should i flush cooling system?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: NY
should i flush cooling system?
im finally going to change the coolant in my vette.its a 02,a4,2,73,BSM with 17kmi.the coolant is 9yrs old but when i stuck a flashlight in the coolant tank its still orange and clear.should i flush with distilled water or just drain,refill and burp. thanks in advance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
I would since it is cheap insurance and a little extra water flush could help you out later on. 
I bought my 99 coupe last year with 38,xxx miles and the anti-freeze looked almost new. I wasn't told how old it was, so I still flushed it out to be sure. I used a couple of extra gallons of distilled water and went back with the orange stuff.
I bought my 99 coupe last year with 38,xxx miles and the anti-freeze looked almost new. I wasn't told how old it was, so I still flushed it out to be sure. I used a couple of extra gallons of distilled water and went back with the orange stuff.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Don't FLUSH it...the proper way to "flush" the cooling system is to drain your radiator completely..
Fill with ALL DISTILLED WATER.
Start the car, let it warm up til the T-stat opens..run it for at least 5 minutes to make sure it's fully warm AND THE T-stat opens.
Let it cool for a bit, drain again.
Re-fill with ONLY DISTILLED WATER.
Start car, let run til T-stat opens...
let car cool for a bit and drain again..
re-fill with ONLY DISTILLED WATER.
Keep doing this until when you drain it, the liquid is totally clear with no orange/red color in the water.
Then just top it off with 1 gallon or so of dex cool and top off with distilled water.
Then rest easy knowing that you have only distilled water in the cooling system, no air bubbles and fresh coolant for another 5 years.
This is the proper way to do it. It only takes an hour and half or two.
Fill with ALL DISTILLED WATER.
Start the car, let it warm up til the T-stat opens..run it for at least 5 minutes to make sure it's fully warm AND THE T-stat opens.
Let it cool for a bit, drain again.
Re-fill with ONLY DISTILLED WATER.
Start car, let run til T-stat opens...
let car cool for a bit and drain again..
re-fill with ONLY DISTILLED WATER.
Keep doing this until when you drain it, the liquid is totally clear with no orange/red color in the water.
Then just top it off with 1 gallon or so of dex cool and top off with distilled water.
Then rest easy knowing that you have only distilled water in the cooling system, no air bubbles and fresh coolant for another 5 years.
This is the proper way to do it. It only takes an hour and half or two.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,030
Likes: 9,782
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
It is amazing how long Dexcool lasts. As for flushing, you don't need distilled water. Clean drinking water will do. Use the hose at the house. Drain, refill with water, run engine with coolant cap until thermostat opens and then let run a couple of minutes, turn off and drain again, refill with water and repeat. When the drained fluid runs clear add the proper amount of coolant and top off with water. No need for pre mixed coolant, no need for distilled water.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 7
From: Bristol raceway area
Good advice "OOCorvette", what i did.
I flushed out the old coolant in our '02 a year and a half ago and it Needed It. Also our coolant tank was pretty bad inside, cleaned it good too.
Bob
I flushed out the old coolant in our '02 a year and a half ago and it Needed It. Also our coolant tank was pretty bad inside, cleaned it good too.
Bob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
It is amazing how long Dexcool lasts. As for flushing, you don't need distilled water. Clean drinking water will do. Use the hose at the house. Drain, refill with water, run engine with coolant cap until thermostat opens and then let run a couple of minutes, turn off and drain again, refill with water and repeat. When the drained fluid runs clear add the proper amount of coolant and top off with water. No need for pre mixed coolant, no need for distilled water.
Bill
Bill
For most, tap water will be fine.
I use distilled water because my house has a water conditioner that uses salt to regenerate the system, I use the distilled water to prevent introducing any salt residue in the cooling system.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
It is amazing how long Dexcool lasts. As for flushing, you don't need distilled water. Clean drinking water will do. Use the hose at the house. Drain, refill with water, run engine with coolant cap until thermostat opens and then let run a couple of minutes, turn off and drain again, refill with water and repeat. When the drained fluid runs clear add the proper amount of coolant and top off with water. No need for pre mixed coolant, no need for distilled water.
Bill
Bill
It's like 1 dollar per gallon @ the grocery store...why not just do it right?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
It is amazing how long Dexcool lasts. As for flushing, you don't need distilled water. Clean drinking water will do. Use the hose at the house. Drain, refill with water, run engine with coolant cap until thermostat opens and then let run a couple of minutes, turn off and drain again, refill with water and repeat. When the drained fluid runs clear add the proper amount of coolant and top off with water. No need for pre mixed coolant, no need for distilled water.
Bill
Bill
Clean drinking water just as much or more than distilled at the stores around here..
The tap water sucks where I live.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 0
From: Currently living in and loving... Chico, CA
Tap water sucks here, too; high in lime. I don't think I want that in my motor, as it's tough enough on the paint and glass if I don't get it off there real fast.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,983
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From: Stoney Creek Ontario
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Pine Colorado
Last spring I took my 02 Coupe and 02 Z06 into a dealer I trust and had the cooling systems power flushed with a BG machine. Each system was flushed with a chemical cleaner, then new Dex-Cool was added to the system by the machine. Simple procedure that took about 15 minutes and cost me $100 for each corvette. Two hoses hook up to the cooling system and there was no draining, etc. Was worth the cost as I did not have to dispose of old antifreeze and impurities, the system was completely cleaned, and the new antifreeze should be good for a minimum of 5 years. I was impressed with the flushing system, time it took, and the ease of operation. I watched the whole procedure as I was allowed in the service bay. To me, getting it done correctly for the high performance engines and radiators was more important than saving several dollars. However, I just won't let any tech do the work, it has to be one I know and trust to do the job correctly. I recommend the BG procedure.
Last edited by Mtnvettes; Feb 28, 2011 at 05:25 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
How I do mine; using distilled water to flush is a waste
It is amazing how long Dexcool lasts. As for flushing, you don't need distilled water. Clean drinking water will do. Use the hose at the house. Drain, refill with water, run engine with coolant cap until thermostat opens and then let run a couple of minutes, turn off and drain again, refill with water and repeat. When the drained fluid runs clear add the proper amount of coolant and top off with water. No need for pre mixed coolant, no need for distilled water.
Bill
Bill
Buy the nondiluted Dexcool. Don't pay for water. I also removed my fill/overflow tank and cleaned it out as much as possible.
BIGHANK
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
