Slap on those vinyl gloves because the ethylene glycol in antifreeze
can cause skin damage - however we recommend this because the
antifreeze feels like engine oil.With your catch pan in place, remove
the radiator drain plug and collect all old coolant. Immediately
dispose of the coolant as required by environmental laws - if you are to
surrender the old coolant at a waste management facility, be sure you use
containers which can be properly sealed to avoid spillage, etc.To expedite the draining process, remove your radiator fill cap to allow
air to enter the system.
Also be sure to remove all coolant from your
radiator reservoir. We suggest you use the gravity siphon trick -
just be sure not to ingest any coolant.
[click for larger image]
figure 4
Watch the old coolant as it exits the system - this will give you a
good idea of your vehicle's cooling system condition.If you see metal
flakes, oily surface, white flakes, etc .. you can make a diagnosis of
your engine's coolant system.
Essentially, if you see anything but coolant and some very minor
debris, it can indicate the early signs of cooling system failure.When all coolant has been drained from the radiator, replace the radiator
drain plug and then fill the system with plain tap water to dilute
remaining antifreeze in the engine block.
With the cooling system
refilled with tap water, replace the radiator fill cap and run the engine
allowing it to reach operating temperature.When the engine's cooling fan turns on, it is an indication that the
vehicle's thermostat has opened, allowing the freshly added water to
circulate through the engine thus diluting the remaining coolant.
Allow the engine to run for a few minutes before shutting it off.
At
this point, you can either wait until the engine cools off, or take fate
in your own hands and continue the flushing process.Repeat the draining process being sure to once again collect and dispose
of all waste coolant.
At this point, if you have opted to purchase a
radiator flush kit, you should refill the cooling system with tap water
and add the caustic fluid as directed.
Run the engine for as long as the radiator flush kit calls for (usually
less than 10 minutes).
[click for larger image]
figure 8
Once again, drain the cooling system, collecting all waste fluid.
This is the last time you will be required to collect engine coolant
during this process.Now that the cooling system is empty, replace the
radiator drain plug and refill the cooling system with distilled water
only. The reason that you should only use distilled water at this
point is to avoid mineral deposits which will deteriorate your cooling
system over time.
Once the cooling system has been completely filled, start the engine to
allow the water to circulate. Once again remove the radiator drain
plug. As the engine runs, pour fresh distilled water into the
radiator fill hole at the same rate that it exits the system.Continue
this process until the water being drained from the radiator appears to be
clear and free of debris. Once you are satisfied with the drain
water's appearance, stop the engine and allow all remaining water to drain
out.Replace the radiator drain plug and prepare to mix your distilled water
and coolant.
Be sure to mix your coolant to the ratio recommended by
your manufacturer. In most cases, the ratio is 50% distilled water
and 50% coolant.
As a tip, mix the coolant and water in a third container being sure to
observe the proper ratio.As you mix your water and coolant, use your hydrometer to measure the
specific gravity - this will give you a good idea of whether or not you
are mixing the coolant and water properly.
Once you have mixed enough
coolant and water to fill your engine's coolant system entirely, grab a
funnel and place it in the radiator fill hole.Fill your radiator at a rate of no more than:
{ 1 L/min. \ 1.1
US qt./min. \ 0.9 Imp. qt./min. }.
Continue the filling process until the coolant reaches the bottom of
the fill neck. Now fill the radiator reservoir to the full mark.
With the radiator fill cap still off, start the car and allow it to
idle. As the engine runs, continue to add coolant as air escapes the
engine and cooling system.As you top up the radiator, be sure to "burp" the cooling system by firmly
squeezing the radiator hoses (both upper and lower). Continue to
squeeze and release the hoses to help push any errant air bubbles out of
the system.
Once you are unable to fill the radiator any further,
replace the radiator fill cap and stop the engine - you are finished.
×