Drain the mixture: Your mechanic will drain the mixture from your car once it has sufficiently cooled down.They will run your car for ten to 15 minutes, allowing the mixture to fully circulate. Run a new mixture through the system: Your mechanic will run a mixture of water, coolant and detergent through your cooling system.This will remove about half of the coolant that is currently in your system. Begin draining: Your mechanic will remove the petcock to allow the radiator to drain.If your radiator has this, your mechanic will remove it with a screwdriver. Remove the drainage valve covering if necessary: Certain radiators may have a tiny plastic covering on the drainage valve.Typically the petcock will be attached to one of the radiator tanks. Place a drainage pan: Your mechanic will then place a drainage pan under the radiator’s drainage valve.Examine the radiator’s hoses: Your mechanic will then inspect the two hoses that enter the radiator to make sure that neither has collapsed, which may cause problems with the flow of the coolant through your system.After that, they will proceed to examine your radiator for any rust or damage, as these can be signs of more serious problems with your heating system. Clean and inspect the radiator: Your mechanic will generally brush the radiator’s fins, which will help to remove any grime and dirt that has built up.This can also help to get rid of bubbles in the coolant while the flush is taking place. Jack up the car: Your mechanic will typically jack up the front end of your car slightly to give them access to the radiator’s underside.If the engine is still warm, the coolant may be dangerously hot and could injure those who try to handle it. Leave the engine to cool: Your engine must be cool to perform a radiator flush.Here is what a mechanic will do during a radiator flush: If corrosion and scale build-up in your system, it can clog the radiator’s tiny passages, the water pump, the engine’s water jackets and even the heater core.
RADIATOR FLUID CRACKED
Examples of this damage include a cracked head or block - situations you definitely want to avoid.įurthermore, if your coolant isn’t changed regularly, it will begin to lose its capability to resist corrosion, which may damage various metals in your engine, including steel, copper and aluminum. In wintertime, contaminated coolant may be unable to prevent freeze-ups while your car isn’t running, which could do severe or even irreparable damage to your engine. If your coolant, which is a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and distilled water, gets too contaminated, it cannot cool your engine efficiently while it’s running. It will eliminate rust, dirt and various other undesired particles that accumulate over time.
RADIATOR FLUID HOW TO
In this article, we explain what radiator flushing is, why it’s so important and how to perform this easy task yourself.įlushing your radiator helps ensure your cooling system operates smoothly at all times. However, while many people know what a radiator does, few are aware of the important maintenance task required to keep it in good condition - radiator flushing. Simply put, a radiator is part of a system designed to keep your engine cool.
Pelletized Heavy Duty Stop Leak (PLT11).
RADIATOR FLUID PROFESSIONAL
DiFM Professional Cooling System Treatment (J-100).