Replacing Radiator, should I replace it THEN do an engine radiator flush

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66DartSedan

66DartSedan

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Or do a radiator/engine flush first THEN put on the new radiator. It sounds silly I'm sure, but I don't have access to a water hose. I'm doing this parked on the side of the road. So to clean my entire engine I bought Prestone rad flush + cleaner. Seems like doing the flush with the old radiator will do two things, clean the engine inside of rust and what not, and should the old rad spring some leaks, no problem as I'll be replacing it right away. Sounds like a good plan? Kinda low on options, except, perhaps...try to use the hose at local car wash lol
 
You don't want any possible crud in the new radiator................................
 
emsvitil said:
You don't want any possible crud in the new radiator................................
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Right and since I dont have access to a hose. I'm hoping this will be enough to clean out without sticking a hose thru the block: Whaddya think?

Screen Shot 2018-08-23 at 9.05.10 PM.png
 
  • ENSURE engine is off and cool.
  • DRAIN radiator then close drain ****.
  • POUR entire contents of bottle into radiator and fill with water. Use two bottles for systems larger than 12 quarts.
  • RUN engine with heater on high for 10 minutes after reaching normal operating temperature.
  • COOL engine. Remove radiator cap and drain radiator. Close drain **** and refill with water.
  • REPLACE radiator cap and run engine again with heater on high for 10 minutes after reaching normal operating temperature.
  • COOL engine before installing new antifreeze/coolant.
 
Bodyperson said:
  • ENSURE engine is off and cool.
  • DRAIN radiator then close drain ****.
  • POUR entire contents of bottle into radiator and fill with water. Use two bottles for systems larger than 12 quarts.
  • RUN engine with heater on high for 10 minutes after reaching normal operating temperature.
  • COOL engine. Remove radiator cap and drain radiator. Close drain **** and refill with water.
  • REPLACE radiator cap and run engine again with heater on high for 10 minutes after reaching normal operating temperature.
  • COOL engine before installing new antifreeze/coolant.
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Right I got the directions no problem there I guess really all I'm asking is will using this Prestone be enough to clean out the engine in preparation for putting in my new radiator
 
I know you mentioned no access to a hose.
But i think its necessary to get rid of the rad flush out of the engine.

Had a jeep a while back, pulled thermostat,replaced housing and disconnected hoses off rad, engine cold and stuffed garden hose into lower rad hose and a rag to close gap.
Run hose start engine and let the fresh water carry out all the junk.
 
66DartSedan said:
Right I got the directions no problem there I guess really all I'm asking is will using this Prestone be enough to clean out the engine in preparation for putting in my new radiator
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Take some water with you. You dont need a hose to flush it . Just follow the instructions.
I guess you dont know if its enough until you try. Maybe do it twice. I dont know.
 
Bodyperson said:
Take some water with you. You dont need a hose to flush it . Just follow the instructions.
I guess you dont know if its enough until you try. Maybe do it twice. I dont know.
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okay thanks, ill leave it in for 2 days perhaps thatll give some extra cleaning action.
 
I'd do a couple of 'just water' flushes before the cleaner.

Use empty milk jugs and walk back and forth to water tap.
 
emsvitil said:
I'd do a couple of 'just water' flushes before the cleaner.

Use empty milk jugs and walk back and forth to water tap.
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So you're saying, get some distilled water, say 3 gallons, empty the shitty old radiator, fill it with water...run it etc for 10 or so min....drain.....do that again...and then put in prestone...run it etc, drain it....then replace the radiator with the new one?
 
I'm not a fan of any chemical flushes. My dad always used a heaping cup of cascade powder. Drain coolant. Cup of cascade. Fill with water. Idle until thermostat opens with heater on. Drain and refill with water. Repeat idle until thermostat opens. Drain, replace radiator, New thermostat, coolant fill.
Dad's take was cascade would clean and rinse out easily.
 
