KrashDH

So I tried searching and I found parts here and there of what I need to do to flush the coolant system...seems fairly easy.

From what I gather people say drain the fluid from the radiator by the drain barb, put in distilled water, drain it, then fill 50/50 again with coolant/distilled. Let it run till the fan kicks on a couple of times, re-check the level and apply if necessary.

One of the things I read was when you put just distilled water in there to clean it out, turn the engine on and the heater to circulate everything and then drain, and repeat till clean.

Anyway, since I only was able to obtain parts of this flush, does anyone know where a good full write-up is on this? My system is due... 99 taco

DailyDrive

Well, you are doing a cooling system flush, not a radiator flush, right? To clean your cooling system you certainly need to get the liquid circulating.

If you are doing this in warm weather, you can let it idle for about 20min, until it warms up enough to open the thermostat, or to save the environment you can go run some errands with the water in there.

KrashDH

Well from what I gather, you can go at it two ways...

1) drain from the radiator and circulate the distilled water a couple of times...this will not get everything out but come pretty close....or

2) drain from the radiator and there is a plug in the block...to eliminate ALL the old coolant this is where you drain from...

I was thinking of going the radiator route...it may leave a bit of old antifreeze/coolant but not enough to harm anything...?

scuba

MMM, a flush is more of a, pressurized flush, not just drain refill repeat.

KrashDH

Doesn't running the truck with the distilled water aid in removing some stagnant coolant?

This is why I'm looking for a good write-up. Are there adapters to hook a hose to? Anything would help

swerks

check the amsoil site

KrashDH

^ Didn't really find much on write-ups...I found that you could buy the super-coolant for $34/gallon... got a link?

Ironmike4x4

Yep, we sell either a coolant drain and fill or an actual flush at work. I prefer the flush not because it pays more, but because it's more effective. Here lately I've gotten to the point when a drain and fill is sold I use the flush machine with just water. Then I add the 50/50 mix. It's just less messy for me and much more effective.

KrashDH

So being a home mechanic I'm looking at the drain/cycle/refill method then I take it? Or can I run the truck with a garden hose in the fill tank and the drain plug open? Would this suffice or would I mess something up by doing this?

frisbeedog

Grab a can of Zerex coolant flush and follow the instructions on the back.

Seacoast

Just don't do what this guy did:

http://www.mustangforums.com/forum/5...-this-car.html

Lumpy

This can't be true...but then again there was that NOS kid and that other joker with the "Electric Super Charger"...

edwinb4x4

here's a YouTube vid on how to flush your cooling system - mechanics are litle different since he is flushing a car but the procedure is the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atL6Z...eature=channel

hth...

skjos

I copied the stuff below from an old post of mine...


Thanks for the information everyone. I tracked down the block drain, attached a hose to it and drained it from there. So after draining the radiator and the block I was able to refill with about 1 3/4 gallons.

The process in total:
1) drain radiator and block
2) refill with distilled water
3) start rig with cap off and add a little more distilled
4) cap the radiator and run it with heaters on low until scangauge hit 190F
5) cranked heater on high for 5 minutes
6) turned off rig and let cool for 20min
7) drained
8) repeat 1-7
9) repeat 1-7
10) remove overflow tank and cleaned it
11) filled overflow with 50/50 toyota red/distilled to level between min and max
12) filled radiator with 1 gallon and 3 cups of coolant and the rest distilled
13) start rig with cap off and add a little more distilled
14) rev the engine a few times and add more distilled
15) cap it off and call it good
16) monitor overflow tank level for the next few days

KrashDH

Thank you much for the replies. Got it done over last weekend and went well. So far everything is good!

QuickPaws

Rather than start a new thread on a well beaten subject, I figured I'd throw this here.
94 // 3.0 // 199K ( HG's and a plethora of other work done by PO @ 160k ish )

I did a drain/flush/fill today, and took it out for a spin. Ran it with the heater on, heater off, AC on, AC off at freeway speeds. During the beginning, the needle bobbed around a bit, but on the return trip home, it didn't move at all. Sat right in the middle, or just under middle. At a stop light on the off ramp ( after the 2 mile drive there, and 2 mile drive back ) I sat with the AC on, and forced the engine to idle @ 1100 (ish) ( well, as 1100 as an analogue dial can display ;P )

ANYWAY.... I had ZERO problems with it. Would you say it's effectively air free? All told it was probably ten minutes of hard driving. AND it's 104 today. Hot air blows HOT, and AC still numbs my body ( in fact, it seems to work better now ). Just looking for opinions.

( for the record, I pulled the hoses off the rad ( Upper and lower) I think the PO ( or some shop ) busted the draincock, because I, uhh.. it's not there. ( and not leaking coolant either )

Midget96

There's no need to use distilled water to flush it out. That's ridiculous. Can't believe someone would actually do that! Just fill with a hose a few times, drain it out and when the water comes out clear, add you coolant.

There was no way I would ever pay $35 a gal for the Toyota junk. I used Peak Global in the gold gallon bottles. I think it was $7 a gal. Probably the best alternative.

TC4RNR

DON"T mix the Toyota Long Life Coolant(red), note in the picture, "Pre-Mixed"

brian2sun

FYI, the Toyota Long Life Red comes unmixed too. I got this 2 weeks ago at my local dealership for $21 (2 gallons once you mix it). If you pay $34, you are getting taken to the cleaners.

Ever wondered why there's only a block drain on 1 side? If you really want to get all the old coolant out and don't have a flush pump, you need to remove the thermostat. The thermo doubles as the drain for the other side. I wouldn't go back and do it now though - it's not a big deal.

QuickPaws

Yeah, It was green in there when I got it....So that's what I've been using to top off, and then again with the refill. I know I didn't get everything out... but it's a lot cleaner looking than it was when I drained it... I just need it to get me to Indiana, since I will have access to the fiances dads garage / tools when I get there ( he's in Illinois, but the point remains the same )

But no, no mixing.. just good old green on green action.