Flushing rad
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
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Flushing rad
I recently had my rad blow up on the highway. I had a shop replace it while I rented a car to continue. On my way back, I picked up the car and drove home. (200 miles) now I see the fluid is green. I called a bitched. They said they will refund the coolant bill. Of course this makes work for me.
I put the car up on ramps. (With a jack) Then pulled the rad plug. It only drained about 2 gallons. I refilled with water. Ran the car for a few minutes. Drained it again. Its still green.
I was planning to repeat this till it's clear. Then refill with Dex cool. Does that sound good? Is there a better way to drain it? Would it make much differnce if I jacked up the back of the car to match the ramps?
I put the car up on ramps. (With a jack) Then pulled the rad plug. It only drained about 2 gallons. I refilled with water. Ran the car for a few minutes. Drained it again. Its still green.
I was planning to repeat this till it's clear. Then refill with Dex cool. Does that sound good? Is there a better way to drain it? Would it make much differnce if I jacked up the back of the car to match the ramps?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 3
From: Boise Idaho
I took mine to a rad shop and told them I wanted to switch from dex to green. They said I should go on internet and get a new pressure tank and replace thermostat and housing and they would do a complete flush.
You might consider doing this to avoid contamination.
Orange and green do not mix.
You might consider doing this to avoid contamination.
Orange and green do not mix.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 21
I took mine to a rad shop and told them I wanted to switch from dex to green. They said I should go on internet and get a new pressure tank and replace thermostat and housing and they would do a complete flush.
You might consider doing this to avoid contamination.
Orange and green do not mix.
You might consider doing this to avoid contamination.
Orange and green do not mix.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
I will be filling mine for the first time after a rebuild soon and I am interested in what you guys have to say. It seems like green is more readily available in case that is all you can find in an emergency.
As far as flushing I would think that you would remove the hose at the highest and lowest points and run clean water through the engine and rad followed by a series of flushes after running the engine with pure water in the system.
As far as flushing I would think that you would remove the hose at the highest and lowest points and run clean water through the engine and rad followed by a series of flushes after running the engine with pure water in the system.
Last edited by Rob 02; Aug 22, 2016 at 06:04 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 508
Likes: 59
From: Oscoda Michigan
I work at a NAPA store, most of the coolants we sell are all makes all models, which will mix with all coolants without problems. That being said I only use Dexcool in my Corvette for its anti corrosive additives. You might want to call them back and see what they actually used, I know all the shops around here use the all makes. Mike
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Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Oregon
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Never MIX just use the proper coolant that GM recommended For your car. Lot's of threads on this topic already
Last edited by Smoken1; Aug 22, 2016 at 07:07 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Atlantic Beach FL.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,725
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From: Warrington Pa.
I had the fluid changed at the dealer, they used a machine that sucked all the fluid out, then flushed, then added the new antifreeze. May want to find a shop that has that machine and ask them if it would remove all the old stuff.
Last edited by Bill Vett; Aug 22, 2016 at 07:56 PM.
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From: Oregon
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Willis TX
I did mine about 1 week ago. I had the car on a lift so it was level. I could only drain a little less than a gallon. I filled the reservoir with distilled water (again a little less than a gallon). Ran the car till the radiator fans cam on then let it cool. I did this 9 times over a 2 days. The last gallon out was still light pink. The only auto parts store in my area that recycles antifreeze is Advance Auto Parts. They did not have Dexcool but did have the Prestone that says it is good for any vehicle. I put the prestone in but I only have about 70 miles on it so far.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
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I'm thinking the highest point in the system is the cap. I also think the radiator plug is the lowest point in the system. So unless this machine sticks some kind of hose in the engine to a obscure cavity, I don't see how it can do any better than what I've done.
Anyways, it took five fill and drains to run clear. The Dex is in. I hope it's OK.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
^That's about as good as it gets. I have worked on the internals of this engine. There's a few places for fluid to hide from simply draining. There is some in heater core too. You may be able to blow it out with a shop vac if the thermostat is open or removed.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,844
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From: San Jose, CA
I wouldn't have trusted the same shop to fix it - but I woulda brought it to a different shop so they can put a bit of pressure on washing out all the old crap. Since you only did a bunch of refills and drains, I'd recommend keeping a close eye on the coolant. If it so much as looks at you funny, flush and refill it again. Regular checks for sure, and do a full flush and refill within the year anyways.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
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From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Use Adams Extract food color...buy a couple of bottles from your local grocer and pour it into your expansion tank...coolant color will change soon thereafter.
The Lizzard
The Lizzard
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Warrington Pa.
To paraphrase a friend of mine "My girl friend can suck start a Duce and half, but she has to have a tailpipe to hook on to" Where would this machine hook on?
I'm thinking the highest point in the system is the cap. I also think the radiator plug is the lowest point in the system. So unless this machine sticks some kind of hose in the engine to a obscure cavity, I don't see how it can do any better than what I've done.
Anyways, it took five fill and drains to run clear. The Dex is in. I hope it's OK.
I'm thinking the highest point in the system is the cap. I also think the radiator plug is the lowest point in the system. So unless this machine sticks some kind of hose in the engine to a obscure cavity, I don't see how it can do any better than what I've done.
Anyways, it took five fill and drains to run clear. The Dex is in. I hope it's OK.
The machine was similar to the video
Last edited by Bill Vett; Aug 23, 2016 at 11:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
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The machine is hooked up to the tank, when he turned it on it took a few minutes and all of a sudden all the hoses including the heater hoses began to collapse. Once that happened he switched the machine to flush the system, then again switched the machine and added antifreeze. No burping required, no over heating after leaving the shop.
The machine was similar to the video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBYJ_9Q0m0w
The machine was similar to the video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBYJ_9Q0m0w
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 157
From: Pennsylvania
The machine is hooked up to the tank, when he turned it on it took a few minutes and all of a sudden all the hoses including the heater hoses began to collapse. Once that happened he switched the machine to flush the system, then again switched the machine and added antifreeze. No burping required, no over heating after leaving the shop.
The machine was similar to the video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBYJ_9Q0m0w
The machine was similar to the video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBYJ_9Q0m0w