I just finished cleaning out (hopefully) the old antifreeze in my '86.
I searched the archives for some hints, but didn't do it exactly as some others have. Please let me know if you think I have purged the system enough.
I purchased the Prestone flush kit.
I put a "T" in the hose that goes to the metal heater INPUT pipe.
I attached a garden hose to the "T"
Then I removed the radiator cap and snapped the L shaped tube they provided into the radiator fill opening.
I attached a discharge hose to the L shaped tube to capture the antifreeze.
I DID NOT open the radiator drain plug.
I turned on the garden hose and got a few gallons of icky green fluid. The fluid lightened color until it was pretty transparent.
I then started the engine, made sure the heater was on and some more green fluid came out, but not as dark as before. The water again turned pretty clear.
I idled the car for 10 minutes and the water stayed clear.(and warm!)
I then turned off the water, shut off the engine and removed all of the hoses. I capped the "T" ,placed the radiator cap back on. and that's how it sits.

My question is: Do you think that I have gotten all the antifreeze out?

I ask because I did not open the drain plug as it said to do in the directions. I'm thinking that opening the drain would just make more leaking water for me to deal with and reduce the flow.

Thanks in advance.

Ed

 

Well, drain all that out and fill with distilled water and "green" coolant in a 50/50 ratio. Tap water is not to be used. I would open the drain **** this time as well.

 

I would loosen the petcock valve and flush some more. You can buy gallons of premixed green at the local auto store.

 

That is probably sufficient. I do much more, however. Now that you have the water running clear, you don't have to worry about polluting our water resources. When I get to the stage you are, I close everything up and let it warm up pretty thoroughly, at least until the fan comes on. Then I pull the bottom radiator hose with the cap off to quickly evacuate (drain) the system. I use the lower rad hose because it will allow any of the larger chunks to pass that won't go through the rad petcock. Then I close everything back up and hook up the garden hose and "L" pipe similar to how you did and let the engine run for a half hour to an hour. Then I repeat it all over again. Dump, drain, refill, flush, dump, and now I add the antifreeze. By the way now, before you get any coolant in it, is a great time to pull the radiator out and clean the cavity it sits in and between it and the condenser.

RACE ON!!!

 

So far so good but not quite where you want to be. Really not a good idea to use tap water. It may be clean enough to drink but the calcium,iron plus other stuff is not good for your cooling system. I would open the radiator drain and remove the knock sensor. Those are about the two lowest points in the system. After it has quit draining fill with a 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water. The pre mix is good also. Though some will not agree, I always add a can of water pump lube/rust preventer. Won't hurt,might help.

 

If you REALLY want to clean it out, jack up the front of the car, support it on jack stands. Remove the plug on the drivers side of the block....be sure to have a large pan under here because you will drain 1/2 the block. Then reinstall the plug using teflon tape or pipe compound. **You should use a 6 point socket on this plug or your will have problems. Next remove the knock sensor from the passanger side, this will drain the other side of the block. Reinstall the sensor.

Now use your flush kit and flush it out. When you open the valve on the radiator, you only empty the radiator and take the coolant level in the block to about the intake/head level.

 

I like to make sure the Block is empty; otherwise you'll still have water in it when you add Coolant. The only way I know to do that is to pull the Knock Sensor and Oil Cooler Hose at the filter (if it has the Oil Cooler). Removing the aux fan temp switch - if equipped - and coolant temp sender only gets it out of the heads, but there will still be stuff around the cylinders.

 

Really shouldn't let that coolant out into the storm drains.

If you wanted to do the right thing you'd collect it all and take it back to the auto parts store.

The next best thing to do is to dump into the toilet....at least it makes it back the the waste treatment plant for processing. They know that a certain amount of Antifreeze makes it into the sewer systems.

The worst thing to do is allow it to run out all over the driveway.

Second, all that tap water is awful for your coolant system and especially that Heater core.

You need to drain as much as you can and replace it with Distilled Water......and before any of you question me.....I did this procedure just today....

 

Thanks for all of the great info. So the answer to my question is that I probably haven't gotten all of the antifreeze out. I can't lie underneath my cars anymore and work without getting a headache! I don't know why. Maybe I'm just getting too old!!
Since the consensus is to open the drain plugs on the block, I guess I'll just bring it to the shop.

Oh, Happy Saint Patrick's Day !!
Ed

 

open the drain plugs on the block?

 

How did the old coolant look when draining? No need to go too far, unless you suspect big pieces of rust, serious corrosion, or are replacing the radiator or water pump. I would just pull the petcock valve and run the hose through it some more while running it.

 

One on each side.
Will either have a knock sensor or a pipe plug in it.

Agree that what you have done is sufficient in most cases.