Coolant Flush

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:27 pm

Guys im going to attempt to flush my cooling system on my car saturday afternoon and fit the new fanswitch. Im removing the rad and going to give it a thorough flush through also, I want to refill with 50% antifreeze, 50% water, how much does the system take in total? So I know how much to buy.

Thanks in advance.

Post by **Toddman** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:44 pm

http://www.bx16valve.co.uk/16.html

Cheers
Luke

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:55 pm

Thanks Luke.

Any pointers that I should worry about, I Know about making sure my bleed screws are open etc. Doesnt look that much of a difficult job even for the most backward of people like myself.

ed_straker · Post by **ed_straker** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:38 pm

Put on the heating, and bleed the cooling system again.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:46 pm

Will do guys thanks, my car has aircon but im sure that doesnt alter anything? May refit the compressor whilst im at it someone took it off when the rebuilt then engine after it went BANG!

Post by **Toddman** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:06 pm

It is a pretty simple job Tim but just have to be a bit carefull when lifting the rad out as it is tight against the inlet manifold and easy to damage the fins

Cheers
Luke

Post by **Adrian E** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:12 pm

As Luke says - easiest way I've found to get the rad out once you've removed the nose clips is to lift it slightly, then lift one end right up vertical and feed the radiator back over the top of the engine (hope that makes sense!)

thanuttiscotsman · Post by **thanuttiscotsman** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:13 pm

hi tim,
i was digging in about that area of my car yesterday, it was a bit of a pain so ill give you a heads up!

when you open the bonnet you will see the black plastic rad cover. on top there is 5 10ml bolts, these are the hazard. before you take them out look under and you will see the other side where the bolts screw into, they are just small bits welded on i think. check these first to see if they are rusty if they are then when you take the bolts out do it very slowy or the screw part on the other side just snaps off then its a real bugger to unscrew because you have to hold it on one side and screw it from the other.

as i found out the hard way. the bolts dont look rusty on top so i gave them the rapid ratchet treatment and snapped 2 of the bolts.

good luck im sure you will manage!

cheers rossco

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:10 pm

Thanks rossco, Ian Fearn told me the same thing so Im going to wd40 the night before hand so I dont end up snapping them.

ollie · Post by **ollie** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:30 pm

Which rad flusha re you using? some aren't that effective, the two stage ones are definately best, the halfords one, which is like the holts one, strips the rust back to shiny steel if you let it!

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:07 am

I need to get some of that lol

Was just going to flush with water?

Post by **Toddman** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:13 am

Tim - most flushes require the rad in situ and you just add them into the header tank and run the car for a while so might be worth looking into before you start dismantling things.

Cheers
Luke

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:57 am

Job Done! Bought some radflush from halfrauds, to be honest the water that came out was clean anyway, and quite blue so had antifreeze anyway. better to be sure though,

Couldnt get the rad out anyway, mines a aircon car and the pipes are restrictive.

Took a bit of doing getting the air out but Ive measued 7 litresgoing in so i think its ok and didnt get hot very quick.

Didnt have a spanner large enough for the thermoswitch so thats a job for next time.

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