coolant flush
02-03-2008, 05:20 PM
#1
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coolant flush
hey guyz so i've been reading on coolant flushes and it seems pretty straight forward on what to do however, i see that some people do not use chemicals and just use water to flush the system out and others use chemicals after they use water.
also some say that you shouldnt use chemicals on old cars because the chemicals work too well, so i what i want to know is what is the procedures for a coolant flush
so far all i got down is.
1) drain the coolant when the car is cold
2) clean out the coolant resivour
3) fill the raidator with tap water (with the drain plug closed)
4) let the car run for a few minutes with the heater on
5) shut down the car and drain the water
6) close the drain plug and fill with distilled water and turn the car on
7) remove the drain plug while the car is running and pour distilled water until its clear enough for you
shut down the engine and wait for the water to finished draining
9) refill the radiator with the 50/50 mixture in the radiator topping it off, and then the resivour to full
10) burp the radiator by turning on the car and squeezing on the upper and lower tube then close the radiator cap
so any inputs?
also some say that you shouldnt use chemicals on old cars because the chemicals work too well, so i what i want to know is what is the procedures for a coolant flush
so far all i got down is.
1) drain the coolant when the car is cold
2) clean out the coolant resivour
3) fill the raidator with tap water (with the drain plug closed)
4) let the car run for a few minutes with the heater on
5) shut down the car and drain the water
6) close the drain plug and fill with distilled water and turn the car on
7) remove the drain plug while the car is running and pour distilled water until its clear enough for you
shut down the engine and wait for the water to finished draining9) refill the radiator with the 50/50 mixture in the radiator topping it off, and then the resivour to full
10) burp the radiator by turning on the car and squeezing on the upper and lower tube then close the radiator cap
so any inputs?
02-03-2008, 05:33 PM
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You only need those chemicals if the car is older and/or has been neglected.
Those are for breaking down deposits in the cores of the radiator. Those salts and other remnants are bad and insulate the cores, so they no longer cool well.
If you have a new car, and/or have taken good care of it, you only need to flush with water.
I still use distilled water even for the flush.
Tap water has a lot of salts and minerals, and I don't want any of that in there.
A buck or two is worth a quality job.
*Also, you forgot to mention that you should bottle up the old stuff and take it to a recycler...don't dump or flush it.
Scott
Those are for breaking down deposits in the cores of the radiator. Those salts and other remnants are bad and insulate the cores, so they no longer cool well.
If you have a new car, and/or have taken good care of it, you only need to flush with water.
I still use distilled water even for the flush.
Tap water has a lot of salts and minerals, and I don't want any of that in there.
A buck or two is worth a quality job.
*Also, you forgot to mention that you should bottle up the old stuff and take it to a recycler...don't dump or flush it.
Scott
02-03-2008, 06:33 PM
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haha ya sorry i thought that was common sense so i didn't want to include the recycling part in, but anyways yes it is an old car and has been neglected what kind of chemical will i need,
and is my process correct for a new car (i'm planning to do a flush on mines every 50k? does that sound good)
anywaysssssss.... ya i just wanted to know if my process was right
what extra steps and where would i do those when i flush the old car with chemicals.
and is my process correct for a new car (i'm planning to do a flush on mines every 50k? does that sound good)
anywaysssssss.... ya i just wanted to know if my process was right
what extra steps and where would i do those when i flush the old car with chemicals.
02-03-2008, 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by azureloki
haha ya sorry i thought that was common sense so i didn't want to include the recycling part in, but anyways yes it is an old car and has been neglected what kind of chemical will i need,
and is my process correct for a new car (i'm planning to do a flush on mines every 50k? does that sound good)
anywaysssssss.... ya i just wanted to know if my process was right
what extra steps and where would i do those when i flush the old car with chemicals.
and is my process correct for a new car (i'm planning to do a flush on mines every 50k? does that sound good)
anywaysssssss.... ya i just wanted to know if my process was right
what extra steps and where would i do those when i flush the old car with chemicals.
Your process looks fine.
Toyota (pink) coolant is rated for 100k miles, but I'm changing mine at 50k.
I simply can't go that long.
As for recycling, there are plenty of dopes that will just dump it, so I say it needs to be stated!
02-03-2008, 06:39 PM
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Throw in a bottle of Wetter Water or Royal Purple's Purple Ice will lower coolant temperatures as well. In the summer time I use a mix of a bottle of Purple ice, then the remaining being a mix of 70% water $30 coolant. Running temperature hovered right around 25% and dropped to the cold line if the heat was on.
02-03-2008, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by wazzu_coug
Throw in a bottle of Wetter Water or Royal Purple's Purple Ice will lower coolant temperatures as well. In the summer time I use a mix of a bottle of Purple ice, then the remaining being a mix of 70% water $30 coolant. Running temperature hovered right around 25% and dropped to the cold line if the heat was on.
Other additives are not needed if your coolant is the proper mix (ratio)
Scott
02-03-2008, 06:44 PM
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haha its cool, if my process sounds great then im fine, and i wont be usin tap water for my car only the drinking watter right?? anyways im doing mines every 50k miles
and usin the coolant from toyota
and usin the coolant from toyota
02-03-2008, 06:51 PM
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Additives in general are a waste of money, and can actually screw up the chemistry of perfectly good oil/coolant, etc.
It's marketing hype for the most part.
