Can someone give me a quick step-by-step on how to flush and fill the radiator?
Thanks

 

Okay,

This is what I did. It may not be the best way, but it worked for me.



1. Let the car cool down, then remove the lower radiator hose. It is at the bottom of the radiator, under the car. Take off the end that is on the radiator, and the end that is connected to the engine. Be sure to have a large container to catch the coolant in. You probably want to jack up the car first too.

2. Remove the engine drain plug. There are actually 2 of these (according to Haynes and Chilton) but I could only find one. It is located behind the alternator, as you look from the front of the car. It is a 14mm or 15mm plug (I believe). Again, have a container ready.

3. Use a water hose to rinse out the radiator. Then. take the upper radiator hose off of the radiator and run water into it and rinse the inside of the engine. MAke sure that your heater control is on hot so that you rinse out the heater core too.


4. Put the plug and the hoses back on.

5. Pour in a bottle of that radiator flush stuff. (I think that it is just a detergent, but I used the Prestone brand). Fill the rest of it with water. I do this with the engine running because it is easier to get all the air out.

5. When it is full, allow the enigne to run for about 15-20 minutes. Then repeat steps 1-4.

6. Fill with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water. And that's it.

 

Thanks, pal...I'll get to it this weekend.

 

Actually the radiator should have a drain plug too. You might find the plug easier than pulling off the hoses...

Just my $0.02,

Brian Murray
87 RX-7 Turbo II (w/mods)
89 Maxima (daily)

 

Yeah. It has a drain valve at the bottom, but mine was stuck.

 

Stupid Q, but why do I need to remove the drain plug if I'm already draining the radiator?

 

He was saying that you could remove the drain plug instead of removing the hose. But removing the hose will make flushing the entire system quicker, messier, but quicker.