Flush/Refill Quesions

[BTLew81]

I am thinking of flushing the ST All makes from my Mazda3, see other thread. 2 gallon capacity. So, if I drained the petcock and get a gallon, would it be safe to say I could then refill with DW, drain again, refill with DW, drain, and then fill with either G-05 or Peak Global and be pretty safe and close to 50/50?

My guess is yes, but wanted input.

Thanks.

 

[rclint]

That's what I done on my Honda Accord, it took 4 or 5 drain/fills, I done a few more just to make sure. By the way make sure you run the heat wide open to get that flushed out as well. Find the capacity of your cooling system, after you have drained/filled with distilled water, and get only clear water on the drain, then add enough coolant (make sure you get the unmixed coolant) to put your system at the desired mix , so if it' 2 gallons, and you want 50/50 on your last drain of distilled water add coolant, if you do not get a full gallon in after you burp all the air out, just drain some more until you get the full gallon in, you will loose some percentage, however it will be so little as to be not even worth the worry. I had to do this with a pre-mix coolant, so I had a little more fun.

The simple answer, just get your cooling system capacity, calculate what it will take to get the desired mixture 50% or 75%, then after you have flushed it to get a clean/clear drain (remember the heater wide open each time) add the amount of coolant to make the mixture correct, even if you have to drain some of the already mixed coolant out, it will be real close.

On edit, just so you know, I have done this several times, and most of the time you will get about half of the coolant out on a drain, so you can get a 50/50 mix on the first fill, if you want the 75% just drain until you get the correct amount in, very simple, I just get to entwined in typing out directions LOL

Clint

 

[The Critic]

Have you tried searching for the engine block drain plug?

 

[Sayjac]

Sounds about right, as long as you know the capacity of your system. That's the procedure I started using on my Tacoma. Before the auto makers started calling for distilled water, I used to use a flushing T. No longer.

I also used the mild Prestone super flush after the first drain, but that's optional.

Now if, as has been mentioned, you can easily access the block drain that's an alternative.

I have always purchased the full strength, one because to do otherwise is a rip off. Two, I have no idea how you achieve (other than block drain) a 50% mix when doing a flush.

 

[demarpaint]

Over the years I found the easiest way to deal with maintaining a cooling system is to drain the contents of the radiator every 12-18 months. I collect the old AF in a large pail measure the amount so I know how much the radiator holds, then make my own mix using straight AF and distilled water. Once you start flushing the system the only way to be 100% certain you have the correct mix is to drain the block. On some cars/trucks that's asking for a problem.

On new cars this method works well because you will probably never have to flush the system out. On an older car with a neglected cooling system, or a car with unknown history a good flush and refill will be needed. Then you can go to the above method and save a lot of time and cash. JMO

 

[Dan55]

Here's more info...http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=89587.0......http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=136818.0... GOOD LUCK

 

[rclint]

On the drain plug located on the block, I have always kept clear of that, I would rather drain/fill 2 extra times to get the mixture correct, than to test my luck on the block drain plug. Distilled water is cheap at walmart, about 80 cent, so I use that for the flush, and then you have the correct fluid when you are finished flushing the old fluid out for mixing the straight antifreeze as well.

I had a ford ranger I made the mistake of using tap water on, cause a rust problem that took forever to correct, after that I don't even flush the radiator out with tap water, I just drain and fill, if it needs attention, I still used distilled water, and I don't use the store bought flushes anymore.... gasp I use dish washing soap, joy, ajax etc... I don't run this for a long time, maybe an hour or so, however I ran a diluted mixture for a week in a diluted coolant mixture to clean up a gunked up coolant system that worked great. Tide dissolved in hot water also works great, run for about an hour, drain/fill several times with distilled water. Soap/hot water is a great cleaner.


Clint

 

[BTLew81]

I'll catch heck for this, but what the heck...

Would it be completely wrong to buy some Peak 50/50 or O'Reilly Green 50/50 and just drain fill 3/4 times to get MOSTLY new coolant in and the ST mostly out?

