Flush before or after radiator swap?

What would you do? Typical top tank crack at the inlet as observed on numerous youtube vids, '02 3.4L. The crack is minimal, but only getting worse, though truck is still drive-able. I have to wait a week for the new radiator to arrive, but until then I have to figure out the correct way to go about this. I'm leaning towards flushing before the swap, but if I can be directed the other way with confidence, I will eagerly keep my mind open for any advice. Thanks for the help folks, I just want to do this right.

 

I replaced my radiator and did the flush afterwards to have an all brand new liquid with brand new radiator. It wouldn't hurt to do a couple flushes with the old one and another one after you swap so you don't get all the old grime into the new one.

 

1. I would drain your coolant system, install new radiator, hoses and then flush. You could use water to flush it out at first obviously. These kits are pretty sweet for getting all the air bubbles out and coolant containment.

$20 EPAuto Spill Proof Radiator Coolant Filling Funnel Kit

https://www.amazon.com/EPAuto-Radia...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=E0Y6AFA48TW9E1AFK66N

 

When you do a flush, you really are only cleaning out the radiator.

You changed the rad. Your flush is done.

New fluid, new rad. You can't do better than that.

 

I beg to differ, because after the radiator there is excess coolant left in the engine block, the heater core and the lines with spots that lie low of flow. I dug a little bit around here, and discovered an engine block coolant drain that I never knew of, so I'm gonna check that out when I start this.

I also bought the

Lisle 24680 Spill-Free Funnel, Standard Adapters, 11 x 7 x 7"es

Lisle #24680 flush kit, that will pay for itself in two flushes.

 

I just think you are wasting your time and overthinking it.

90percent of the old fluid will come out.

Rads are so cheap, I consider them disposable. Every 100k, install a new one.

New coolant, new rad, good for the next 100 k.

 

Ya know, you're right. New rad, flush it, call it good. Thanks koditten for settling me down

 

No big deal. As I get older, I realize what gives us the best bang for the buck.

You can do a rad change and coolant swap in an hour. Your truck will thank by taking you were you want go.

I'm guessing you are one of the smart ones that plan on driving the Tacoma for as long as possible. Car payments ain't your bag.

 

This can be a slippery slope the way I look at things !

Depends just why the radiator is being replaced .

One has to remember not all vehicles are taken care of as well as most on here .

Would you just replace a Radiator on a cooling system that has not seen new coolant since it came off the line and was lucky enough to not blow a hose or head gasket in 15 years to the radiator is pretty much blocked solid ??

 

I've made a lifetime of bad decisions, but I like to think of myself being smart for wanting to drive my Taco into the ground, car payments suck.

I'm the third owner of this money pit, the previous two owners barely did any maintenance. Now it's up to me to shell out the moola to keep her goin'.