Need some assistance from the mechanics out there

[Cougar]

OK folks, here's the deal: I'm trying to flush my radiator because the coolant has turned from a pretty green to a lovely rust color. Now my uncle showed me how to do this in the past so I repeated his instuctions to the best of my ability, but now I'm sort of stuck. I've flushed the majority of the rust water out, but now the tank (the place where you're supposed to add new coolant...don't know the official name) still is full of rusty water. So I guess my question is how on earth do I go about flushing that tank? I have a 94 plymouth acclaim if that helps.

Can one of you kind folk help me out here?

 

[notfred]

option 1: open up the top, stick a garden hose in there, turn it on. Wait till all the rusty crap has overflowed.

option 2: pull the hose that goes from the radiator to the overflow tank off the bottom of the overflow tank and let it drain out.

 

[Cougar]

thanks for the quick reply.

I tried option 1 and the stuff just kept coming, and coming and didn't seem to ever stop. I guess I could leave it in there longer.

Also, I pulled the plug from the bottom of the tank like my uncle showed me and it drained the majority of the water, but the tank is still full. Are we talking about 2 different things here?

Also, I have kept my car off during this procedure, that is the correct thing to do right?

 

[hominid skull]

Take off the hose that goes to the bottom of the radiator, make sure that the water is cool before you do this as to not get burnt. Let the water drain, replace the hose, and fill up with a antifreeze/water mix.

Job done..

 

[notfred]

there's a small hose that runs from the radiator, near the filler cap, to the bottom of the overflow tank. That's the hose I'm talking about. if you disconnect it, the overflow tank should drain.

And yes, leave the car off.

 

[Cougar]

OK, I see only 1 hose that connects to the tank and it's located near the top of the tank and runs across the top of the radiator to the other side. I also see 1 hose near the bottom of the radiator, but it's not located where the tank is it's on the oopposite side of the unit.

I'm begining to think that I should have called my uncle over to do this job instead of trying to tackle it myself.

 

[notfred]

Could just pull the damn overflow tank out and wash it. It's usually just a couple screws holding it in.

 

[Harvey]

I believe there are special cooling system cleaning products you can buy at your local auto supply stores that do a better job of removing rust and crud.

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: notfred
Could just pull the damn overflow tank out and wash it. It's usually just a couple screws holding it in.

notfred you're a genious. I found the screw that was holding it in and removed the tank. The sucker is so clean you can drink out of it....almost

There are still rust stains within the tank but I'll have to take care of that some other time. Besided filling it with a 50/50 or 60/40 mix of collant and water is there anything else I need to worry about?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: notfred
Could just pull the damn overflow tank out and wash it. It's usually just a couple screws holding it in.

notfred you're a genious. I found the screw that was holding it in and removed the tank. The sucker is so clean you can drink out of it....almost

There are still rust stains within the tank but I'll have to take care of that some other time. Besided filling it with a 50/50 or 60/40 mix of collant and water is there anything else I need to worry about?

Jsut make sure you've tightened everything down well, fill it w/ 50/50 water/antifreeze, leave the radiator cap off, and start the car. Let it it run for a few minutes until it gets up to temperature. When it's warmed up, the thermostst should open, and the water level in the radiator should drop a lot. As soon as you see it drop, fill it up w/ water (you can leave it running). Let it run a few more minutes, and if it drops at all anymore, add more water. Also, watch for leaks. Wehen you're confident that's it's nice and full, put the radiator cap on and your done.

BTW: you should have the heater turned on while you're runnign the car, you want to m ake sure the heater core gets full of water, too.

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: notfred
Could just pull the damn overflow tank out and wash it. It's usually just a couple screws holding it in.

notfred you're a genious. I found the screw that was holding it in and removed the tank. The sucker is so clean you can drink out of it....almost

There are still rust stains within the tank but I'll have to take care of that some other time. Besided filling it with a 50/50 or 60/40 mix of collant and water is there anything else I need to worry about?

Jsut make sure you've tightened everything down well, fill it w/ 50/50 water/antifreeze, leave the radiator cap off, and start the car. Let it it run for a few minutes until it gets up to temperature. When it's warmed up, the thermostst should open, and the water level in the radiator should drop a lot. As soon as you see it drop, fill it up w/ water (you can leave it running). Let it run a few more minutes, and if it drops at all anymore, add more water. Also, watch for leaks. Wehen you're confident that's it's nice and full, put the radiator cap on and your done.

BTW: you should have the heater turned on while you're runnign the car, you want to m ake sure the heater core gets full of water, too.