Racers user water only as it's a better cooler, but if you did that on the street, your car wouldn't last long.
Racers change everything out after pretty much each day at the track.
It's marketing hype for the most part.
Racers user water only as it's a better cooler, but if you did that on the street, your car wouldn't last long.
Racers change everything out after pretty much each day at the track.
02-03-2008, 06:56 PM
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questions on powersteering and others too
Originally Posted by SciontCya
Additives in general are a waste of money, and can actually screw up the chemistry of perfectly good oil/coolant, etc.
It's marketing hype for the most part.
Racers user water only as it's a better cooler, but if you did that on the street, your car wouldn't last long.
Racers change everything out after pretty much each day at the track.
It's marketing hype for the most part.
Racers user water only as it's a better cooler, but if you did that on the street, your car wouldn't last long.
Racers change everything out after pretty much each day at the track.
and on a side note, my powersteering is almost at minimum at 8xxx miles, should i just refill it and if so with what kind?
and would i ever need to do a powersteering or break fluid flush or just refill with the right stuff??
and on another note, for the trans fluid i just drain it out and refill like an oil change right?
02-03-2008, 07:04 PM
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The container would tell you when to use it.
I did it as a kid when my first POS car needed it
AS for the other fluids, I learned a little trick for in-between fluid changes.
I use a turkey baster (no joke) and take out as much fluid from the reservoirs with that and replace with new fluid.
It's a good way to keep some fresh fluid there without the hassle of the whole drain/flush bit.
Scott
I did it as a kid when my first POS car needed it
AS for the other fluids, I learned a little trick for in-between fluid changes.
I use a turkey baster (no joke) and take out as much fluid from the reservoirs with that and replace with new fluid.
It's a good way to keep some fresh fluid there without the hassle of the whole drain/flush bit.
Scott
02-03-2008, 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by SciontCya
The container would tell you when to use it.
I did it as a kid when my first POS car needed it
AS for the other fluids, I learned a little trick for in-between fluid changes.
I use a turkey baster (no joke) and take out as much fluid from the reservoirs with that and replace with new fluid.
It's a good way to keep some fresh fluid there without the hassle of the whole drain/flush bit.
Scott
I did it as a kid when my first POS car needed it
AS for the other fluids, I learned a little trick for in-between fluid changes.
I use a turkey baster (no joke) and take out as much fluid from the reservoirs with that and replace with new fluid.
It's a good way to keep some fresh fluid there without the hassle of the whole drain/flush bit.
Scott
so instead of just adding new fluid i should simply take out as much as i can then just refill the whole thing with fresh fluid?
02-03-2008, 07:11 PM
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I do it.
It's better to replace a % of the fluid than to do nothing - which is what most folks do.
It really helps.
And it's cheap and easy to do.
Not a replacement for real fluid changes, but fine for PS and break fluids.
It's better to replace a % of the fluid than to do nothing - which is what most folks do.
It really helps.
And it's cheap and easy to do.
Not a replacement for real fluid changes, but fine for PS and break fluids.
02-03-2008, 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by SciontCya
I do it.
It's better to replace a % of the fluid than to do nothing - which is what most folks do.
It really helps.
And it's cheap and easy to do.
Not a replacement for real fluid changes, but fine for PS and break fluids.
It's better to replace a % of the fluid than to do nothing - which is what most folks do.
It really helps.
And it's cheap and easy to do.
Not a replacement for real fluid changes, but fine for PS and break fluids.
but where in the heck do u dump steering and brake fluids and MTF fluids??
02-03-2008, 07:32 PM
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I do.
It gives me the chance to clean it out.
You'll notice some sediments on the bottom, so why not give it a good cleaning with hot water and soap?
Cleaner is better with any fluid change.
When you're done, come over and do mine
JK, I have another year before I do the coolant.
It gives me the chance to clean it out.
You'll notice some sediments on the bottom, so why not give it a good cleaning with hot water and soap?
Cleaner is better with any fluid change.
When you're done, come over and do mine
JK, I have another year before I do the coolant.
02-03-2008, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by SciontCya
I do.
It gives me the chance to clean it out.
You'll notice some sediments on the bottom, so why not give it a good cleaning with hot water and soap?
Cleaner is better with any fluid change.
When you're done, come over and do mine
JK, I have another year before I do the coolant.
It gives me the chance to clean it out.
You'll notice some sediments on the bottom, so why not give it a good cleaning with hot water and soap?
Cleaner is better with any fluid change.
When you're done, come over and do mine
JK, I have another year before I do the coolant.
this distilled water is (drinking bottle water right?)
02-03-2008, 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by azureloki
Originally Posted by SciontCya
I do.
It gives me the chance to clean it out.
You'll notice some sediments on the bottom, so why not give it a good cleaning with hot water and soap?
Cleaner is better with any fluid change.
When you're done, come over and do mine
JK, I have another year before I do the coolant.
It gives me the chance to clean it out.
You'll notice some sediments on the bottom, so why not give it a good cleaning with hot water and soap?
Cleaner is better with any fluid change.
When you're done, come over and do mine
JK, I have another year before I do the coolant.
this distilled water is (drinking bottle water right?)
Drinking distilled water is not good for you - it leaches out the minerals that humans need in their diet.
They sell it on the same shelf though - look for DISTILLED WATER.
Usually a little more money, but nothing to sweat."
I wonder if Paris Hilton uses Evian in her coolant?
