Questions: coolant system flush
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 8
Questions: coolant system flush
I am planning to flush the system and I want to drain the block as well as the radiator; will I experience leakage once I remove the drain plugs from the block? Any recommendations if leakage is a common occurrance? What problems can I expect from this coolant flush, other than a wet garage floor. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville AR
I was going to do the same thing (drain the block) but other said it was a WITA and to flush the system 2 or 3 times with distilled water. So thats what I did. Only problem I had was the drain peacock had to be pulled back with needle nose after loosening before coolant would drain out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you have not pushed the coolant to the 5 year limit and the coolant still looks clean, I would just drain the 8 quarts you can get out by just draining the radiator, and refill with 50/50 mix.
I never let Dexcool go over 2-3 years, so I just refresh what I can without flushing the whole system.
If you flush the system and leave 4 quarts of water in the block, you will need to add at least 6 quarts of pure Dexcool to get back to a 50/50 mix.
I would avoid removing the drain plugs on the block.
I never let Dexcool go over 2-3 years, so I just refresh what I can without flushing the whole system.
If you flush the system and leave 4 quarts of water in the block, you will need to add at least 6 quarts of pure Dexcool to get back to a 50/50 mix.
I would avoid removing the drain plugs on the block.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
If you have the car level and heater on when draining, you can drain out all but about 2 quarts. If it is clean (nice pink) and not muddy brown, you do not have to flush, according to shop manual.
I have just drained my 1998 twice for time (only 119,000 miles total), never flushed.
I have just drained my 1998 twice for time (only 119,000 miles total), never flushed.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,066
Likes: 9,834
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I just hook up the garden hose and drain and refill a couple of times until the drained fluid is clear water. Then I refill with the proper amount of DexCool and top off with water. You don't need distilled water just clear drinking water.
Bill
Bill
