DIY radiator flushing!

Have u check ur car radiator coolant lately? Is ur car always on ‘heat’ ie the engine temp is on the high side ( more then the half way mark )? If so then it is very likely that ur radiator’s coolant is already not longer functioning as it should i.e. keep ur engine ‘cool’ & rust preventing ( some people didn’t even have coolant, just plain water & while the engine might not overheat in the short run but it will due to rusting ).

Radiator flushing is the process of flushing out the radiator content before u fill it up with new coolant ( it is important to flush out the old coolant before u put in the new coolant as old & new coolant mixed together is no good ). Radiator flushing is being done at workshop or car service centre ( the job done might not be through as it took a least more then 15mintes & usually they pour in flushing agent which is very corrosive ) but u can diy at ur own home.

Over the weekend I DIY ( DIY is do it yourself ok! Not this type of DIY which is totally different but much more enjoyable ) my Nissan Sentra 1.6 auto Xe radiator flushing. I do the flushing as I discover that the coolant has lost it green color ( the Nissan is use by gf, and as lady as long as the car can move everything’s is A Ok ) for goodness know how long already!

This is how the flushing is being done as shown in the pic. First u disconnect the top big hose on top of the radiator ( the top hose is the outlet i.e. hot coolant from the engine ) then u connect in ur garden hose pouring in water all the time . Then u started the engine. U can see old coolant pouring out from the disconnected top hose. Continuing with the engine running until u see clear water coming out of the top hose ( in my case I let the process go on for half an hour with engine running ). This is how radiator flushing is done DIY style.

Please don't do radiator flushing with a hot engine! Wait for the engine to cool down first before u open the radiator's cap or disconnect the top hose. When engine is hot the water inside the radiator is very hot & under pressure so the danger of busting hot water is very real ( I don't want my reader who try out this diy to end-up half cooked if unsure or have no confident then better don't try this diy but u can try this DIY lah! He! He! ).

Now u have to fill in the new coolant. Pour out the radiator content by loosening the radiator outlet tap located on the left or right bottom corner of the radiator ( in my Nissan it is on the inside right corner ). Let out the content of the radiator ( don’t fully unscrew the tap so that flow is small as u need to let out just a bit more then the amount of coolant u r pouring in ).

The reason why I don’t empty the whole radiator content before I do radiator flushing is that the engine water pump ( located in the engine block ) don’t function with air in the radiator cooling system ( that is also why sometime engine overheat occur when u change radiator coolant as the radiator might be fill with water but engine block water piping is dry especially if the water pump is not filled with water ). In this case u will have to fill in the water through the top hose until u can see water pouring out out of the top hose.

In my case I pour in two bottles of Toyota long life coolant 1 liter each as it give longer & lasting protection for my Nissan ( I use Toyota coolant as it is cheaper at RM18.00 per bottle ). Using the correct type of coolant is important, engine block using case iron or alloy engine block, use different type of coolant.

I do hope the above information is useful to my dear readers! And to my regular readers sorry if this post is not so ‘hor ny’ as once in a blue moon the ‘real me’ appear!