NEW RADIATOR FILL AND BLEED

I never realized a simple drain and fill of coolant could become science projects lol.
Drain and fill:
https://www.yotatech.com/how-tos/a/toyota-tacoma-how-to-change-engine-coolant-416146
Been doing it this way for 45 years with success. To flush, just run distilled water through the cycle above a few times, add flush treatment if you want. Then do as in the link to drain and add the coolant.

 

ok i started flushing out the heater core,mine are top and bottom not side to side and i put water through the one hole and it came out the other side with some coolant then turned to water and i stopped and put it in the other hole for a minute or three and it comes out the same hole nothing from the other hole,what gives?

 

You guys have the OP disconnecting heater hoses for a simple coolant drain and fill?

 

i just put in a new radiator,what does it hurt to flush everything out as i have never done it to this truck before?

 

bump.

 

Your coolant goes through the heater core, flushing the whole system and running the engine and heater also flushes the heater core.

 

I understand that can you tell me why when i ran water through the other end of the heater core it didn't come out the opposite hole?

 

If you think this one turned into a science project just wait until he does a drain and refill on the transmission.

It's the first time the OP has done this. He has ask a lot of questions, but you have to give it to him for NOT taking it to a shop and tackling the job himself.

I saw a thread on another site where a dude had bed stiffeners put on at a shop. He asked about a missing washer on one of the bolts. One of the replys said to "hit it with your purse." Now that was funny!

 

I’ve replaced heater cores before but I’ve never done anything with my Tacoma’s heater core so don’t know the construction of it. Could be a check valve for all I know about it.

 

Haha I don’t blame the OP at all, he’s getting advice to take a lot of stuff apart is what amazes me.
Want to make sure you get a lot of air in your coolant system to have to work to get out? Drain your block. Same goes with heater core, unless you’re replacing it no need to mess with it for a simple drain and fill or a flush.

Also where is that damned transmission dipstick.

 

Everybody has different ways to do things. That's how we learn!

 

allright i've flushed it twice with distilled water and each time it only took about 6 quarts and my truck holds 9 quarts,so obviously i have air in the system should i just put the 50/50 in next time and just keep working the bubbles out?

 

Read posts #6, 9, and 18 in this thread.
Be sure to remove the radiator cap first as stated, removing the cap with the engine hot will spray you with hot coolant!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-bleed-air-out-of-radiator.582492/#post-19376970

 

i had cap off and
i poured in distilled water until it stopped sucking it in the rad so i started truck and revved it a bit and air bubbles seemed to come up but wouldn't take any more than about 5.5 to 6 quarts both times and the second flush i have yet to drain but there is some distilled water in funnel still and it's still a light shade of pink.do i really need to flush until its clear or can i just put some 50/50 in it and drive it a bit and maybe come back and see if will take more fluid?

 

Did you turn your heater on to make sure you had coolant flow through the heater core to remove trapped air? Also some water still in the block. If it were me I would drain the radiator, fill with 50/50 (or with prediluted only if that’s what you have), then do per the post link I gave you.

After a short drive and waiting for the engine to cool down an hour or so I would slowly remove the radiator cap with a rag on top and add more there if needed.

And as was said check the level in the overflow tank every day for a few days and add as needed, watching engine temp and making sure the heaters blowing hot air.

 

I did turn the heater on and revved it up a bit and air bubbles would come up bit still only took between 5.5 and 6 qts. so maybe tomorrow i'll do the 50/50 and drive it a bit.it's still a bit pink but i don't think i'm going to worry about that.Also the heater inside the truck was hot coming through the vents.

 

Sounds like a plan. If the coolant in your overflow tank is clear and no sediments you should be fine.
Toyota will tell you to flush the coolant every 3k miles or 2-3 years whichever comes first, but they love the service money. Others will say every 100k miles/5 years. I’m somewhere in between based on how clear the coolant is.

 

the color was a light pink but i flushed it twice and i thought the radiator puts fluid into the reservoir when the trucks running and i didn't see any going into it.Anyway i'll deal with it tomorrow lol

 

PUT.THE.CAP.BACK.ON.ITS.NOW.SUCKING.AIR. (which is normal and good to see, it means it circulating properly)
You are done with the hard work so to speak, now it's time to keep checking the reservoir. There should be some in when cold, just don't go for traffic drives that can overheat the engine. It took 6 quarts which is just over a gallon and a half and you just need 2 gallons. 1 gallon of 50/50 and 1 gallon distilled water (hence 50/50 fluid). Sounds like you will have enough 50/50 left over to fill the reservoir, don't mix it down, fill to "cold" line when the engine is cold.
Done.
3 Taco's since 1986, didn't do any radiator flush or change until 100K miles.

 

I meant clear as in not cloudy or any sediments, pink is fine.
Here’s how to properly fill the reservoir, the picture is of mine (2.7L engine).
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-says-the-wise-forum.755047/page-2#post-26910661