Yep, I let the car run and I kept filling it with water or antifreeze, but after a few minutes I noticed more rusted water coming out, so now I don't know what to do. I've got to bolt now so I guess once I get back I'll have to take a look at it again and see if there's anything else I can do.

I'll check this thread in a few hours once I'm back home.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Scootin159]

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: notfred
Could just pull the damn overflow tank out and wash it. It's usually just a couple screws holding it in.

notfred you're a genious. I found the screw that was holding it in and removed the tank. The sucker is so clean you can drink out of it....almost

There are still rust stains within the tank but I'll have to take care of that some other time. Besided filling it with a 50/50 or 60/40 mix of collant and water is there anything else I need to worry about?

Jsut make sure you've tightened everything down well, fill it w/ 50/50 water/antifreeze, leave the radiator cap off, and start the car. Let it it run for a few minutes until it gets up to temperature. When it's warmed up, the thermostst should open, and the water level in the radiator should drop a lot. As soon as you see it drop, fill it up w/ water (you can leave it running). Let it run a few more minutes, and if it drops at all anymore, add more water. Also, watch for leaks. Wehen you're confident that's it's nice and full, put the radiator cap on and your done.

BTW: you should have the heater turned on while you're runnign the car, you want to m ake sure the heater core gets full of water, too.

Yep, I let the car run and I kept filling it with water or antifreeze, but after a few minutes I noticed more rusted water coming out, so now I don't know what to do. I've got to bolt now so I guess once I get back I'll have to take a look at it again and see if there's anything else I can do.

I'll check this thread in a few hours once I'm back home.

Thanks again for all the help.

Probably because there was rusty water in the engine block & in the heater core that didn't get drained. I'll let the more mechanically inclined tell you how to fix that (just drain it again?).

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: Scootin159
Probably because there was rusty water in the engine block & in the heater core that didn't get drained. I'll let the more mechanically inclined tell you how to fix that (just drain it again?).

Yeah, that's what I figure too. I'm not sure how I'll get rid of all the rusty water, but I guess after draining it enough times I should be able to purge the system. Ah well, I guess I didn't do too bad for it being my first attempt at fixing this beast.

Tomorrow I'll check it again and add any more antifreeze or water if it needs it and I guess if everything runs smooth I'll let it go for a few months and then check it again.

 

[Evadman]

If you want to get rid of it, you will have to drain it again. that was probably left over in the block and heater core. Just flush the engine with pure water a few times. Fill it up, run it, then drain it. Make sure not to run it too long though, as antifreeze is the lube for the water pump.

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: Evadman
If you want to get rid of it, you will have to drain it again. that was probably left over in the block and heater core. Just flush the engine with pure water a few times. Fill it up, run it, then drain it. Make sure not to run it too long though, as antifreeze is the lube for the water pump.

I figured that's what I'd have to do. Is there any harm to me waiting a month or so before I do this again? I really don't feel like going into this beast again 'cause it's such a royal pain in the butt to put the friggin plug in and secure the tank. I swear to you I will never be a mechanic 'cause I have no patience for this stuff. I can sit for hours on end futzing with a computer, but anything like this just gets on my nerves.

Ah well, at least I saved myself about $50 by doing it myself.

 

[Scootin159]

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: Evadman
If you want to get rid of it, you will have to drain it again. that was probably left over in the block and heater core. Just flush the engine with pure water a few times. Fill it up, run it, then drain it. Make sure not to run it too long though, as antifreeze is the lube for the water pump.

I figured that's what I'd have to do. Is there any harm to me waiting a month or so before I do this again? I really don't feel like going into this beast again 'cause it's such a royal pain in the butt to put the friggin plug in and secure the tank. I swear to you I will never be a mechanic 'cause I have no patience for this stuff. I can sit for hours on end futzing with a computer, but anything like this just gets on my nerves.

Ah well, at least I saved myself about $50 by doing it myself.

Assuming you have a 50/50 mix in there right now you should be good to go. It's in better shape than it was before, but with that rusty water in there, it's still not perfect. I see no harm in waiting a month or two.

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Evadman
If you want to get rid of it, you will have to drain it again. that was probably left over in the block and heater core. Just flush the engine with pure water a few times. Fill it up, run it, then drain it. Make sure not to run it too long though, as antifreeze is the lube for the water pump.

Is this just on newer cars, or has it been this way forever?
I used to just put a water hose in the radiator fill, disconnect the bottom radiator hose and let the car run for 30 minutes.