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Radiator Flushing


94RangerMike

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OK, I need to flush my radiator...I have gunk build up around the spout.

The repair manual says to get Motorcraft or equivilent radiator flushing stuff and follow the instructions. Then, unhook the heater hoses and flush them...

My question is whether or not this is the best procedure because a mechanic said, "You can't flush your radiator with something you buy in a bottle. You have to hook it up to this heated pressure washer thing and blow all the crud out."

So...auto parts store or mechanic guy???
 


LearjetMinako

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You can buy and use a coolant flush in a bottle. At work, its pretty much the same thing. Only difference is the new coolant is being pumped in as the old coolant is pumped out at the same time.

This is how I coolant flush my vehicles at home: 1x bottle of coolant flush and Xx amount of coolant needed for vehicle.
1. Drain coolant
2. Add coolant flush and re-fill with clean water
3. Run engine for 15min after thermostat has opened with heater on
4. Drain coolant system
5. Re-fill coolant system with clean water
6. Run engine for 15mins after thermostat has opened with heater on
7. Drain coolant system, but this time leave the peacock open
8. Countiously re-fill coolant system with clean water and run the engine with the heater on
9. Stop engine when water comes out clean and clear from drain peacock
10. Drain coolant system
11. Re-fill coolant system with right amount and mixture of anti-freeze

Coolant resisvor:
1. Drain coolant
2. Pull hose from bottom of tank
3. Spray and flush with clean water until tank is clean
4. Re-connect hose
5. Re-fill with right amount and mixture of anti-freeze
 

mrvanwinkles

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Flush - then they plugged the heater core bypass hose!

After a required coolant system flush, and required *separate* heater core flush ... the RAD shop (not a Ford Dealership ...) they put PLUGS (!) in the heater core bypass hose [which they had cut a short section out of] to get access to flush the heater core separately!

Let me explain in more detail.

No heat inside the car (winter time - very important for defrosting - cold climate - CANADA)

Took it to a RAD shop who said you need a system flush and refill.

They did a separate flush on the Heater core too with their machine.

Ok. That fixed the "NO HEAT" issue really good.

BUT ...

Behind the engine, near the top, inside engine compartment, on firewall, are a series of coolant hoses and steel pipes leading thru the firewall to the heater core. And then there is a short section of hose leading between the two lines, that is, I believe, a BYPASS to the heater core.

The guys at the RAD shop cut the bypass to hook up their flush machine ...

When done, they JUST PLUGGED them with 2 short 1/2 inch bolts and clamps!

A year later, I notice the Temp Guage goes up and down ... and the electric fans on the RAD cycle on and off alot. (never did this normally before ?)

I got in behind there, replaced those PLUGS with a piece of 1/2 copper pipe so the BYPASS flowed again ... like original.

Seems to have stopped temp up & down now. More normal operation. Fan does not cycle so much.

Geeeess... why the heck did the RAD shop do that ???

I think that could cause big trouble. Engine trouble and hot spots.
They should NEVER EVER do that. I am really surprised a RAD shop did that.

Any comments anyone?

I think make sure they don't plug your heater core bypass hose...
Tell em' NOT to do that. Check yourself and make sure they don't do that.

Yeesh.

(by the way, it was on a 2000 3.0 L V6 FORD TAURUS SE car... not a Ranger truck... but I wanted to post this anyway ... to advise and warn others.)
 

adsm08

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Yeah, that was pretty stupid of them. I personally prefer the one that puts a by-pass valve line on the thermostat hose. Just more effective that way, and no cutting of hoses.
 

adsm08

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OK, I need to flush my radiator...I have gunk build up around the spout.

The repair manual says to get Motorcraft or equivilent radiator flushing stuff and follow the instructions. Then, unhook the heater hoses and flush them...

My question is whether or not this is the best procedure because a mechanic said, "You can't flush your radiator with something you buy in a bottle. You have to hook it up to this heated pressure washer thing and blow all the crud out."

So...auto parts store or mechanic guy???
Well, yes and no. There is a cleaning solution that you need to put in and run it for a while. 10 to 15 minutes or so. It will chemically scour scale and corrosion from the inside of the cooling system. Then you have to hook it up to a machine, that will remove the old coolant while putting new back in. There are two styles in general use, in-line (my preferred) which uses the engine pump to push old coolant out and suck new coolant in.

The other style is vacuum based, it sucks the old coolant out, pulls a vacuum on the system and then uses the vacuum to refill the system.
 

mrvanwinkles

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re: My head asplode ... (Flakes by Frank Zappa)

Haa haa !

Mountain Mike said:
My head asplode.
Flakes by Frank Zappa said:
And if you do not pay
They got computer collectors
That'll get you so crazy
Til your head'll go through th' ceilin'

Full Lyrics:

FLAKES by Frank Zappa


Flakes! Flakes!
Flakes! Flakes!

They don't do no good
They never be workin'
When they oughta should
They waste your time
They're wastin' mine
California's got the most of them
Boy, they got a host of them
Swear t'God they got the most
At every business on the coast
Swear t'God they got the most
At every business on the coast
They got the Flakes

Flakes! Flakes!

They can't fix yer brakes
You ask 'em, "Where's my motor?"
"Well it was eaten by snakes . . ."
You can stab 'n' shoot 'n' spit
But they won't be fixin' it
They're lyin' an' lazy
They can be drivin' you crazy
Swear t'God they got the most
At every business on the coast
Swear t'God they got the most
At every business on the coast
[Take it away, Bob. . .]

[Singer is now imitating Bob Dillon ... haa ... haa]

I asked as nice as I could
If my job would
Somehow be finished by Friday
Well, the whole damn weekend
Came 'n' went, Frankie
[Wanna buy some mandies, Bob?]
'N'they didn't do nothin'
But they charged me double for Sunday
You know, no matter what you do
They gonna cheat 'n' rob you
Then they'll send you a bill
That'll get your senses reelin'
And if you do not pay
They got computer collectors
That'll get you so crazy
Til your head'll go through th' ceilin'
Yes it will!

[ singer back to Frank Zappa now ... ]

I'm a moron 'n' this is my wife
She's frosting a cake
With a paper knife
All what we got here's
American made
It's a little bit cheesey,
But it's nicely displayed
Well we don't get excited when it
Crumbles 'n' breaks
We just get on the phone
And call up some Flakes
They rush on over
'N' wreck it some more
'N' we are so dumb
They're linin' up at our door
Well, the toilet went crazy
Yesterday afternoon
The plumber he says
"Never flush a tampoon!"
This great information
Cost me half a week's pay
And the toilet blew up
Later on the next day ay-eee-ay
Blew up the next day WOO-OOO
We are millions 'n' millions
We're coming to get you
We're protected by unions
So don't let it upset you
Can't escape the conclusion
It's probably God's Will
That civilization
Will grind to a standstill
And we are the people
Who will make it all happen
While yer children is sleepin',
Yer puppy is crappin'
You might call us Flakes
Or something else you might coin us
But we know you're so greedy
That you'll probably join us
We're comin' to get you, we're comin' to get you
We're comin' to get you, we're comin' to get you
We're comin' to get you, we're comin' to get you
We're comin' to get you, we're comin' to get you


[ hillarious ... listen to this song sometime ... ]
 

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