Buckeye
18 Jan 06, 09:09 pm
Step by Step guid to changing your coolant
Drain The Old Coolant
BE SURE THE ENGINE IS COLD, press down on the radiator cap and slowly turn it counterclockwise until it hisses. Wait until the hissing stops and remove the cap.
Make sure the heater's temperature control is on the hottest possible setting.
Place a large container under the radiator cap to catch the coolant as it's drained.
Loosen the drain plug or petcock at the bottom of the radiator and allow the coolant to completely drain out. If your radiator does not have a drain plug or petcock, disconnect the lower radiator hose and allow the coolant to drain. DO NOT get coolant in your eyes or on your skin.
If your vehicle is equipped with a coolant reservoir, disconnect all hoses connecting it to the radiator, remove the reservoir and flush it with clean water.
Properly dispose of or recycle the used antifreeze.
Flush The System
Retighten the drain plug or petcock at the bottom of the radiator. If the lower radiator hose was disconnected to facilitate the draining of the cooling system, reconnect it. Add water until the radiator is almost full. Add one bottle (12 fl. oz.) of flushing product to the radiator. Replace the radiator cap, start the engine and run at idle with the heater control on HOT for 10 to 20 minutes. Stop the engine, open the drain plug or petcock, catch the fluid in a large container and dispose of it properly. WARNING: THE FLUID WILL BE HOT! TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO AVOID BURNING YOURSELF!
After the coolant has completely drained out of the radiator, place a garden hose in the radiator filler neck and flush out the system. Flush the radiator until the water coming out of the drain hole, petcock or lower radiator hose opening is clear.
If a garden hose is not available, use a clean bucket to pour fresh water into the radiator filler neck.
Inspect the rubber gasket and seal on the inside of the radiator cap for cracks or deterioration. If you replace the cap, make sure the new one has the same pressure rating as the old one. The pressure rating is stamped on the top of the cap.
Inspect all the radiator hoses for cracks or deterioration and replace them if necessary.
Refill The Cooling System
Retighten the drain plug or petcock at the bottom of the radiator. If the lower radiator hose was disconnected to facilitate the flushing of the cooling system, reconnect it.
Reinstall the coolant reservoir, and reconnect all the hoses connecting it to the radiator as applicable.
Refer to your owner's manual to find the cooling system capacity. Add one-half of the capacity, using new antifreeze. Add enough water to finish filling the radiator. Also refill the coolant reservoir with new antifreeze to the "FULL COLD" level as indicated on the reservoir.
Run the engine at idle speed until it reaches normal operating temperature. With the engine idling, add enough water to refill the radiator. If you want, you can check the exact range of protection of the new antifreeze-water mixture with a simple float-type antifreeze tester.
Reinstall the radiator cap by pressing down and turning it clockwise until the arrows on the cap are aligned with the overflow hose coming out of the filler neck.
Reinstall the coolant reservoir cap.
Regularly check the coolant level and radiator hoses for leaks during the first few miles of driving. Tighten the hose clamps, and add additional coolant as needed.
For additional corrosion protection, add one bottle (12 fl.oz.) of radiator rust preventive product to the radiator (not the coolant reservoir).
A cheap alternative to a flushing fluid is distilled vinegar and water at a 50/50 solution
Drain The Old Coolant
BE SURE THE ENGINE IS COLD, press down on the radiator cap and slowly turn it counterclockwise until it hisses. Wait until the hissing stops and remove the cap.
Make sure the heater's temperature control is on the hottest possible setting.
Place a large container under the radiator cap to catch the coolant as it's drained.
Loosen the drain plug or petcock at the bottom of the radiator and allow the coolant to completely drain out. If your radiator does not have a drain plug or petcock, disconnect the lower radiator hose and allow the coolant to drain. DO NOT get coolant in your eyes or on your skin.
If your vehicle is equipped with a coolant reservoir, disconnect all hoses connecting it to the radiator, remove the reservoir and flush it with clean water.
Properly dispose of or recycle the used antifreeze.
Flush The System
Retighten the drain plug or petcock at the bottom of the radiator. If the lower radiator hose was disconnected to facilitate the draining of the cooling system, reconnect it. Add water until the radiator is almost full. Add one bottle (12 fl. oz.) of flushing product to the radiator. Replace the radiator cap, start the engine and run at idle with the heater control on HOT for 10 to 20 minutes. Stop the engine, open the drain plug or petcock, catch the fluid in a large container and dispose of it properly. WARNING: THE FLUID WILL BE HOT! TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO AVOID BURNING YOURSELF!
After the coolant has completely drained out of the radiator, place a garden hose in the radiator filler neck and flush out the system. Flush the radiator until the water coming out of the drain hole, petcock or lower radiator hose opening is clear.
If a garden hose is not available, use a clean bucket to pour fresh water into the radiator filler neck.
Inspect the rubber gasket and seal on the inside of the radiator cap for cracks or deterioration. If you replace the cap, make sure the new one has the same pressure rating as the old one. The pressure rating is stamped on the top of the cap.
Inspect all the radiator hoses for cracks or deterioration and replace them if necessary.
Refill The Cooling System
Retighten the drain plug or petcock at the bottom of the radiator. If the lower radiator hose was disconnected to facilitate the flushing of the cooling system, reconnect it.
Reinstall the coolant reservoir, and reconnect all the hoses connecting it to the radiator as applicable.
Refer to your owner's manual to find the cooling system capacity. Add one-half of the capacity, using new antifreeze. Add enough water to finish filling the radiator. Also refill the coolant reservoir with new antifreeze to the "FULL COLD" level as indicated on the reservoir.
Run the engine at idle speed until it reaches normal operating temperature. With the engine idling, add enough water to refill the radiator. If you want, you can check the exact range of protection of the new antifreeze-water mixture with a simple float-type antifreeze tester.
Reinstall the radiator cap by pressing down and turning it clockwise until the arrows on the cap are aligned with the overflow hose coming out of the filler neck.
Reinstall the coolant reservoir cap.
Regularly check the coolant level and radiator hoses for leaks during the first few miles of driving. Tighten the hose clamps, and add additional coolant as needed.
For additional corrosion protection, add one bottle (12 fl.oz.) of radiator rust preventive product to the radiator (not the coolant reservoir).
A cheap alternative to a flushing fluid is distilled vinegar and water at a 50/50 solution