How to flush coolant and radiator
10-17-2014, 09:44 AM
#31
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If Any of you guys here could check out the other thread i posted that'd be great, having what i think is a battery problem but i didnt want to change the topic of this thread.
On topic: think my cooling system is all good finally, thank you guys for all the help and advice, learning a lot about how the cooling system works in the process
On topic: think my cooling system is all good finally, thank you guys for all the help and advice, learning a lot about how the cooling system works in the process
10-17-2014, 10:13 AM
#33
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An alternative to garden hose flushing is to simply drain the cooling system by removing the bottom rad hose from the water pump and removing the rad cap. U'll get about 2.5 gals of old coolant/crud out....especially if u have the front of the vehicle lower than the rear.
Once it's drained and with the vehicle back on level ground, fill it with fresh 50/50. The fresh coolant will probably start to darken in color fairly quickly (keep an eye on it, inspect frequently, motor COLD). When coolant starts to darken, do the drain and refill again. The interval between drain/refills will become longer before coolant color starts to darken. Drain/refill long before coolant gets to the color shown in the pic above. The coolant in that pic is from owner neglect.
Once it's drained and with the vehicle back on level ground, fill it with fresh 50/50. The fresh coolant will probably start to darken in color fairly quickly (keep an eye on it, inspect frequently, motor COLD). When coolant starts to darken, do the drain and refill again. The interval between drain/refills will become longer before coolant color starts to darken. Drain/refill long before coolant gets to the color shown in the pic above. The coolant in that pic is from owner neglect.
10-17-2014, 10:28 AM
#34
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Year: 1998
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An alternative to garden hose flushing is to simply drain the cooling system by removing the bottom rad hose from the water pump and removing the rad cap. U'll get about 2.5 gals of old coolant/crud out....especially if u have the front of the vehicle lower than the rear.
Once it's drained and with the vehicle back on level ground, fill it with fresh 50/50. The fresh coolant will probably start to darken in color fairly quickly (keep an eye on it, inspect frequently, motor COLD). When coolant starts to darken, do the drain and refill again. The interval between drain/refills will become longer before coolant color starts to darken. Drain/refill long before coolant gets to the color shown in the pic above. The coolant in that pic is from owner neglect.
Once it's drained and with the vehicle back on level ground, fill it with fresh 50/50. The fresh coolant will probably start to darken in color fairly quickly (keep an eye on it, inspect frequently, motor COLD). When coolant starts to darken, do the drain and refill again. The interval between drain/refills will become longer before coolant color starts to darken. Drain/refill long before coolant gets to the color shown in the pic above. The coolant in that pic is from owner neglect.
The sad part is he had some quick-lube place "flush" the cooling system last year a few months before I bought it. That's why I've been changing all the fluids, even if the old paperwork said it's been done. The only thing left is a brake fluid flush, and I just picked up a new adapter for my Motive power bleeder to fit the Jeep. And power steering as well. Everything else has been done. F/R diffs, TC, trans, coolant.
10-17-2014, 04:09 PM
#35
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Year: 1998
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True, though to be fair, I just bought this thing earlier this year, so it was the previous owner's neglect. The sad part is he had some quick-lube place "flush" the cooling system last year a few months before I bought it. That's why I've been changing all the fluids, even if the old paperwork said it's been done. The only thing left is a brake fluid flush, and I just picked up a new adapter for my Motive power bleeder to fit the Jeep. And power steering as well. Everything else has been done. F/R diffs, TC, trans, coolant.
The sad part is he had some quick-lube place "flush" the cooling system last year a few months before I bought it. That's why I've been changing all the fluids, even if the old paperwork said it's been done. The only thing left is a brake fluid flush, and I just picked up a new adapter for my Motive power bleeder to fit the Jeep. And power steering as well. Everything else has been done. F/R diffs, TC, trans, coolant. Just kidding.If it was actually done (flushed and refilled with new/fresh), I find it hard to believe that what's in those jugs is only a few months old.
Now u have a better idea what to look for/at when considering a used vehicle. It's pretty easy to spot neglect when u know what to look for.
10-17-2014, 05:25 PM
#36
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It's actually in really good condition, old coolant aside. Paint looks really good. Interior is mint. Engine pulls hard and burns just about no oil. It used to leak but I fixed that with new oil filter adapted o-rings.
10-17-2014, 06:35 PM
#37
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10-18-2014, 07:44 AM
#38
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
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First, I would not mix vinegar and laundry detergent. I have no idea what would happen!
It might be no problem, but it might be.... very interesting! 
Second, I just dump the SA8 into the radiator with whatever is in there (yes, it's fine with the coolant), put the cap on, and go back to normal life for a month or so. Let your normal driving run the stuff through the system.
THEN do the flush with the garden hose.
If your system is so gunked up that nothing is flowing through the heater core, you might want to do the garden hose before the SA8 treatment. If so, when you refill, just use water. Don't waste money on coolant since you're going to dump it in a few weeks. Of course, that assumes you don't need to worry about freezing.
Once it's all clean, put her back together, refill with the proper coolant mix, and enjoy!
10-18-2014, 07:46 AM
#39
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