Radiator Flush

[fiasco]

When you flush the radiator, what do you flush into?

Doesn't seem like all that gunk should be running into the storm drains and out to the ocean (which is where most of it goes here in SoCal). On the other hand, if I'm gonna run volumes of water through the system, I can't imagine that I have something big enough to hold everything that comes out, and even if I do, then what do I do with it?

Thanks,
-- se

[TulsaSpider]

Actually you should completely drain the system before you flush it. That way you are just flushing water out, and some rust and stuff perhaps. Don't forget the drain plug on the pass side of the block below the exhaust!

[fiasco]

So initially drain into a container, and then flush onto the ground?

What's the capacity of the system? i.e. how big a container will I need to hold what drains out before the flushing begins.

Also - this will be the first time I've flushed (or drained) a coolant system. Are there two plugs I need to be concerned with? Bottom of the radiator, and the one TulsaSpider mentions on the block? Any others?

Thanks,
-- se

[TulsaSpider]

Nope that should be it 2 drain plugs! Do all this outside of course! The plug in my radiator is frozen so I am stuck using this method exclusively. Be aware that draining the block gets a little messy. The coolant comes out and hits the cross member splattering everywhere. What I do is get as big (wide) a container as I can find, remove the plug, then direct most of the flow with my hand forward into the container as best I can. I am not sure how much it will hold, my book says 1.3 imperial gallons but it seems a bit more than that. Make sure you turn your heater controls to hot. I flushed my heater core by itself and it was pretty dirty, but nothing else deemed to be too bad! I hope yours will be the same!
Are you replacing all the hoses? If so remember or take a pic of which way your thermostat is pointing! There are also lots of threads about how to properly "burp" the system and that is an accurate analogy!
Good luck!

[fiasco]

Thanks for the tip on draining the block. I'll try to be prepared in advance for that.

I have an internal thermostat, so I won't be messing with that at all. And I'm putting on a flush kit at the high point on that top hose back by the cowl, so that should help with burping as well.

I'm expecting it to all be pretty gunky, based on the look of the fluid I can see when I remove the radiator cap.

-- se

[racydave]

Its alot more efficient to flush with the thermostat out. Will you use a flushing chemical?

[fiasco]

No - I'm just going to pump water through it.

[perthling]

I flushed my radiator yesterday, and did exactly as described earlier. Drain the radiator by opening the bottom valve, into an oil drain pan or similar. Then drain block using hand to re-direct flow away from X-member and into drain pan. Empty drain pan into container for recycling, then I pump fresh water into the engine block and back flush the radiator until it runs clear out of the top of the radiator. Then put plugs back in (impartant step) and fill with coolant/antifreeze. Capacity is 7.5 litres.