FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM:

[Stewart G Griffin]

Apparently, there are other(new?) methods to flushing the cooling system besides the "trusted and true" Prestone flush kit where you tap into the heater hose;  This was the method that i was always accustomed to.

But, after doing some research, there appears to be a new method---a flush "in a bottle."  You drain the existing coolant, pour in the flush "solution," run the engine for 10 mins, drain and then replace with new coolant.

Also, i read cases where the following was recommended:
With a garden hose into the top of the radiator (and the drain plug presumably opened) run the engine for about 10 mins---with the garden hose turned on.


What do you think is the best way to flush to cooling system?

[VileZambonie]

Anually drain and fill is recommended which makes flushing unecessary. If the system is not contaminated there usually isn't a need to flush. The best method is with a machine. If you do not have access to a machine drain the block on both sides by removing the two plugs or knock sensor if equipped, drain the radiator and flush with water.

[Blue 82]

I never have liked the Prestone flush with the garden hose deal
The water down here has way too much chlorine
I prefer the drain and fill method
I only use distilled water with the coolant

[Skunksmash]

Some people around here make sure that they get all the old coolant out of the whole system, then they put water and cascade brand dishwashing soap in there and run it till for 10-15 minutes. This supposedly eats all the crap off of all of the inner walls. Such as any rust or buildup. Then of course you flush with water again and get all of that stuff out, then add new coolant. I have seen it done a few times, and heard about it a lot of times, but i have never actually done it myself on my own vehicle. The guy down at my local radiator shop claims that if you do have any buildup, doing this will lower your temps by 5 or 10 degrees.

[ccz145a]

This sounds very interesting... There is a ton of build up in my engine. Anybody here tried this, or know of any downsides?

[VileZambonie]

If the system is contaminated your best bet is to use a good quality cooling system flush. You can buy it at the autoparts store. If you have heavy iron and rust in the cooling system you can buy a good neutralizer from Ford. They seem to have the best stuff on the market. Aside from that if your cooling system is so bad it's causing adverse effects on your engine perhaps it's time to consider a rebuild.

[ccz145a]

My problem is calcium build up from hard water around here. There were a few times that I had no choice but use tap water and was neglegent in flushing it out in a timley manner.

Will a flush do something for this? or is my only hope in "tanking it" before my next rebuild?

[Captkaos]

Shame on you Chip.  You slacker...  Never heard the cascade trick, but I recently had to add tap to mine, but as we all know the radiator is gone and well so it what was in the engine.  I have used system flush in the past with good results.

[Skunksmash]

You gotta dump like 2 scoops of cascade in there, but when we did it we had pretty much clear water coming out of everywhere in the pre-flush. Then we did the cascade trick, and the water that came out in that flush was all that brown rust color. So my guess is that it knocked a bunch of garbage out of my buddy's system.

But uh, so tap water is a bad thing? I never heard of using distilled before. What about that 50/50 stuff you can buy?

[zieg85]

I used distilled water for antifreeze and if the battery needs a drink. 

[Dragon]

Yes Distilled/De-Ionized water is actually much better for your system, to help keep down any possible build up of Electrolites, and such from using regular Tap water....  Most Tap water has all kinds of Minerals Added to, if not naturally occuring from the age of the Plumbing it passes through...   I know years ago the Officals here in Washington,started adding Floride,Calcium and Such was added to the water, to aid in maintaining the health in the Public's Teeth/etc....