Coolant Flush

[Kyle_T]

When I got my car, it had been sitting for over 6 years. Therefore, there was a bunch of rusty sludge in the coolant. I never really flushed it all out, just filled it with coolant.

After I got it running and had been driving it. about every month or so Id see my coolant overflow looked brown, so Id dump it out and would find this brown/orange goo in the bottom. Then Id clean and refill with new coolant. Ive noticed that the coolant has been getting more clear and Ive been getting less sludge in the overflow after everytime. When I pop my radiator cap, the coolant looks nice and clean. Its not a bad headgasket, I know its just all the crap thats been in the system since the car was sitting for a long time.

Before I pull the car out this year Id like to flush the system and put in some new clean coolant. Now here my question, how should I go about doing this? Drain and fill? How can I get all the old coolant out? Or should I try and flush it a little with a hose? Id rather stay away from a coolant flush machine, we have one at work and it uses this sealer crap in it that Id rather not deal with.

 

[wmrcs]

What's the T Stat?

 

[Kyle_T]

What's the T Stat?

Thermostat.

Debating if I should just pull the thermostat to do a proper flush with the hose and then replace it with a new one while I got it apart.

 

[wmrcs]

Where is the thermostat at?

 

[Kyle_T]

In the thermostat housing where the upper and lower radiator hoses connect.

 

[91-GS]

Follow top coolant hose coming off the radiator. You will find an elbow with a flange with two bolts holding it to the car. Undo the two bolts and that's where you will find the thermostat (or t stat or t-stat, depending on who you ask).

 

[DSM1G90]

(Easier to say "T-stat") ... If a car has been sitting for 6 years, one would want to change the T-stat out just to make sure that all is good.

 

[Kyle_T]

(Easier to say "T-stat") ... If a car has been sitting for 6 years, one would want to change the T-stat out just to make sure that all is good.

Well it sat for like 6 years before I got it, then it was my project for another 2 years. And then Ive had it running for over a year with no problems. Never has it overheated on me, but it would probably be good to change the thermostat.

 

[NHerron]

Might be a good idea to get new hoses if you're the anal preventative maintenance type. There's quite a few small sections, mostly around the throttle body/thermostat housing area. A couple down at the oil cooler. They sell kits but I just got a continuous length of silicone heater hose (3/8" I think?) and cut to size. Silicone insulated wires, coolant hoses, vacuum hose... man some good stuff.

 

[Kyle_T]

Might be a good idea to get new hoses if you're the anal preventative maintenance type. There's quite a few small sections, mostly around the throttle body/thermostat housing area. A couple down at the oil cooler. They sell kits but I just got a continuous length of silicone heater hose (3/8" I think?) and cut to size. Silicone insulated wires, coolant hoses, vacuum hose... man some good stuff.

I got a bunch of new hoses when I was finishing the the car. All the other ones still seem good. Like I said Ive been driving the car for over a year, never had a problem with it. No leaks besides my transfer case but Ive fixed that.

 

[Kyle_T]

Ended up getting the peak super radiator flush. Drained my coolant. Ran straight distilled water for about an hour. Drained that. Added the flush with distilled water. Had the flush in for about 3 days or 3-4 driving hours. Drained that. Pulled the radiator, hoses, thermostat. Hooked the garden hose up to the thermostat housing and let it rip. Flushed it out with the hose for a couple minutes with the car off and them a couple minutes with it running. Also flushed my radiator a bunch with the hose.

I tried to get as much of the hose water out of the block as I could, but I plan to fill it up again with straight distilled water, run the car for a bit. Then drain that and fill with a 50/50 mix.

I got alot of rusty brown water to come out of the block and radiator. Everything seems to be pretty good now.

Ended up getting a radiator new cap and oem thermostat. Should have the car back together tonight