Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (February 1997)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 21 Feb 1997 11:21:08 -0400 (AST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         smitht@unb.ca (Tim Smith)
Subject:      Re: coolant system flush ideas?

Coolant Flushing, IMHO....

0) get the engine warm enough to open the thermostat, turn heater valves all full on.

1) take off lower grill and with a pair of vice grips open the spring clip on the lower rad hose (pass. side), wiggle it down and off, and dump the old coolant into a bucket, then ditch properly. Slip the hose back on without clamp. To really dump all the coolant from the block you need to remove 2 Allen head bolts drom underneath the cylinders between the pushrod tubes, which are covered by the gravel shields. PITA!

2) Stuff a garden hose in the main reservoir in back and fill it up, then start the engine and keep filling. Let the engine get warmed up again and moving coolant in entire system, then shut off and do 1) again.

3) Refill again, and add some rad flush chem (i used a liquid Prestone, not the powder highly caustic one) and run it well up to temp, 15-20 minutes. Easiest way is to put the hose clamp back on and go for a drive.

4) Dump out the gray and greasy water/flush in disgust, then repeat 1) and 2) until the water is coming out clear. May take 3 or 4 tries as you are not properly draining the engine block each time, just the rad and hoses.

5)There will be about a gallon of coolant left in the system each rinse, so when it comes time to add fresh coolant mix up 1/2 gallon and add that. After connecting everything back up run the engine to get a good mixing and add straight antifreeze and run for a few minutes then check coolant strength. Just adding premixed 70/30 ratio will result in a very weak mix that will freeze. Always verify the strength. Needless to say, have fun bleeding the airbubbles out as you refill!!

Tim


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.