Prestone Flush Kits
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: St. Petersburg, FL, USA FL
Prestone Flush Kits
I am contemplating using one of the "flush kits" marketed by Prestone on the LT4. This is the type where you splice into the heater hose and add an access-type valve so you can get a garden hose into the system to pump water through it. Anybody have some experiences or thoughts on this approach? Can anyone identify the appropriate line to cut into?
Any suggestions, comments, etc, greatly appreciated. If I'm nuts, stop me before I do something stupid!!
[Modified by Tom Mieczkowski, 9:50 AM 9/12/2001]
Any suggestions, comments, etc, greatly appreciated. If I'm nuts, stop me before I do something stupid!!
[Modified by Tom Mieczkowski, 9:50 AM 9/12/2001]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 177
From: Houston, Texas FEAR THE BONES
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Re: Prestone Flush Kits (CAPN17)
GM Factory Service Manual specifically says NOT to use any type of flush kit on the LT1/4 engines!!!! Just drain coolant, flush system with water, and refill with new coolant.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Re: Prestone Flush Kits (94vette)
I asked a while back and got little response (none negative) so I put one in.
I also Emailed Prestone and they said it was OK for LT1 engines. I am suprised to hear about the Service Manual comments, but don't doubt it.
I'm not buying the failure bit. poopie happens, but I've used them for years on other cars with no problem (one for 12 years with the same hose).
I found it to be a lot easier to get a good flush, but you can not get enough DexCool in for a 50% mix without draining the block anyway.
With that, and the negative comments, I probably would not do it again, but I'm not really concerned about having installed it.
I also Emailed Prestone and they said it was OK for LT1 engines. I am suprised to hear about the Service Manual comments, but don't doubt it.
I'm not buying the failure bit. poopie happens, but I've used them for years on other cars with no problem (one for 12 years with the same hose).
I found it to be a lot easier to get a good flush, but you can not get enough DexCool in for a 50% mix without draining the block anyway.
With that, and the negative comments, I probably would not do it again, but I'm not really concerned about having installed it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Prestone Flush Kits (Tom Mieczkowski)
So, what do you guys do with all that coolant and water that comes out? You guys DON'T let it run into our sewers, do you? All it takes is two table-spoons to kill a dog...
I am always scared of cars with that plastic tee that comes into the shop. I stay away from those things as much as I can. They are so brittle that if I look at it wrong, it'll come apart. With all that heat in the engine compartment (enough to kill my alternator every year) I don't think the plastic part holds up that well. Also I've heard really bad things about the flush that Prestone (and others) sell.
I suggest you take it to a shop or take your coolant to a shop, so they can dispose of it, or recycle it properly, as not to damage the enviornment.
I am always scared of cars with that plastic tee that comes into the shop. I stay away from those things as much as I can. They are so brittle that if I look at it wrong, it'll come apart. With all that heat in the engine compartment (enough to kill my alternator every year) I don't think the plastic part holds up that well. Also I've heard really bad things about the flush that Prestone (and others) sell.
I suggest you take it to a shop or take your coolant to a shop, so they can dispose of it, or recycle it properly, as not to damage the enviornment.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 286
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From: St. Petersburg, FL, USA FL
Re: Prestone Flush Kits (Tom Mieczkowski)
Thanks for the input. It wasn't my intention to use the "flush" reagent, just the hose connection to pump clean water throughg the system. However, given the tenor of what I have read here, I think I'll just use my old, run the car run the hose the system and not bother with the additional coupling.
As far as environemtal practices, I always capture and dispose of my Dexcool and do not let it run down any drains or sewers. I live on the water and my street drains right into Tampa Bay. I'd never be that irresponsible.
I really appreciate all the helpful comments.
Save the wave and the manatee.
As far as environemtal practices, I always capture and dispose of my Dexcool and do not let it run down any drains or sewers. I live on the water and my street drains right into Tampa Bay. I'd never be that irresponsible.
I really appreciate all the helpful comments.
Save the wave and the manatee.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Re: Prestone Flush Kits (Tom Mieczkowski)
I use these kits, but only have it on the car while I am flushing the system. I have a heater hose already attached to one end and plug the fitting into the hose attached to the throttle body, the other end into the heater line. When I am done, I take the throttle body hose off the Tee, and put it back into it's original location.
I save the coolant and and have several 5 gallon buckets that I can store the flushed goods in. I then haul them off to the local recycler. I have heard you can flush the stuff down the toilet and the local system will filter out the anti-freeze, but that did not come from a reliable source, so I don't do it.I flush once a year this way and have remained very clean.
I save the coolant and and have several 5 gallon buckets that I can store the flushed goods in. I then haul them off to the local recycler. I have heard you can flush the stuff down the toilet and the local system will filter out the anti-freeze, but that did not come from a reliable source, so I don't do it.I flush once a year this way and have remained very clean.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Canyon Lake California
Re: Prestone Flush Kits (Grzldvt)
Back in '97, when my son was going to college, we bought him an old '88 Mercury Sable to drive between home and school. I noticed his car had the yellow Prestone flush "T" in the heater hose. I didn't give it much thought at the time. One day while stuck in traffic, the "T" pipe split (it turned out to be very brittle) and dumped coolant on the street. My son waited too long to turn off the engine and one of the heads cracked. We ended up donating the car to the Red Cross (we needed a tax write off anyway).
I have no way of knowing how old the "T" pipe was. It couldn't have been more than nine years old at the time.
After that experience I decided to avoid that method of flushing a cooling system.
By the way. Someone told me that flushing antifreeze down the toilet is much less harmful to the environment because the chemicals are broken down at the sewage treatment plant. If you just let the coolant go down the gutter, it goes directly to the ocean. I am not advising that anyone dump their antifreeze down the toilet, but it sounds like the lesser of two evils.
Greg Sullivan
[Modified by Greg's '88, 8:44 PM 9/13/2001]
I have no way of knowing how old the "T" pipe was. It couldn't have been more than nine years old at the time.
After that experience I decided to avoid that method of flushing a cooling system.
By the way. Someone told me that flushing antifreeze down the toilet is much less harmful to the environment because the chemicals are broken down at the sewage treatment plant. If you just let the coolant go down the gutter, it goes directly to the ocean. I am not advising that anyone dump their antifreeze down the toilet, but it sounds like the lesser of two evils.
Greg Sullivan
[Modified by Greg's '88, 8:44 PM 9/13/2001]
