Postby pamay » August 2nd, 2006, 8:09 am
Hi this is my DIY way
First thing to do is to see if the engine block has a drain plug for the coolant. Make sure you also turn your heater on full blast and warm air. If the AC runs when the heater is turned on just hit the AC switch to turn off.
Ok here we go, if the coolant(water) looks rusty buy a good rad flush like STP rad flush, but beware you may have bigger problem like clogged radiator or sludge in heater/cooling system. Add the rad flush to system and replace rad cap. (note: if your car is more than 2 yrs or doing more than 45,000kms get a new cap also) start car and make sure heater is on very important, after about 5 minsat idle run the engine at about 1500-2000rpm for about 15-20 mins. (some persons would say go for a drive, I differ cause a hose could burst and leave you out on the road) Shut the engine off and leave for about 5 mins, then get some rags or old large towel and SLOWLY remove rad cap remember it will still hot to touch, but should not scall you, remove rad drain plug and let the coolant drain if there is one in the block remove this also (remember catch the coolant don’t let it run in driveway or into soil, if you got a septic tank down the toilet is good then).
Get a garden hose and place it in the radiator, turn it on, you should soon see water coming out both drain holes. Let it run until the water is clear then start car, the water coming out will look foamy this is ok, its just the rad flush coming out of system, let engine run until water is clear again and not foamy then shut off engine.
This step here is what makes the difference to me: I normally at this point get some compressed air and blow in the radiator this helps to remove most of the water from the block, rad hoses, heater and rad itself. You most form a seal at the rad neck so the pressure will help push out the water from system, also helps if the vehicle is on a slope. Now check all you hoses for cracks or corrosion at join points and replace or fix as required as you wouldn’t want to do this process again for a looooonnnnng time also check you thermostat and retighten your drain plugs.
So now you need about 2 gallons of coolant and maybe some water wetter if you can get. Add the water wetter, then start to add coolant to rad and reserve bottle (hope you cleaned it), full the system to the neck of rad, don’t overfill and replace new rad cap. Now start the car with heater on again and let run for a while (at this point I go for a 15-20 min drive) recheck level after engine has cooled down
Hope this help who need it and can someone make it a sticky
