Trying to do a DIY Radiator flush

[hassanbigboss]

Okay so here is the story....got a 1998 Camry V6 with 170,xxx miles.....bought it used in 2006 so no idea if the previous owner did any radiator flush or not.....so now I have the Prestone Radiator flush kit but don't know what to do or where to start.....my timing belt was replaced and so was the water pump about 10000 miles ago but I don't know where the water pump is located . I don't know if I need to know where the water pump is in order to flush the radiator properly. I have heard that there is some kind of a radiator flush bolt towards the back of the engine but I don't know how to locate that either. According to the directions on the Prestone Radiator Flush there are two hoses coming from the firewall......one goes to the water pump and the other to the engine......I was able to locate the two hoses that are located on the firewall towards the middle of the engine....now when I followed those two they came to the top of the engine from the right side (when looking at the engine from the front)....i did not see them go to any water pump or anything.......now if someone could please post clear instructions or even better pictures on how to do this I would really appreciate it

I am a broke college student who cannot afford to go to a mechanic so I need all the help I can get from you guys........as requested.....pics would be the best if possible

[Stangar]

My Camry has 180,000 miles on it and I purchased it new. It has never had a flush. I just drain the coolant from the radiator and refill with coolant and distilled water every two years. It helps if you have the front of the car pointed downhill. The drain is usually located on the radiator near the bottom on the passenger side of the car.

If you don't get all that flush out of there you can create some real problems.

[hassanbigboss]

Originally Posted by Stangar

My Camry has 180,000 miles on it and I purchased it new. It has never had a flush. I just drain the coolant from the radiator and refill with coolant and distilled water every two years. It helps if you have the front of the car pointed downhill. The drain is usually located on the radiator near the bottom on the passenger side of the car.

If you don't get all that flush out of there you can create some real problems.

Okay thanks....I will try that

[Kep]

Get the flush kit that Prestone sells, read the directions and splice the plastic T into one of your heater hoses. Then you drain the coolant, hook a hose up to the T and run fresh water through (again, per the directions, with the radiator cap off and I'm pretty sure that you're supposed to do this with the engine running). Then you add the flush mix and again run the engine per directions. Then you hook the hose up again and run the hose into the system again until the water coming out of the radiator cap is clear.

That is all from memory. If the directions are different, follow the directions!

Kep

[hassanbigboss]

thanks Kep I will do that......hopefully I dont f*** it up

[Stillrunning]

I've used the Prestone Kits in the past but decided to follow Stangar's method since last year. The Prestone Kit is a big pain if you have an ounce of environmental consideration. Takes a lot of flushing and water in 5 gallon container for proper disposal. Then you have to calculate how much anti-freeze for plain water left in the system. Even easier than Stangar's suggestion is to purchase the pre-mixed anti-freeze and save yourself the mixing. I would suggest you empty the overflow as well.

[hassanbigboss]

Originally Posted by Stillrunning

I've used the Prestone Kits in the past but decided to follow Stangar's method since last year. The Prestone Kit is a big pain if you have an ounce of environmental consideration. Takes a lot of flushing and water in 5 gallon container for proper disposal. Then you have to calculate how much anti-freeze for plain water left in the system. Even easier than Stangar's suggestion is to purchase the pre-mixed anti-freeze and save yourself the mixing. I would suggest you empty the overflow as well.

okay thanks......just so I am clear to everyone......I don't have the actual flush mix itself but just the kit with the parts.....I figured I just want to take out ALL of the old fluid with the help of a hose and just add the premixed anti freeze that I have into the radiator......would this be the right thing to do?

[Stillrunning]

You may not to have to replace the entire system. If in doubt then just drain, refill, run car for about 20 minutes, let cool completely, drain and refill again. That should do just fine. Be sure to dispose of the old A/F in a recycling center.

[sheepish_fixer]

Originally Posted by Stillrunning

You may not to have to replace the entire system. If in doubt then just drain, refill, run car for about 20 minutes, let cool completely, drain and refill again. That should do just fine. Be sure to dispose of the old A/F in a recycling center.

this is great advice...if you flush your system with a garden hose, you are putting in water with heavy mineral deposits...only distilled water should ever be used in your system (this will dramatically improve your cooling systems lifespan).

