Coolant Flush

By: Mark Ekberg

Here is a great way to change the anti-freeze / flush the system and not get the dreaded waterfall noise.

1. Remove the plastic junk on top of the motor. Home plate and first base.

2. Take the overflow breather off and let it drain into a bucket. This will syphon a 1/3 of the anti-freeze out of the motor.

3. Remove bottom hose to drain radiator. If you don't want to drain radiator skip to step five.

4. Put bottom hose back on and remove the top hose near the air box.

5. Move your car to a spot that you can spill some anti-freeze. Eithor push it or put the MAF back in and start it. It will only be running for a short time so nothing bad can happen. I guess you could be really smart and start the process where you can spill some anti-freeze but it was cold and windy when I did this.

6. Start car and let it push the remainder of the freeze out. Using a hose run water into the overfill container. It will suck it into the motor about as quick as the garden hose can go. Continue doing this until you see no more coolant come out. You might want to cycle the heat on to get water through the heating core. It might take a little bit for the stat to open but when it does all the old crap comes flying out. When done librally wash off all anti-freeze off the fron of your car. That stuff can't be good for the paint. IMPORTANT!!!! IF YOUR CAR IS HOT DO NOT PUMP COLD WATER INTO THE MOTOR!!! LET THE ENGINE COOL FIRST. I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONCIBLE FOR SOMEONE CRACKING THEIR BLOCK OR HEAD BECAUSE THEY WERE IMPATIENT.

7. When all the old coolant is gone stop putting water into the overflow and let the motor pump dry. When the water starts to surge out of the hose shut her down. You still have 2 gallons in the system.

8. Put all the hoses back on tightly, and start to fill the overflow container with straight anti-freeze. Remember there is still 2 gallons of water in the motor.

9. Start motor and let it suck everything in through the overflow. When it won't take anymore and the stat has opened (top hose will be warm) open the bleader valve going into the stat. It will hiss and piss and hiss and piss for a while. I would do this 6-8 times, only letting about a 1/4 of a gallon bleed out in total.

10. Put all the plastic junk back on the top of the motor, and make sure all hoses are on and tight. Don't for get the little overflow hose.

11. Keep adding until you are at the cold fill mark and go drive for a few days. Top off some morning to the cold fill and you are done.