Coolant change how to
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 642
Likes: 11
Coolant change how to
Howdy, you prolly been following my recent water pump problem thread which was pretty well taken care of but am seeing some oily film in the coolant so am wanting to do a coolant flush excluding the knock sensors being their clear, so hoping someone can point me a to a " how to procedure
thanx
thanx
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 330
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
I flushed mine earlier in spring, good method for me was the "Prestone Flush and Fill" and "Prestone Flush and Cleaner".
Flush and fill has a tee connector to attach to a coolant line high on the engine and provide clean water with pressure relief, don't have to worry about blowing radiator, etc. Cleaner is added to water and ran in the engine. So, with both of these, you get a chemical and mechanical flush, Cleaner first followed by Flush/Fill.
Big item is you need to pull plugs on the bottom of the engine to drain and flush, have to figure out where those are. Some engines have just a plug there, often sensors or something else is using those plugs. Mine had knock sensor and oil cooler hose, fun.
Flushing/Fill, I recommend turning the faucet on slowly until the out flow is enough, then proceed. It has pressure release, but no point in pushing it super hard unless you'd like many new parts.
Cleaner, with oil in there, do the day-long clean instead of 10 minutes, get that stuff out of there!
Some recommend doing the flush with distilled water, I don't, it's in the engine for a short time, not months. Definitely use distilled for final mix with coolant.
Big tip, check if your engine takes green or DEXCOOL coolant, don't mix!
Flush and fill has a tee connector to attach to a coolant line high on the engine and provide clean water with pressure relief, don't have to worry about blowing radiator, etc. Cleaner is added to water and ran in the engine. So, with both of these, you get a chemical and mechanical flush, Cleaner first followed by Flush/Fill.
Big item is you need to pull plugs on the bottom of the engine to drain and flush, have to figure out where those are. Some engines have just a plug there, often sensors or something else is using those plugs. Mine had knock sensor and oil cooler hose, fun.
Flushing/Fill, I recommend turning the faucet on slowly until the out flow is enough, then proceed. It has pressure release, but no point in pushing it super hard unless you'd like many new parts.
Cleaner, with oil in there, do the day-long clean instead of 10 minutes, get that stuff out of there!
Some recommend doing the flush with distilled water, I don't, it's in the engine for a short time, not months. Definitely use distilled for final mix with coolant.
Big tip, check if your engine takes green or DEXCOOL coolant, don't mix!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 330
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Small tidbit about Prestone Cleaner/Flush. They fail to mention it's not toxic by itself, because if mixed with coolant, that is certainly toxic.
I'd say drain and flush out coolant, which needs collection and disposal, then go Cleaner and water, that is fine going down the drain.
Your mileage may vary, I am not a chemist, use my method at your own risk, only oranges will be used as payment for lawsuits....
I'd say drain and flush out coolant, which needs collection and disposal, then go Cleaner and water, that is fine going down the drain.
Your mileage may vary, I am not a chemist, use my method at your own risk, only oranges will be used as payment for lawsuits....
