Flushing Your Radiator To Extend Its Life
ShareYour vehicle relies on the radiator to keep the components of the engine cool. Eventually, the coolant inside the radiator will need to be changed or it will become acidic or ineffective which will cause the entire cooling system to stop working. To protect your vehicle's cooling system, flush and refill the radiator.
How often does a radiator need to be flushed and refilled?
Generally speaking, your radiator shouldn't need to be flushed more than every 40,000-60,000 miles or every other year – whichever the vehicle reaches first.
Between flushes, test the pH level of the coolant using a litmus test kit. Simply dip the strip into the coolant and use the color chart on the package to determine if the coolant has become too acidic to effectively perform.
How do you flush the radiator?
First gather all of the supplies you will need. These include:
- Quality coolant – check your owner's manual to find out if your car requires OAT, IAT or HOAT coolant
- 2 5 Gallons of distilled water
- 5 Gallon Bucket
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Wrench
- Funnel
Step 1: Drain the Radiator
Wait until the engine is completely cool. Then, look under the front of the vehicle to find the small plug on the bottom of the radiator. Put the bucket under the drain hole and open the drain plug to let the dirty coolant out.
Step 2: Flush the Radiator
Put the drain plug back in place and remove the radiator cap on top. Pour all five gallons of distilled water into the empty radiator. Put the cap back on, start the car and let it run for several minutes. Shut off the vehicle and let it cool completely.
Step 3: Drain and Fill the Radiator
Once the engine has cooled, remove the drain plug and drain the water into the empty bucket. Then, replace the drain plug and pour the new coolant into the clean radiator. Be sure to read the label on the antifreeze to be sure you don't need to mix water. Some antifreeze products need to be mixed with water while others don't. Read the label carefully.
This process doesn't take long at all to complete and it will help you extend the life of the radiator in your vehicle. If you don't have the time, space or ability to complete radiator repair and maintenance on your own, talk with your local radiator repair professional for help.