Right now it's about 50% factory green and 50% ST, so I am guessing this would be OK.

Thoughts?

 

[Sayjac]

I liked your first idea better, if you were going to do a flush. That said, it's your car and your money.

If I'm understanding you correctly you would actually be draining 'some' new 50/50 coolant with each drain and refill.

Seems like a waste but....

 

[KrisZ]

For a peace of mind I would do a complete flush just as others suggested. Right now you have 2 brands of coolant mixed and you are planning to introduce a third brand, sounds risky and I would not take a risk with your new car. If it was some old beater that you did not care about, than its OK.

I am not saying that it will damage your car, but in the long run its better to do a complete flush, so you know what's in there, and stick to that brand of coolant for future use, much simpler that way.

The drain and refill on Mazda 3 looks fairly simple (I have not done it myself yet, but reading Mazda 3 forums). The system is 2 gallons, and according to the Mazda 3 Forum, the radiator will drain almost 1 gallon ( I would still measure the amount drained just to be sure). So once you do 4 or 5 drain and refills with distilled water, all you have to do is drain the radiator and fill it up with 1 gallon of full strength antifreeze of you choice, that will put you very close to the 50/50 mix.

After this complete flush I would do a drain and refill for subsequent maintenance every 2 to 3 years. For that all you would need is a 1 gallon of pre-mixed 50/50 coolant (preferably the same brand as you used for the first flush, or at least the same formula), drain the radiator and fill it with pre-mixed coolant.

This is pretty much what I plan to do this summer, I will use Zerex G-05, since it readily available in Canada and I should be able to get it for next drain refill, therefore no need to guess what formula to use.

 

[partsman]

I had never heard of using distilled water except in batteries, something new to me, but then I have been running old junk most of my life, just bought a 1996 GMC.
I will have to look into this.

 

[rclint]

Originally Posted By: partsman
I had never heard of using distilled water except in batteries, something new to me, but then I have been running old junk most of my life, just bought a 1996 GMC.
I will have to look into this.


The minerals/chemicals in tap/city water can, and will cause corrosion, and scale inside your engine, and radiator. I want to point out I'm not being over critical as at times some maintenance item threads can be, this is a very high risk that you will have problems by not using distilled water.

 

[cos]

BTLew81,

Four "drain 'n fills" with a 50/50 mix of G-05 or Peak Global and DW will get your cooling system right again. Then, for maintenance, a drain 'n fill every 2 yrs will keep everything happy.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

Why pay for coolant in the drain and fills when distilled water works perfectly well? As to getting the ratio right, just look up the capacity of the system, and add 50% of that (or as close as you can) in pure antifreeze after the last drain. Then, you can use a cheap hydrometer gauge to measure the ratio and verify you got it right.
Flushing with coolant is wasteful. Bad on the environment and bad on the pocketbook.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: rclint
Originally Posted By: partsman
I had never heard of using distilled water except in batteries, something new to me, but then I have been running old junk most of my life, just bought a 1996 GMC.
I will have to look into this.


The minerals/chemicals in tap/city water can, and will cause corrosion, and scale inside your engine, and radiator. I want to point out I'm not being over critical as at times some maintenance item threads can be, this is a very high risk that you will have problems by not using distilled water.


OTOH, as confirmed by a GM employee here, they don't use distilled/demineralized coolant at the factory.

 

[Dan55]

This was an issue I had adressed in the 80's ,it stated in my VW owners manual to use a phosphate free antifreeze. Other than OE the only manufacturer at that time to make a phosphate free was TEXACO (possibly Havoline Dexcool). After numerous phone calls someone confided in me that the reason European manufacturers wanted a phosphate free antifreeze is because of the hard water in Europe. Minerals in the water cause the phosphates to drop out of the antifreeze. This is where this all started from and yes distilled is better but only if live in a area with hard water. Phosphate free antifreeze is more tolerant of hard water.