Coolant Change Question

The driver and passenger side drains are kind of a pain to reach. Could I just drain the radiator at the front, refill, run engine...and repeat that 3-4 times to get a total flush?

Also, I loose about 1/4 of the coolant reservoir every 10-15,000 miles or so - indication of a small leak?

 

I did just the radiator and the reservoir, took a little less than a gal. I’ll do it again probably in a year, that way I figured I just rejuvenated it.

 

Drains are reached thru the wheel wells with an extension so pull the push pins and move the liner and easy. Pins may/will break if older so buy some before.
As for coolant going down unless in extremely dry hot state check the reservoir by pump, cap, and line between radiator and reservoir. Use a radiator pressure tester to pump it up and look for leak - free to use at most auto parts stores. Throttle body has coolant lines and heater so when looking pull that engine cover off.

 

I was told by a trusted radiator mechanic to do this if u have access to one of those radiator burp funnels and a air supply.

1. Drain radiator using petcock
2. Leave petcock open and find one of your heater core hoses and disconnect it and make sure heater is turned on (mostly for older cars)
3. Put radiator cap back on and in and blow air into the heater core
4. Coolant will start to drain from petcock and from the disconnected hose. Put a catch under ur car where coolant is leaking down
5. Once all the coolant is out, put hose back on
6. Jack up front of car and use the funnel. Fill with your choice of coolant (not going to debate prestone concentrate with distilled water vs red coolant here) and once radiator is full, turn on car and turn on heater full blast.
6. Let it get to temp so thermostat opens and let system burp. If u notice no hot air, Rev the engine a bit so it pushes coolant into heater core.
7. Once everything looks good. Top off reservoir and close radiator cap and go for a drive. Test heater core while driving make sure it works all good. If it doesn't, may need to burp more.
8. Let car cool and top off what is needed.

Whole process take about 30-45 mins depending on how long takes to get to temp and burp

I just did this on my 2016 with 95k on it. Worked like a charm. Used a little over 2 gallons.

 

Also, check by water pump ect. If there is anleak, the coolant will leave a crusty, almost like dried salt water colored residue behind. That would be an indication of a leak. Also like it was said, local auto part stores like orliey loan out testers. I have one of those coolant vacumes to refill. It's easy to tell if those don't hold a vacumme if there is anleak

 

That same partial coolant change without flushing anything strategy has worked for my 1989 Corolla for 31 years and 306,000 miles using 50% Toyota red coolant & 50% distilled water. No radiator or cooling system componet failures at all except for the water pump at 253,000 miles. Radiator has stayed clean and free of corrosion & scale buildup. I have, of course, cleaned the exterior of the radiator & AC condenser of accumulated bugs and dust a couple times over the 31 years.

 

In the past I've just disconnected the lower rad hose and did a full flush of the engine with regular water. Then reconnect and refill, making sure to get out the air bubbles in the system.

 

In the old days we would put a garden hose in the radiator, remove the drain plug, turn the water on to a trickle and start the engine, drank a beer and squeeze the radiator hose constantly.

 

Try this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFB_adKLmPg

and for those folks that want a 2.0 version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uDlJ34m9O0

Would like to hear what others think of using the vacuum refill technique....Go Team TW!

 

I would have no use for vacuum refill technique. Due to I don’t own one of those gizzmos.

 

TBH, I have done what you've suggested on several past vehicles with no problems.

But, I also don't quite understand the issue with getting to the block drains. I get to mine through the wheel well without removing the liner. Only downside is that it requires 16-18" of extensions and a wobble. Other than that it's easy, fully drained and takes less time than any of those other methods.

 

my neighborhood has the friendliest cats, includeing my wifes.

i am a total mess when i do the radiator flush. draining and disconnecting things, results in a mess. try as a i might to hit my pan. i dont love this project.

 

It's how I did mine.