DIY radiator flush

[nuQ]

what is everyone's opinion on the "prestone radiator flush" kit? the one where you cut the tee into one of the coolent hoses. would like to save a little money and mix the correct coolent/water mixture myself. curious???? jeff

[maxnix]

Whatever you do, final fill should be only distilled water and appropriate coolant.

[elwesso]

I dont like the idea with that, because then you do 2 things:1. Introduce new minerals into the cooling systen2. You have all clean water in the system, and you have to gess how much coolant to put in.

I would just drain and fill the radiator, do that 1 time per year and youll be fine.

[AZhitman]

???

A full and thorough flush is absolutely necessary. Also, distilled water ONLY is used in order to keep mineral deposits to a minimum.

Fill with 70% distilled water, 28% AF and 2% (one bottle) Redline Water Wetter.

[PalmerWMD]

So hoe did todays flush work out?

Fred...

[nuQ]

hey fred, thanks for all your time on the phone fri. above and beyond the normal moderator!!!!! i didn't get a chance to get to the radiator today, although i replaced 1 quart of mobil 1 atf into the power steering res. yesterday. used the syphon technique. will do it again next weekend. color wasn't too bad, but not the bright red. loaded up my trunk with cases of mobil 1 atf for the transmission flush on tues. will also have them replace the diff. fluid and the brake fluid. let you know how it all turns out. thanks sooo much!!! jeff

[nuQ]

one more thing. if not able to pull the coolent plugs on the block, and sure that only distilled water is in the system, do you just measure the amount of water drained, then replace with coolent according to the total amount of coolent/water in the system(10.8 quarts if i remember)??? also,,,,according to the manual, must go through some steps on the temp. manual on dash to open the heater door???? on most cars, only have to run the heater on high. anyone know about this. want to flush the whole system, obviously. something like press temp. up three times, then fan 2 times........ jeff

[maxnix]

Turn ignition on, press HVAC off button within 10 sec and hold for 5 sec, press hot 3 times, press defrost 2 times, display should read 43, wait 10 sec before turning ignition off.

Almost all answers to common questions are in the previous posts.

[Q45tech]

"the power steering res. yesterday. used the syphon technique. will do it again next weekend. color wasn't too bad, but not the bright red"

The brown black particles are the inside of rubber hoses breaking down and rack seals flaking off. Thin watery red color just from ATF overheating, breaking down, and turning acidic getting ready to attach hoes and seals.

Color and smell is everything!

The problem with chemical flushes is that when used too late or in too strong concentration [use half the recommended amount].........they attack the age weakened rubber hoses and the thermostat seal.

Always change/check the thermostat within a month after a flush.......make sure that the idle temp gets up to 176F after 12-15 minutes of idling in cool weather.

The heater core seems bullet proof on Q, but the 2 rubber hoses feeding it are not as they can leak.

Just like an engine or transmission you don't want to try to clean out years of abuse in one application.........slow and repeat treatment...... weak treatments are best and least likely to cause problems.

[Bayarea Q]

Another Flush question:

I'm wondering if you have to do that whole prodedure with the heating system? When I got my flush done last month, I was involved, and we had the car running and just turned the heater on. This should produce the same affect, right? Opening the core so all the coolant can come out?

[911/Q45]

You're correct, if you set the temp to 85°. Anything less than that and the auto system may close the valve if it thinks things are warm enough. Most of us drain our systems with the engine off, in which case the valve would be closed.

[AZhitman]

UNLESS it's over 85 ambient air temp (as it is for 8 months of the year here).

[Q45tech]

What valve the heated coolant is always flowing thru the heater core [in the Q] why it doesn't cause any problem compared to cars with valves like Ls400.........special door to block it off from air stream.

[Bayarea Q]

When I did my flush (Tech performed with machine) we could only fill up about 8 quarts. My manual says it holds 10.8Did we do something wrong? My tech sucked it all out, and even reversed the hoses to suck out everything he could. Heater on 85.

I'm wondering why the other 2-3 quarts did not come out?

I'm also concerned I should have it done again because, my tech said he couldn't flush it, as I brought all my own fluids, per this board. When this procedure is done to they just suck out the fluid, and than have the machine push fresh fluid back in? Or is there an actual flush going on....like they cycle the system a few times??