Engine flush question
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 168
Likes: 48
From: Central Florida
To truly flush the coolant system you need to remove the knock sensor in the block and the plug on the other side of the block. Just opening the petcock on the radiator will not clean out the block. Remove the sensor and the plug and run water thru the radiator....engine NOT running. Once you have clean water coming out the block then open the petcock on the radiator as you continue to run water thru the engine block.
Since you think you have orange coolant, look for a coolant that will mix with both orange or green...it is out there.
Since you think you have orange coolant, look for a coolant that will mix with both orange or green...it is out there.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
And turn your head and close your mouth when removing.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Jan 12, 2017 at 10:05 AM.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,367
Likes: 2,735
video yourself doing it for us.
gotta do it from below.
be double safe on your jackstand method. be rdeundant.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 168
Likes: 48
From: Central Florida
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 168
Likes: 48
From: Central Florida
Nothing exciting to video....when I removed sensor, I was prepared for a splash, but no, was a film over the opening...had to poke with a screwdriver then the coolant started flowing.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Celina Texas
BEWARE!!!!!!! Stupid question to follow
Going to flush entire coolant system. Replacing hoses, thermostat, knock sensor while I'm there. Plan is to drain the system and put new KS in and remove old thermostat and start flushing. Then when it is all clean. Put new thermostat in and replace hoses and fill system.
Now with the stupid question... Is that the correct steps or go ahead and put new hoses on before I flush?
My common sense is telling to put all new once system is clean, but my backside is saying put new on and flush because that is less that has to be cleaned (flushed).
Going to flush entire coolant system. Replacing hoses, thermostat, knock sensor while I'm there. Plan is to drain the system and put new KS in and remove old thermostat and start flushing. Then when it is all clean. Put new thermostat in and replace hoses and fill system.
Now with the stupid question... Is that the correct steps or go ahead and put new hoses on before I flush?
My common sense is telling to put all new once system is clean, but my backside is saying put new on and flush because that is less that has to be cleaned (flushed).
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Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,367
Likes: 2,735
BEWARE!!!!!!! Stupid question to follow
Going to flush entire coolant system. Replacing hoses, thermostat, knock sensor while I'm there. Plan is to drain the system and put new KS in and remove old thermostat and start flushing. Then when it is all clean. Put new thermostat in and replace hoses and fill system.
Now with the stupid question... Is that the correct steps or go ahead and put new hoses on before I flush?
My common sense is telling to put all new once system is clean, but my backside is saying put new on and flush because that is less that has to be cleaned (flushed).
Going to flush entire coolant system. Replacing hoses, thermostat, knock sensor while I'm there. Plan is to drain the system and put new KS in and remove old thermostat and start flushing. Then when it is all clean. Put new thermostat in and replace hoses and fill system.
Now with the stupid question... Is that the correct steps or go ahead and put new hoses on before I flush?
My common sense is telling to put all new once system is clean, but my backside is saying put new on and flush because that is less that has to be cleaned (flushed).
this is very interesting I have never heard this. Was it a build up of scale on the inside of the block? If so good thing you're doing a flush! And it sounds like your system needs to pickle for a while in vinegar or some very strong engine flush. Antfarmer has indicated that the Prestone flush is weak. Perhaps there is another one available more commercial grade, or you can just use vinegar. But you definitely want to flush the system and flush it very very very very very well afterwards if you had scale blocking off your ks hole.
maybe your radiator has already been replaced, as I cannot see a radiator lasting if you have that much scale.
was it a film on the outside? That was pushed in when threading the knock sensor? Never heard of that before either
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
If you do not pull the knocks you will have about a gallon of undistilled water plus all the crap that settles there. It will amaze you how much you left in there.
Flush it first with the knocks in and see.
Flush it first with the knocks in and see.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Jan 13, 2017 at 12:21 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 168
Likes: 48
From: Central Florida
put the clean hose on at the end. be sure to monitor the connections for a few days to make sure they're not leaking
this is very interesting I have never heard this. Was it a build up of scale on the inside of the block? If so good thing you're doing a flush! And it sounds like your system needs to pickle for a while in vinegar or some very strong engine flush. Antfarmer has indicated that the Prestone flush is weak. Perhaps there is another one available more commercial grade, or you can just use vinegar. But you definitely want to flush the system and flush it very very very very very well afterwards if you had scale blocking off your ks hole.
maybe your radiator has already been replaced, as I cannot see a radiator lasting if you have that much scale.
was it a film on the outside? That was pushed in when threading the knock sensor? Never heard of that before either
this is very interesting I have never heard this. Was it a build up of scale on the inside of the block? If so good thing you're doing a flush! And it sounds like your system needs to pickle for a while in vinegar or some very strong engine flush. Antfarmer has indicated that the Prestone flush is weak. Perhaps there is another one available more commercial grade, or you can just use vinegar. But you definitely want to flush the system and flush it very very very very very well afterwards if you had scale blocking off your ks hole.
maybe your radiator has already been replaced, as I cannot see a radiator lasting if you have that much scale.
was it a film on the outside? That was pushed in when threading the knock sensor? Never heard of that before either
Coolant drained was brown....no sign of oil of any other substance.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Celina Texas
I plan to flush it 2-3 times.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,367
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this is good. i did the same thing. leaves lots of room to get to the ks from underneath.
i jack my car up and put the ramp under each front wheel. put in park. block the rears, AND PLACE TWO JACK STANDS ON EITHER SIDE AS BACKUP.
be super redundant guys. we dont want to have anybody killed under the car. its happened. honour them by being over the top careful. RE DUN DANT supports
cheers.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Celina Texas