter mount that I have to fix, so I don't have any oil in the engine. While I have the some down time with the car and it is up on ramps I have been doing other maintenance on it and I have new Zerex coolant for it that I would like to replace. So my questions for you guys are:
1)What is the best way to replace/flush the coolant without starting the engine? Would taking out the block drain plugs and thermostat and running a hose through the upper rad hose work? Will this effectively flush the block and would any water be able to get passed the water pump? Should I not worry too much about the pump because there isn't much coolant trapped in it and just flush the block, heater core and radiator with a hose? Also with winter coming up, I want to make sure that I don't have alot of water left in so I get the proper ratio when filling to prevent anything freezing up this winter.
2) I have also come across people using a shop vac to remove all the coolant? How does this work and would this be a better way? Do I simply just remove the thermostat and suck all the coolant out through the upper hose? I am assuming that maybe the pump would not allow me to remove all of the coolant through the lower hose.
3)Am I making it too complicated and simply just draining the rad., block, and heater core will be good enough? If there is still alittle older trapped coolant left by just draining and not flushing with water, will it cause any problems with the new brand of coolant added?
4) The thermostat is fairly new, so I am gonna reuse that, but how about the gasket. if I remove the thermostat housing during the procedure to get at the thermostat, do I have to get a new gasket or can it be reused if it is not torn?
Any help or tips for the easiest way to flush this system of the old coolant without running the engine is greatly appreciated. I know that once I get the car back on the road that I will need to run the engine to properly work out the air bubbles and get the coolant level up. oh, and just in case it helps, its basically a stock Camaro cooling system with an aluminum radiator, and I also have aluminum heads and intake on it too. thanks for the help
1)What is the best way to replace/flush the coolant without starting the engine? Would taking out the block drain plugs and thermostat and running a hose through the upper rad hose work? Will this effectively flush the block and would any water be able to get passed the water pump? Should I not worry too much about the pump because there isn't much coolant trapped in it and just flush the block, heater core and radiator with a hose? Also with winter coming up, I want to make sure that I don't have alot of water left in so I get the proper ratio when filling to prevent anything freezing up this winter.
2) I have also come across people using a shop vac to remove all the coolant? How does this work and would this be a better way? Do I simply just remove the thermostat and suck all the coolant out through the upper hose? I am assuming that maybe the pump would not allow me to remove all of the coolant through the lower hose.
3)Am I making it too complicated and simply just draining the rad., block, and heater core will be good enough? If there is still alittle older trapped coolant left by just draining and not flushing with water, will it cause any problems with the new brand of coolant added?
4) The thermostat is fairly new, so I am gonna reuse that, but how about the gasket. if I remove the thermostat housing during the procedure to get at the thermostat, do I have to get a new gasket or can it be reused if it is not torn?
Any help or tips for the easiest way to flush this system of the old coolant without running the engine is greatly appreciated. I know that once I get the car back on the road that I will need to run the engine to properly work out the air bubbles and get the coolant level up. oh, and just in case it helps, its basically a stock Camaro cooling system with an aluminum radiator, and I also have aluminum heads and intake on it too. thanks for the help