Drain your system, and refill with with coolant and distilled water...driver the car for a day or two.

then

Drain your system, and refill with with coolant and distilled water...driver the car for a day or two.

then

Drain your system, and refill with with coolant and distilled water...driver the car for a day or two.

Now your system is clean

[hassanbigboss]

Originally Posted by sheepish_fixer

this is great advice...if you flush your system with a garden hose, you are putting in water with heavy mineral deposits...only distilled water should ever be used in your system (this will dramatically improve your cooling systems lifespan).

Drain your system, and refill with with coolant and distilled water...driver the car for a day or two.

then

Drain your system, and refill with with coolant and distilled water...driver the car for a day or two.

then

Drain your system, and refill with with coolant and distilled water...driver the car for a day or two.

Now your system is clean

sweet......thanks for the advice......i will make sure I use distilled water and take all the old fluid to a recycling center....dont wanna cause anymore global warming and be the reason for dirty streams

[Kep]

I don't argue with any of the environmental concerns above. I'm reluctant to admit that I just drain the antifreeze that I can to recycle and then hose flush the remainder. After hose flushing I do fill with distilled water and then drain that before adding the antifreeze and topping with distilled water. I forgot to mention that.

I prefer the method using the concentrated antifreeze and then diluting to the correct concentration. After flushing the system with plain water (or distilled water, I like that...) there will be water remaining in the system. Adding 50/50 mix will give you a lower concentration of antifreeze. This isn't a big deal. However, if you put the correct amount of concentrated antifreeze in the system and then top it off (distilled water is good) you will always have the correct concentration. A little math never hurt anyone .

Kep

[hassanbigboss]

Originally Posted by Kep

I don't argue with any of the environmental concerns above. I'm reluctant to admit that I just drain the antifreeze that I can to recycle and then hose flush the remainder. After hose flushing I do fill with distilled water and then drain that before adding the antifreeze and topping with distilled water. I forgot to mention that.

I prefer the method using the concentrated antifreeze and then diluting to the correct concentration. After flushing the system with plain water (or distilled water, I like that...) there will be water remaining in the system. Adding 50/50 mix will give you a lower concentration of antifreeze. This isn't a big deal. However, if you put the correct amount of concentrated antifreeze in the system and then top it off (distilled water is good) you will always have the correct concentration. A little math never hurt anyone .

Kep

sounds good.......will do as stated thanks

[sheepish_fixer]

Originally Posted by hassanbigboss

.dont wanna cause anymore global warming and be the reason for dirty streams

my pleasure - not only is anti freeze bad for the environment - it's lethal for cats (one teaspoon) dogs (one tablespoon) children and men and women.

The method of death is rumored to be very painful - your kidneys shut down, sending a signal to your brain to stop eating...so you're starving to death, with high levels of toxins in your blood.

For some reason, cats really seem to love it?

[hassanbigboss]

Originally Posted by sheepish_fixer

my pleasure - not only is anti freeze bad for the environment - it's lethal for cats (one teaspoon) dogs (one tablespoon) children and men and women.

The method of death is rumored to be very painful - your kidneys shut down, sending a signal to your brain to stop eating...so you're starving to death, with high levels of toxins in your blood.

For some reason, cats really seem to love it?

Yeah I understand........my friends cat died a couple of months ago because she drank some of that antifreeze.......his car was leaking that stuff from a cracked radiator hose......from what I know......they like the sweet smell......companies should start doing something about this and put something in the solution that repels cats instead

[sheepish_fixer]

Originally Posted by hassanbigboss

Yeah I understand........my friends cat died a couple of months ago because she drank some of that antifreeze.......:

I'm very sorry to hear that...all of my pets are like my children, it would hurt me terribly if I knew one of them died because they drank coolant.

I think some brands are less lethal/ more environmentally friendly - but I've been told they aren't as good as the older types...might be worth looking into.

And I'm not sure if your local parts store (autozone, pep boys, etc, etc) are required to take your old coolant...I know in Georgia, they are legally required to take used oil...not sure about coolant.