DIY Radiator Flush?

[Rogersk8ter]

I found slug inside my radiator. High time to do a flush.

 

Possible to DIY? what to take note? Ive not done this before.

 

Search the web and was told some cars also hv drain plugs on the engine tt need

to be remove while flushing.

 

Also hv to take not to prevent airlock otherwise may damage engine.

 

Or shd get w/s to flush? how much they usually charge?

[AlvinDj]

With Coolant + Labour, will set you at about $100+/-

Edited December 4, 2011 by Alvindj

[Club21z]

About 80 at sparks. Bought their coolant at 20+.

[Gendut]

On this topic, how do we get the thermostat to remain open during the flush when the water is cold?

[Goobii]

DIY not easy

[Hermit]

May be helpful if u r changing the water pump as well.

[Satria_neo]

Yes, its possible to DIY though a little troublesome.

 

For best results. remove the thermostat when you perform the flush.

 

All you need is to drain the current coolant, fill up with tap water + coolant flush. Then run at high idle for ~10min. Drain and fill with tap water and run a few min again. Continue to to do till the water is clear (no visible sludge/rust). After that, just install back the thermostat and fill up with water + coolant concentrate or ready mix.

 

If you are unable to remove the thermostat, then just have to run the engine till it reaches proper engine temp (~82C) for the thermostat to open. After that, run at high idle for 10min or so.

 

 

[Satria_neo]

On this topic, how do we get the thermostat to remain open during the flush when the water is cold?

 

Either remove it or run till engine warm up.

 

[Tigershark1976]

radiator flush is the easiest DIY you could do.. though its also the most time consuming & tedious DIY.. LOL. It was poster in this forum before and you can use the search function to find it... anyway, Here are the steps:

 

1) Buy the suitable collant for your car.refer to your owner manual for such info.

2) buy around 15L of distilled water (NEVER get mineral water)

2) Park your car and wait for the engine to be cool down.(you may get burned if you skip this part)

4) Search for the radiator drain nut. it should be somewhere at the bottom of the radiator.)

5) Open the drain nut, and drain off the coolant mix

6) close the drain nut and fill up the radiator using the distilled water (dont add coolant at this stage, otherwise, you will be wasting it)

7) Start your engine and warm it up until the radiator fan kicks in.

8) wait for your engine to cool down.

9) once the engine is cooled, open the drain nut and drain off the water in it, you should be able to see the remaining collant in your engine block being flushed out.

10) repeat step 6 to 9 for another 2 rounds. If you are kiasu and still have plenty of time/ money, you may do it a few more rounds.

11) Once you are flushing the radiator using distilled water, pour in the collant and distilled water as recomended ratio by your car manufacturer. Some collant is premixed and doest require distilled water to be added.

 

 

Remark: always use distilled water to refill your radiator.

[Gendut]

A little tedious to remove the thermostat.

 

I normally prefer disconnecting the houses from the radiator and shove a water hose at high pressure to g flush.

 

I also have access to unlimited of demin water.

[Escksu]

A little tedious to remove the thermostat.

 

I normally prefer disconnecting the houses from the radiator and shove a water hose at high pressure to g flush.

 

I also have access to unlimited of demin water.

 

From what I have learnt, its ok to do that but the thermostat will block the path to the radiator. Hence you will need to flush the radiator separately.

 

As for the coolant, do take note that some requires distilled water while some do not. Thus if you are using tap water to fill the radiator, just ensure you are using the right one. AFAIK, distilled or tap water does not matter. This is because the right coolant will contain the necessary additives (eg water wetter works with tap water).

 

 

 

 

[Tigershark1976]

From what I have learnt, its ok to do that but the thermostat will block the path to the radiator. Hence you will need to flush the radiator separately.

 

As for the coolant, do take note that some requires distilled water while some do not. Thus if you are using tap water to fill the radiator, just ensure you are using the right one. AFAIK, distilled or tap water does not matter. This is because the right coolant will contain the necessary additives (eg water wetter works with tap water).

 

 

are u sure of the tap water? do you know what is contain in the tap water and why plp avoid using it? bro, if you are not sure of smth, i think u dun anyhow shot...

[Escksu]

are u sure of the tap water? do you know what is contain in the tap water and why plp avoid using it? bro, if you are not sure of smth, i think u dun anyhow shot...

 

Perhaps you can show me some proof that distilled water is indeed necessary.

 

Cause its only preferred as tap water contains ions and minerals that could cause scaling and corrosion (shorten the coolant's lifespan due to depletion of additives) Of course, I am thinking in SG context. How long do you keep your car? Thats why I said it doesn't matter all.

 

 

[Escksu]

Btw, I have a van that has over 400K and running tap water and cheap coolant since day one... Other than replacing radiator due to leakage (normal wear), it never suffer any engine problem. Btw, its running on cheap mineral oil.

[Nzy]

are u sure of the tap water? do you know what is contain in the tap water and why plp avoid using it? bro, if you are not sure of smth, i think u dun anyhow shot...

 

My previous car filled with tap water for 10 years and no problems with the radiator. Current car 4 years also tap water no problems as well.

[Gendut]

Perhaps you can show me some proof that distilled water is indeed necessary.

 

Cause its only preferred as tap water contains ions and minerals that could cause scaling and corrosion (shorten the coolant's lifespan due to depletion of additives) Of course, I am thinking in SG context. How long do you keep your car? Thats why I said it doesn't matter all.

 

I'm afraid it does matter. Scaling is bad for the engine and radiator ESP if they are not made of aluminum.

 

Scaling causes localized putting corrosion underneath. Your leak may appear before the car lasts 10 years.

[Elfenstar]

From what I have learnt, its ok to do that but the thermostat will block the path to the radiator. Hence you will need to flush the radiator separately.

 

As for the coolant, do take note that some requires distilled water while some do not. Thus if you are using tap water to fill the radiator, just ensure you are using the right one. AFAIK, distilled or tap water does not matter. This is because the right coolant will contain the necessary additives (eg water wetter works with tap water).

 

If you remove the top hose on the engine side, you can manually open the thermostat and use the hose to prop it open while you run water from a tap.

[Yeobh]

It is not the ion or minerals, it's the chorilde in the tap water that will cause damge to rubber hoses and attack some metals.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Yeobh