Is it ok to just drain and refill the coolant without having to flush it?

 

I'm not sure myself... i was about to drain my 89 celica's tranny and coolant and just refill em. I don't think you need to flush it out... it's almost about the same as an oil change? people just drain/refill it. i think..

 

I think a coolant drain and refill should be just fine. Your probably getting 70 - 80% of the old stuff out that way.

 

Thanks guys.

 

i think i would flush it a lil bit mike.
isn't ur car geting close to 60k miles?

 

Why don't you guys just flush it? It's like an additional 15 minutes of work. To give you a more extreme example, it really is like not draining all of the engine oil from the drain plug, closing it off while there is still 1-2 quarts in the crank case, toping it off, and changing the filter, just because there is extra time required to wait for a full drain.

It isn't that hard. You don't even have to remove the drain plugs from the engine if you flush. Just draining from the rad will remove about 1/2 the total coolant in your system. Draining from the two other drain plus will result in about 3/4, at best (just think about how much line and heat extractor there is for the HVAC heating system, and you'll think the 3/4 is generous).

However, remove a single hose, run a garden hose to the car, and within about 2 minutes, you'll have removed 100% of the old coolant.

 

I've always wanted to do this myself, however isn't it illegal because of the coolant isn't bio egradable and its considered as a form of pollution? For some reason I have a feeling that you can't just let it wash away. Not to mention my neighbors would be upset because it would run to their house...

 

First of all, coolant is only harmful to pets and children because it is supposedly sweet tasting, and to the environment, only because it contains phosphates, which are basically fertilizer to pond scum, which can cause over growth of certain kinds of vegetation in local waterways. This stuff isn't like oil, or gear oil, or atf, or brake fluid, etc, which kills things from contact.

If you drain the rad first, and collect, it, that is already 50% of the content, and as long as you flush LOTS of water, it's not a big deal. I simply poured out my coolant right beside my house where there are a bunch of small stones, and where no vegetation grows because of the stones, then poured a bucket of water where I poured the coolant to dilute the coolant enough so that it would prevent lickage. And I bet within one rain episode, there wasn't a trace of it left.

And if you do a flush, you'll be washing out SO much water, there won't be a trace of coolant on the road.

 

Cool, I'll think I'll try it today.

 

Some auto stores will take the coolant from you for FREE to recycle it the right way. Ask around in your area.

SuDZ

 

Don't you have to remove the thermostat to do the flush? That's why the Haynes manual said. I don't want to go through that trouble again.

 

TREE HUGGER!!!!!!!














LOL jk! try to get the stuff in a bucket
and then.... let it evaporate or something lol

 

removing the thermostat looks like a pain...i'd jus drain it..fill it up w/h20 and turn the heater on full blast for a few minutes...and continue to drain it and refill with water until the water that comes out looks kinda clear.

 

Just did mine two weeks back and I sure as hell wasn't going to go after the block plugs or the T-stat. Here's how I did it.

1.Drain the old coolant from the radiator..about half the system capacity will come out.
2.Refill with tap water and run the engine till it circulates well (T-stat opening),then drain again.
3.Repeat #2 Water should run almost clear
4.Repeat #2 twice with Distilled water only. This will flush out most of the clean tap water which is full of minerals and sediment (bad for your rad and w/p)
5 After the second run with Distilled water, drain and refill with about 4 qts of 100% Coolant/Antifreeze. This will mix with the distilled water left over from the last drain and give you a nice 50/50 mix. Top off with 8oz of Water Wetter and you are done. Dont forget the resevoir too!
On a side note, use Nissan OEM coolant. There's a thousand threads and some really good reasons to do so. Essentially its about the only stuff that is not going to destroy your water pump seals or eat up your nice aluminum castings.

 

I found no stores that took my coolant.

So, on a few days a month, my city has a Waste Dropoff program where you fall in line with your car, and people empty the stuff out of your trunk and dispose of any chemicals properly.

 

I bought a 15 quart plastic drain pan and drained and refilled the radiator 4 times with water (each time running engine until it gets hot with radiator cap off). This should remove 97% plus of old fluid. Added 1 gallon of Peak Extended life Antifreeze, 6 ounces of Redline Water Wetter and topped off with reverse osmosis filtered water. I only use distilled water in battery as it is very reactive. Car is driven daily 6 miles to and from work (12 miles total) in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic with AC always on. This summer we have had over 30 consecutive 93 plus degrees per day with no over heating problems. By the way we get 22.97 mpg driving 100% in this environment. I am pleased with this performance! Using help I received on the Forum I have done everything I know of to improve milage. Thanks for your help!

 

Can you do this stuff while the engine is hot? How do you avoid getting hit with hot fluid?

 

i dont think u should do this task if the car is still hot

 

is prestone 50/50 coolant good for the max

 

How much does the Nissan Coolant cost? I assume you must go to the dealer and get it. Another question, doesn't someone have to make the coolant for Nissan? They wouldn't make it themselves right, so does anyone know who makes this coolant?

 

That's what I'm using now.

 

Dealer wanted $16.50 a gallon plus tax. Liquid gold?

 

REALLY?!?! It's $14 Canadian for 4L in Toronto.

 

What are you guys paying that had a show drain/flush your coolant. A quick lube shop wanted $59. The show I go to for regular reapairs only wanted 36, b/c I am having them look at some suspention problems.

 

Ok..now Im thinking about ordering all my parts from Canada now. I paid 18.98 +tax for the Nissan coolant here in Houston. $14CDN would be abot $9US these days.. though I doubt you would be able to ship it ..hazardous material etc etc..
I'd be curious to know what a KS goes for at a Canadian dealer.. shipping that might be worth the hassle if the savings are significant.

 

I have the answer to that...check my old post:
Knock Sensor Price at Canadian Dealer

hope this helps!
FLO_BOY

 

Hmmmm... $159CDN is about $101US these days....plus shipping, customs, brokerage fees. Definitely not worth the hassle.

 

Mike, I went through the same dilema. I looked at the Hayne's, the Chilton's and the FSM. All different! One mentioned removing the thermostat, I think all of them mentioned removing the engine block drain bolts. I didn't want to do either. Do what volk said. That should be good enough. Make sure you use distilled water and you might want to try Redline Water Wetter.

Take a look at this. I posted this right after I finished mine. I was a little frustrated - lol - but it might be helpful. Here's my post:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....5&pagenumber=1