What is the proper way to do a coolant flush? I've seen videos where you attach our water hose to the radiator cap and let it run while the car is on' I've seen procedures where you drain all the coolant by unplugging the screw and hose letting all coolant fall then closing it and adding water and repeating all over again until you see clear water coming out once you drain. I'm leaning more to the one were you have to repeat the steps. Now people ate saying not to use tap water but distilled water? And what antifreeze coolant can I use for my gallant. I'm a 50/50 green coolant person so what brand will give me longevity and best results?
Which coolant/antifreeze, how to flush?
- Thread starter JAM25
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Awhile ago people would splice a tee into a heater hose and flush the cooling system that way. But times have changed, coolant has gotten better and a lot of the heater hose is metal and hard to find a place to splice into.
Most people just do a drain and fill of the radiator every year or two.
With a flush via tee, you will need to get the water from the garden hose out and replace with coolantc and distilled water. Easier said than done.
Most people just do a drain and fill of the radiator every year or two.
With a flush via tee, you will need to get the water from the garden hose out and replace with coolantc and distilled water. Easier said than done.
what vehicle? Year and engine that can make a difference
Kestas
Staff member
Coolant Fluid Exchange
The procedure below is the generic method I use for every car I own to perform a complete flush and fluid exchange. It is done on a cold engine. It should be done on a schedule recommended for your model.
1. Drain fluid
2. Remove the thermostat
3. Reinstall the t-stat housing and upper radiator hose
4. Disconnect upper radiator hose at radiator
5. Flush system with garden hose through upper radiator hose until water runs clear
6. Disconnect heater hoses, open heat valve
7. Flush heater core
8. Flush overflow tank
9. Run engine for a bit during flushing to get the fluid from the water pump and other dead spaces.
10. Drain as much water as possible from cooling system
11. Run a shorter flush with distilled water to displace the tap water.
12. Siphon water from overflow tank
13. Reinstall thermostat
14. Button everything back up
15. Refill cooling system with specified amount of antifreeze, bring up to level with water, preferably distilled. The amount of antifreeze you need can be calculated from the published cooling capacity for your vehicle.
16. Run car, top off coolant
17. Keep adding water as required every morning until system is topped off.
The procedure below is the generic method I use for every car I own to perform a complete flush and fluid exchange. It is done on a cold engine. It should be done on a schedule recommended for your model.
1. Drain fluid
2. Remove the thermostat
3. Reinstall the t-stat housing and upper radiator hose
4. Disconnect upper radiator hose at radiator
5. Flush system with garden hose through upper radiator hose until water runs clear
6. Disconnect heater hoses, open heat valve
7. Flush heater core
8. Flush overflow tank
9. Run engine for a bit during flushing to get the fluid from the water pump and other dead spaces.
10. Drain as much water as possible from cooling system
11. Run a shorter flush with distilled water to displace the tap water.
12. Siphon water from overflow tank
13. Reinstall thermostat
14. Button everything back up
15. Refill cooling system with specified amount of antifreeze, bring up to level with water, preferably distilled. The amount of antifreeze you need can be calculated from the published cooling capacity for your vehicle.
16. Run car, top off coolant
17. Keep adding water as required every morning until system is topped off.
If you do a flush with water first, do not use 50/50 mix, you have to use full strength.
I used the drain and fill method on my mazda 3 when I switched from Mazda green to g-05 without a hitch. I used few gallons of distiller water in the process so no tap water is in the system. Now I just do radiator drain and fill with 50/50 g-05.
I used the drain and fill method on my mazda 3 when I switched from Mazda green to g-05 without a hitch. I used few gallons of distiller water in the process so no tap water is in the system. Now I just do radiator drain and fill with 50/50 g-05.
Hello, So so true. It's all about removing the nasty stuff (using a cleaner if necessary) first and just doing drain & fills thereafter. It really is so easy after it's all clean. Remember DON'T MIX THESE NEW-FANGLED COOLANTS. There are a few exceptions at the more basic end of the product line but keeping coolants' integrity is a good idea. Kira
Hi Jam25,
I have done the multiple drain and fill technique (vs. Kestas' excellent method) a few times because the thermostat was especially difficult to remove (Sebring 2.7).
I only did it when the system was mucked up and/or I was switching coolant brand or type.
In my experience, I had to do the drain fill about 6 times to please me (OCD)and the water drained out pretty clean. Since the engine can hold 1/2 the coolant capacity, you are only getting 50% out each time.
It is VERY time consuming because you have to run the engine up to temp to get the thermostat to open so the coolant circulates. You have to be careful not to get it too hot, then add ice cold water to the system (in my opinion). Plan an afternoon.
I use distilled water because my tap water is horrible.
Good brands of conventional, low silicate green coolant are Zerek and Peak (blue bottle). Check the Zerek site.
Best of luck.
I have done the multiple drain and fill technique (vs. Kestas' excellent method) a few times because the thermostat was especially difficult to remove (Sebring 2.7).
I only did it when the system was mucked up and/or I was switching coolant brand or type.
In my experience, I had to do the drain fill about 6 times to please me (OCD)and the water drained out pretty clean. Since the engine can hold 1/2 the coolant capacity, you are only getting 50% out each time.
It is VERY time consuming because you have to run the engine up to temp to get the thermostat to open so the coolant circulates. You have to be careful not to get it too hot, then add ice cold water to the system (in my opinion). Plan an afternoon.
I use distilled water because my tap water is horrible.
Good brands of conventional, low silicate green coolant are Zerek and Peak (blue bottle). Check the Zerek site.
Best of luck.
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