Help Flushing Coolant: Brand/Ratio/Tips/Amount/ETC
Discussion
I noticed some wild temperature swings yesterday (on a very cold after a short but very spirited run) which incidentally don't match what Freescan says (i.e., the fans come on at about 92 when the gauge reads over 100. very odd), but anyway...
I noticed that my header and expansion tanks are almost empty. The tank is also filled with a lot of pink deposits on the walls. Is this typical?
Anyway, I think I'll flush it. I have the service notes, but I don't know what coolant product is best, how much to buy, and was hoping you all might have other tips.
I appreciate it!
Luke.
I noticed that my header and expansion tanks are almost empty. The tank is also filled with a lot of pink deposits on the walls. Is this typical?
Anyway, I think I'll flush it. I have the service notes, but I don't know what coolant product is best, how much to buy, and was hoping you all might have other tips.
I appreciate it!
Luke.
What a pain in the ass. I spent most of the day on this and only got about half way done. I also managed to splash antifreeze in my face and get it all over my garage floor. Fun.
What I ended up doing (because that drain plug is a sick joke) is:
1) Disconnecting the passenger's (right side) radiator hose and opening the header tank cap and draining as much as I could.
2) Turning the engine on and letting the water pump flush out even more.
3) Refitting the hose and opening the air bleed bolt on the top left side of the radiator and flushing the system with water until the fluid coming out of the radiator was clear.
3) Refitting the bolt and adding two bottles of Prestone Cooling System Flush.
4) Running the car for 15 minutes.
..this is where I am now. I have not removed the cleaning fluid and won't for two weeks until I return to my garage.
I plan on flushing a couple more times with water (distilled) and then adding a mixture of coolant/water and water wetter and hoping for the best.
Luke.
Someone once suggested hooking a wet & dry shop vac to the hose and sucking the coolant out that way. Seems like a good idea to me. Also, take a garden hose with a high pressure nozzle on the end and blast out the funk from the back side of the radiator. That made all the difference in the world for me.
Dr.Hess
Dr.Hess
Yes, drain plug is a pain to get to... I drilled a small hole inline with the plug in the glass duct so I can slip a 1/4-inch socket extension thru then put a 10mm socket on it and remove it. Works fine but can be messy.
I use a mity-vac (7 liter capacity) and drain coolant from the header tank first, then via the rear bleed screw on the V8 engine downpipe and finally via the bleed plug on the radiator. This easily gets the bulk of the coolant out and limits the mess. Dropping the hoses is the last part and you just get wet in the process.
I finally switched over to Mercedes-Benz antifreeze mixed at 1:3 with distilled water. I was using Prestone green but in 3 years (and 4 coolants swaps) I have had far too many deposits and other crud... the coolant level sensor in the header tank literally clogged up with gunk recently and the light came on. Yet, my 1993 Benz has had 2-3 year coolant swaps since new and is still clean and deposit free and the car has an alloy radiator and head on a cast iron block. I'm hoping for better results on the Esprit with the swap.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
I use a mity-vac (7 liter capacity) and drain coolant from the header tank first, then via the rear bleed screw on the V8 engine downpipe and finally via the bleed plug on the radiator. This easily gets the bulk of the coolant out and limits the mess. Dropping the hoses is the last part and you just get wet in the process.
I finally switched over to Mercedes-Benz antifreeze mixed at 1:3 with distilled water. I was using Prestone green but in 3 years (and 4 coolants swaps) I have had far too many deposits and other crud... the coolant level sensor in the header tank literally clogged up with gunk recently and the light came on. Yet, my 1993 Benz has had 2-3 year coolant swaps since new and is still clean and deposit free and the car has an alloy radiator and head on a cast iron block. I'm hoping for better results on the Esprit with the swap.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
I recommend the Toyota coolant as well. It is intended to be used in enviroments with a high amount of aluminum.
As for the temp swings, remember that the coolant temp sensor that feeds the ECM is not the same sensor that feeds the guage, they are in different places sampling different flows of coolant.
As for the temp swings, remember that the coolant temp sensor that feeds the ECM is not the same sensor that feeds the guage, they are in different places sampling different flows of coolant.
I did this two days ago. Used 1 gal Toyota red, about 10 bucks, and 2 gal distilled water, about a dollar. With a charge cooler, I would budget an extra gallon of each. Not sure how much more coolant you need, but it will certainly be more than 1 gallon and less than 2 and they only sell it by the gallon.
http://karmavore.net/images/SH20040712/SH20040712002.jpg
Man, Luke, you paid $7.50 a quart for Mobil 1? And bought an extra quart as well? My car takes 6 quarts. I think I could drive down to Wally World, buy you 6 quarts, send it to you Fed Ex and still come out ahead at those prices. And $26.52 for an oil filter? WIX are like $6. Guess you have to pay to worship at Mecca.
Dr.Hess
'89 non-SE
>> Edited by Dr.Hess on Wednesday 15th December 22:26
http://karmavore.net/images/SH20040712/SH20040712002.jpg
Man, Luke, you paid $7.50 a quart for Mobil 1? And bought an extra quart as well? My car takes 6 quarts. I think I could drive down to Wally World, buy you 6 quarts, send it to you Fed Ex and still come out ahead at those prices. And $26.52 for an oil filter? WIX are like $6. Guess you have to pay to worship at Mecca.
Dr.Hess
'89 non-SE
>> Edited by Dr.Hess on Wednesday 15th December 22:26
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