Hello needing to drain radiator. Wanting to know how much coolant or antifreeze I should buy and what brand do you guys recommend. I think I need something with a rust inhibitor? Also should I fill the entire radiator and start car then add more or what is a good procedure. Thanks again.
Antifreeze/Question for newbie
- Thread starter Badfish1
- Start date
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What is the condition of your coolant now? If it's rusty the system needs flushed including the radiator, engine and heater core. Not a bad idea to flush it anyway. A service manual will tell you the system capacity but there will always be coolant left in the block and heater core. I usually start with a gallon of full strength and then add 50/50 until the radiator is close to full. Run the engine with the cap off until the thermostat opens and the coolant circulates and then test the strength with a tester. Then I add as needed to get to -35°. Sometimes you may have to drain some weak mixture to make room for full strength. The easy way to do it if you have a few bucks is to go to a repair shop that is running a special on coolant flushes. They do it with a machine to get it right.
"What you want" up here in the cold is mixed 50-50. You can either buy it that way or concentrate, and you HAVE to be careful because some of this modern day crap is poorly marked "in the fine print." I always buy 3 gal of pre-mix so I have some "spare."
Pull the heater hose off that is close to the thermostat, not on the water pump.. Fill until coolant comes out there, then put the hose back and fill it up.
Pull the heater hose off that is close to the thermostat, not on the water pump.. Fill until coolant comes out there, then put the hose back and fill it up.
Amount of coolant in the cooling system depends on motor and radiator. A 273 with an HD radiator will hold 22 quarts. A 273 with a normal radiator is about 18 quarts. That covers coolant in the radiator and engine block. As you know there are 4 quarts in a gallon. I like Prestone myself and always buy the stuff you have to mix. Don't waste money on the premixed stuff.
When I flush mine, I remove the block drains and drain the block also. You typically have to punch a hole in the drain to get it draining.
Once its all back together, I'll put a gallon (4 qts) of coolant in the radiator, then a gallon of water, then pour half of the other gallon of coolant into the empty coolant container. then fill both the rest of the day with water. Fill the radiator, put the cap on, run it until it gets to normal operating temperature, let it cool, check level and fill the rest of the way.
That's how I do it.
When I flush mine, I remove the block drains and drain the block also. You typically have to punch a hole in the drain to get it draining.
Once its all back together, I'll put a gallon (4 qts) of coolant in the radiator, then a gallon of water, then pour half of the other gallon of coolant into the empty coolant container. then fill both the rest of the day with water. Fill the radiator, put the cap on, run it until it gets to normal operating temperature, let it cool, check level and fill the rest of the way.
That's how I do it.
longarm
Car sold back to original owners
I use 50/50 mix of Prestone and distilled water
in all my vehicles and equipment.
in all my vehicles and equipment.
Distilled water is a great plan. No minerals in the system to cause build up.
1968FormulaS340
Well-Known Member
When you buy the premixed, you are paying an *** load of money for a half gallon of water.
Just something to think about.
Just something to think about.
That's true, however something just came to mind.........how does it compare if you buy purified water to add to it, from the store?
I'm from "here" where local water is not a big problem. But in my Navy years in San Diego, I learned quickly---from other people---just how aggressive the water down there is on cooling systems.
I arrived there in the spring of 70 and ran the car through a car wash. Then I ran it through again, after buying a chamois, because I could not see out of the windows!!!! The thing dried with a white foggy film all over the windows!!
This is "stopping by" Treasure Island on the way "down," to see some old friends at the amateur club, K6NCG
rtee007
Deplorable Texan
Agreed, mix your own and use distilled water.
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