A cooling system ensures that the car functions smoothly without overheating, which is why it is important to keep the cooling system clear of debris. Using a radiator flush, you can easily deep clean your car; removing any sediments accumulated in the engine or radiator and allowing the system to operate efficiently. However, if left unchecked the debris can clog up the engine entirely. It is therefore, necessary to know the right way of flushing the system. Read along so you can learn how to flush an engine radiator by yourself and increase the lifespan of your car’s engine.
Other Possibilities of Overheating
There can be several reasons why the car starts to overheat. You need to eliminate all other possibilities before you decide to flush the car’s cooling system.
- Check for coolant leaks. In particular, check the radiator hoses and radiator cap, as these components are most prone to leaks. If you spot any leakages, take the necessary steps to stop antifreeze leaks. If the radiator is leaking, you can either use a radiator stop leak or replace it with a new radiator.
- Check if the radiator fan is working fine; if not, replace it with a new radiator fan.
- Check and top up antifreeze if the coolant level is lower than the amount required.
- Check if the engine is running low on oil. Top it up with new engine oil if needed.
Why the System needs Flushing
The Sediment build-up inside the engine and the radiator causes obstruction in the flow of coolant. The obstruction can eventually cause the engine to overheat and stop functioning.
To remove any sediment build-up and debris from the system, you can use a good radiator flush to thoroughly clean it. But first you need drain out the coolant.
Draining out the System
Before you learn how to flush an engine radiator of a cooling a system, it is important you know how to drain the coolant out. Follow these steps for draining out the coolant.
Safety Warning
Car coolants are extremely toxic and hazardous to the environment. Don’t let any small animals or children come in contact with the coolant. Dispose of the drained fluid responsibly.
- Step 1 – Get a draining pan and place it underneath the car below the radiator’s draining valve.
- Step 2 – Open the draining valve and allow the coolant to flow out. If there is no draining valve, loosen the bottom hose from the radiator so that the coolant may flow out.
- Step 3 – Empty the drained coolant using a funnel in clearly marked bottles.
- Step 4 – Discard the bottles carefully so that the drained fluid doesn’t come in contact with any living thing.
Flushing out the System
Once the coolant has been drained, you can now proceed to flushing process.
To flush out a car’s cooling system, you need to follow these steps.
- Step 1 – You need to close the radiator’s draining valve from underneath the car.
- Step 2 – You now need to add the radiator flush inside the radiator and close it with its cap.
- Step 3 – Now start the ignition and turn the heater all the way up for at least 5 minutes so that the flush can flow throughout the system.
- Step 4 – You now need cool down the engine for 15-20 minutes before you can proceed to remove the cap. For removing the cap, place a cloth on top of it and press it down before turning it gently. At this point, you will start hearing hissing noises.
- Step 5 – Take off the cap as the hissing stops. It is necessary to wait for the hissing noise to stop to avoid any accidents with the high-pressure fluid pouring out.
- Step 6 – Now place an empty container underneath the car and let the fluid mixture out of the draining valve.
- Step 7 – Discard the drained fluid responsibly.
Keep repeating the steps until you feel the fluid is free from any guck or debris.
Once the radiator flush has been drained out, you can also remove the radiator and engine block separately and flush them out thoroughly.
Flushing the engine
- See if there is a draining tap on the engine block; turn the tap on.
- Disconnect the upper hose from the thermostat stub present on the water pump.
- Pull out the thermostat by unbolting the housing, where the thermostat is present.
- Use a high-power washer to flush the engine block from that point.
- Collect the fluid that comes out in a draining bucket.
- Carefully dispose of the fluid as it may still contain the toxic remains of the coolant.
- Continue the flushing process till the water clears out.
- Place all the components back to their original positions.
Flushing the Radiator
- Remove the radiator by disconnecting the radiator hoses and dismounting it from its metal frame inside the car by unbolting it.
- Pull it out of the car and place it upright.
- Use a power washer to flush the radiator out from the point where the upper hose is connected.
- Collect all the flushed-out fluid from the lower hose stub.
- Continue the flushing process till the water clears out.
- Carefully dispose of the fluid as it may still contain toxic remains of the coolant.
- Now remount the radiator back in the car and connect the hoses back.
Once the flushing process is complete, you can now top up the system with a fresh antifreeze coolant and water mixture in the recommended ratios mentioned on the antifreeze bottle.
Note: It is better that you use distilled water along with antifreeze coolant. Tap water contains many contaminants that can hinder the performance of the coolant and can also accelerate rusting in the metal components like the core plugs or radiator.
Knowing how to flush an engine radiator can help ensure that no sediments or sludge gets trapped inside the system and hinders the performance of the engine. Routine flushing of the system along with regular maintenance can help prolong your car’s life significantly.
