Backyard Flush/Fill. What Do You Think

[Oil Changer]

Was thinking of pulling the bottom hose and refill with a 50/50 mix of the proper coolant/water. Do this once a month until it gets too cold outside and call it good for another 50k.

Opinions on this method?

 

[LeakySeals]

I use the drain on the radiator. Usually just hand tight with a with a drain tube. Jack the car up a little, line up a jug under the drain, let it go. Best thing about this method is I never get any air. That, and the fact I have all original parts still, not one single thing has failed so far. So its a good design, they knew whet they were doing with the drains. I do it every 40k or so. Its so easy, no mess.

 

[dparm]

The drain plug on the radiator likely IS the lowest point in the system. I would be surprised if it weren't.

 

[Donald]

I just drain the radiator in the fall and refill it with 50/50. Takes 1 gallon of coolant and 1 gallon of distilled water = $20. It gets around 1/2 of the total capacity. This is basically a refresh. I do this every year but sometimes I am too busy and I know its good for 2 or 3 years.

BTW - the Amsoil website has total capacity listing for all fluids in a vehicle including coolant.

Quite honestly $20/year for coolant that will keep it up to snuff and then some is not expensive.

 

[Oil Changer]

I wanted to add that this is for the Astro. Still the FF of DexCool. Just checked with a multimeter and got a reading of 2.8. According to what I read, that is almost new condition.

 

[widman]

I prefer to check all hoses once every 5 years, flush, and fill with a 6 year HOAT coolant. Sure, you don't get the fun of messing with it constantly, but it is cheaper and more efficient.

 

[LeakySeals]

I would reconsider the use of dex-cool. It was an American OAT fail. Your better off with an Asian OAT or Zerex G-05 HOAT

 

[Greggy_D]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I would reconsider the use of dex-cool. It was an American OAT fail.


That Ford just went standard with.

 

[Oil Changer]

I don't want to get into the whole DexCool debate. Alot seems to be myth. Seems any issue they had has long since been rectified. My cooling system looks and tests like new at 75k. Just know it's time for some PM.

Besides, after spending a couple of hours crawling underneath the van for a while today, rust will finish this thing off long before DexCool will.

Grabbing a flahlight now. I don't see a drain.

 

[Oil Changer]

I can't find a drain plug to save my life.

Any Astro experts reading this?

 

[LeakySeals]

Wasn't a myth. The dexcool issue surrounds aluminum corrosion caused by 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA). Some GM engines had the problem, others didnt. Where it gets interesting is Asian OAT's dont allow 2-EHA. why I mentioned G-05 and Zerex Asian. Anyways if your cool with it, stay with it.

 

[LeakySeals]

I had a diagram, hold on.

 

[LeakySeals]

There isnt one in the cargo van!! Why, who knows. Different radiator. Proceed with the hose.

 

[Oil Changer]

Thanks, man!

 

[Donald]

Stay with Dexcool if that is what came from the factory.

 

[Oil Changer]

I bought the Havoline which meets the Asian specs as well.

 

[Boss302fan]

Do a drain and fill with Dexcool. Once this week and then again next weekend... If it comes out clean on the first Drain, I would just do it once.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
There isnt one in the cargo van!! Why, who knows. Different radiator. Proceed with the hose.


Not a funny little butterfly shaped quarter turn thing?

Booo!

I have 21 year old hoses on my BMW and 31 year old hoses on my MB. All good.

Id hate to remove hoses because the stresses of removal and re-application can damage them, cause them to leak, and if plastic necked, break the radiator too.

I have used a siphon to pull straight from the radiator fill if it is on the radiator body. Might be a bit less effective getting the chunks out (if there are any), but it is real clean, and is an easy way to replenish the chemistry...

 

[paulo57509]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
I can't find a drain plug to save my life.

Any Astro experts reading this?


You can't find a radiator drain plug because there isn't one. You have to pull the lower hose at the radiator to drain it.

If you're going to crawl around underneath anyway, I would also recommend removing the block drains and draining the engine block as well.

 

[Oil Changer]

Just an update/FYI:

No drain on radiator. Pulled the hose at the water pump so not to stress the plastic radiator tank. Did this twice and got about two gallons out each time. Not too messy.

Refilled each time with 50/50 mix Havoline Dex-Cool. Did the routine things that are supposed to help with Dex-Cool "issues" which was to over-fill the expansion tank (up to "hot" fill line when cold) and replaced the radiator cap with the recommended Stant that has some thing-a-ma-jig in the center as opposed to whatever the facory cap is.

No issues or leaks to report. Temp gauge reads the same. Even the old stuff was real clean at 7 years/75k but glad I did the exchange.

There is no way I'm going to monkey around with any block drains. Not worth the potential disaster that awaits playing with those.

I'll probably dump it one more time before the weather gets cold and call it good for another 7 years.