66DartSedan said:
So you're saying, get some distilled water, say 3 gallons, empty the shitty old radiator, fill it with water...run it etc for 10 or so min....drain.....do that again...and then put in prestone...run it etc, drain it....then replace the radiator with the new one?
Click to expand...

Plain old tap water is good enough for this.

Do until it flushes clean.
 
66DartSedan said:
Right and since I dont have access to a hose. I'm hoping this will be enough to clean out without sticking a hose thru the block: Whaddya think?

View attachment 1715214523
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That'll clean surfaces, but it won't do squat to get the rust sediment out of the block and around the cylinders.
It's not just dirty coolant you need to try and get out, but more about sediment and that flush chemical won't help that part one bit.
Like I said earlier, you would be shocked what comes out of a block with the combination of water and air both.
Around the bases of the cylinders is where the highest concentration of heat is in an engine, and also happens to be where sediments collect and cause hot spots due to insufficient coolant access.

But a man has to do what a man has to do with what he has to do it with.:D
 
Good grief. Just take it to an oil change shop, Jiffy Lube, whatever, and have them do a radiator flush. Just tell the tech to run the machine 'til it runs clean, then drive it home and swap the radiator.

I'm all for doing everything yourself and saving a buck, but, if you don't even have access to a hose you're not going to do a very good job of it. With the situation you're in paying for a real radiator flush would be the much better deal.
 
Flush it first, then change the radiator to prevent the crud from getting in the new radiator...

It won't hurt to flush the old radiator before removing it...
 
72bluNblu said:
Good grief. Just take it to an oil change shop, Jiffy Lube, whatever, and have them do a radiator flush. Just tell the tech to run the machine 'til it runs clean, then drive it home and swap the radiator.

I'm all for doing everything yourself and saving a buck, but, if you don't even have access to a hose you're not going to do a very good job of it. With the situation you're in paying for a real radiator flush would be the much better deal.
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yeah that sounds best in the long run. thanks
 
72bluNblu said:
Good grief. Just take it to an oil change shop, Jiffy Lube, whatever, and have them do a radiator flush. Just tell the tech to run the machine 'til it runs clean, then drive it home and swap the radiator.

I'm all for doing everything yourself and saving a buck, but, if you don't even have access to a hose you're not going to do a very good job of it. With the situation you're in paying for a real radiator flush would be the much better deal.
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Just went by Jiffy Lube, they won't do it. They do some kinda air vacuum where they suck out the coolant but they wont flush with water anymore they said. Im gonna search mom and pop shops if there are any in Queens
 
I cleaned out rusted cooling systems with casacade containing phosphorus it can still be found in mom and pop shops, just mix it with water run your car for a couple of days with out your thermostat flush it and repeat also undo the top hose and blast water from a how thru the engine while running repeat until its decent. Also wal mart sells evaporust for 20.00 dollar that stuff works very good and is made for heavy rusted systems, Preston never got the job done like the cascade or evaporust.
 
Slantsix64 said:
I cleaned out rusted cooling systems with casacade containing phosphorus it can still be found in mom and pop shops, just mix it with water run your car for a couple of days with out your thermostat flush it and repeat also undo the top hose and blast water from a how thru the engine while running repeat until its decent. Also wal mart sells evaporust for 20.00 dollar that stuff works very good and is made for heavy rusted systems, Preston never got the job done like the cascade or evaporust.
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Yeah Evaporust seems like the most harmless non corrosive one. I started today by taking out the Thermostat ...draining the radi and filled with distilled water 2 gallons...then ran for 10 min with heat on full blast and rev the engine. ...dumped and then repeat... still green, but I left it....looks like my friends in Bronx may have a hose for me...I can go wash out the engine and then install the radiator Sunday *crossing fingers* ...now whats interesting is at 10 min of idea idle with heat on...the temp gaugdidn'tnt go near where it would normally. Dont know what to think of that. I have an infared gun, that will give reliable heat, but im not sure exactly where to point it to get the most reliable reading. Anyone thoughts?
 
I point the gun directly at the top of the water pump and it is very close to my under dash gauge.
 
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