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wow,,just flushed radiator...

badmix

badmix

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that wasnt pretty. Came out BROWN. I think it was a mix of just old radiator and that the last time I did this, the coolant was PINKish. so im sure its all mixed up etc. I just opened rad. drain and ran a hose thru it for awhile. closed it up, filled it up, ran truck and then drained it. Did this a couple times. And refilled with some 50/50 premix.

I know the best way is to pull plug on block, but that wasnt going to happen. lol

Anyways, for those thinking about it, this is part of preventive maintance, it doesnt cost much, doesnt take any tools but is extremely messy. Why in the world would they put the drain where they did. Must be someway to get it on the bottom so I dont spray my steering box, frame and the whole lower side of my engine compartment.
 
one of my fave maintenence things to do..... it's all about muriatic acid!!!! haha, i must do 20, 30 muriatic treatments a year on the boats..... always fun to do it on a new used vehicle and see what kinda crud you get out......

gotta pull the block drains on cheby's tho... otherwise it takes alot to get the system clean...
 
Im slightly scared of the "flush kits" I did do it on my blazer though.

I fear the acid, will destroy a head gasket.. I could just be paranoid.
 
also for those water blocker sealer kits too, like Barsleaks or whatever it's called.

I just helped Paul (Pauly383) flush out an engine he pulled out of his now parting truck, the previous owner had used this stuff, man it leaves a tar type substance EVERYWHERE, we ended up removing all the freeze plugs, they were all about bad anyways, and did a power flush with the hose and some ,,ehhmm,, fingering? to get "most" of it out of there.

I had already swore i would never use this crap, but after seeing what was in that block, now i DEFINATELY won't use it.

and another thing, maybe someone can tell me, in my '94, we replaced the radiator not too long ago, i did that same type of flush, my driveway is a pretty steep little hill, so i nosed it down, and flushed while running to get clear water out of it, then drain all i could, then refil with a 50/50 mix.

6 months later, i open the cap to check it out and i have this brown sludge looking crap around the filler neck and on the cap. I am not sure why this crap is there, inless i am breaking something up on the block during these flushes and the new coolant. The motor has over 200k if that makes a difference, and was/is well maintained. i know because i do it :)
 
you'd be amazed at how much will cling, stay in a block... that sediment cakes down in there... i'm sure you've seen clogged block drains... thats my life all fall with the boats... sometimes it takes a couple flushes to get it all... just cuz the water is clear, doesn't mean everythings out...i always find you get the most out when you do it hot too.. obviously...
 
definately acid flush is the only way to do it. pull the thermostat. run up. dump. flush with base. dump. flush clear water over and over until clean.


I do this OFTEN on standby generators. its the only way.
 
ok, so i always hesistate to do this w/o need, as i can never get rid of the coolant?

What do you guys do with the coolant you remove? Should i not ask?

Seems like a huge chore to do it unless you work at a place that disposes of it.

On my blazer, i had it done....but they used a flush machine that put to much pressure in and cracked my radiator tank. NEVER again
 
a flush of the fluid is only good enough if the system is very very clean to start with.

acid flush is the only way to remove buildup, scale and sludge. all those things that impede heat transfer and make the system inefficient.

we use a penray product that is an organic acid, 55% Sulfamic acid actually, with some other things. Its a 2 part flush. Part 2 conditioner is a base. then rinse rinse rinse until clear.
 
Not sure about over there, but in NJ you should be able to take it to any parts store and theyll dispose of it for free.
 
I did mine at a buddies 4x4 shop, he has a recovery tank for Coolant. Otherwise maybe auto parts store, but most only take oil.
 
badmix said:
I did mine at a buddies 4x4 shop, he has a recovery tank for Coolant. Otherwise maybe auto parts store, but most only take oil.
Click to expand...


yep. convinced a lube place to take it once, but its a huge liability for them if i contaminated it.

Only place for me to take it is a special day every couple of months at the dump. And even just a single dump/refill results in lots of disposal.
 
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