Low coolant concentration for multiple-times flush?

[GlennC777]

Maybe I'm not understanding the coolant system layout of your vehicle, but on all of mine, I've removed the thermostate and the larger block to radiator hose and you can flush and pour the new coolant straight through the block. Obviously reattach the bottom hose, fill with hose water, rinse & repeat until you are satisfied, drain again and switch to the distilled water mix.

The job is done at this point but the thermostat is well out of the way not accessible for easy removal. Even if you pour the coolant "straight through the block" it's going to take the path of least resistance and leave many channels untouched. Maybe with a pressure flush you could get most of the passages mostly cleaned out, but I doubt it. Seems to me the best thing is to get clean coolant in there and let it do its job over time, then repeat.

 

[Arc]

Just get the fittings that let you attach the water hose to it and flush it out. I've been doing that for years and it works. You will have to use full strength antifreeze because of a little water remaining. 50/50 won't get you down far enough. I know this because I've made that mistake already.

 

[kschachn]

Just get the fittings that let you attach the water hose to it and flush it out. I've been doing that for years and it works. You will have to use full strength antifreeze because of a little water remaining. 50/50 won't get you down far enough. I know this because I've made that mistake already.

That's okay if your water supply isn't full of minerals. When I lived in the City of Milwaukee we had Lake Michigan water which was very low in mineral content, but now with well water in a suburb it's nearly off the scale. I would not use that water in a cooling system as there is no need to load down the chelation agents right out of the box.

 

[Arc]

That's okay if your water supply isn't full of minerals. When I lived in the City of Milwaukee we had Lake Michigan water which was very low in mineral content, but now with well water in a suburb it's nearly off the scale. I would not use that water in a cooling system as there is no need to load down the chelation agents right out of the box.

True. I forgot about that. I've lived in places where the shower head would clog up after a few times because the water was so full of minerals. I had to buy lots of CLR. Hate to abbreviate that after all the fuss about abbreviations but that's the only name I know for it.

 

[thastinger]

The job is done at this point but the thermostat is well out of the way not accessible for easy removal. Even if you pour the coolant "straight through the block" it's going to take the path of least resistance and leave many channels untouched. Maybe with a pressure flush you could get most of the passages mostly cleaned out, but I doubt it. Seems to me the best thing is to get clean coolant in there and let it do its job over time, then repeat.

That is why I said to reattach the bottom hose before you fill the block with water.