>>>>>>>>>[JoshMcMadMac;]>>>>>>>>>>>Wow, you guys are making it pretty complicated. >>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks Josh for the reply. Your instructions on flushing and filling the cooling system I think I can handle, but, see questions below:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>If you wish to keep it simple, do this:
1. Open petcock. Allow it to drain completely, ~1½ gallons.
2. Close petcock.
3. Fill reservoir with water as full as possible.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 at least four times, until drained fluid is only water.
5. Once only water is in the system, repeat step 1 and 2.>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'm good steps 1 thru 5 other than do you run the vehicles engine while you are flushing the system out so as to circulate all of the old antifreeze thru the radiator and out the petcock? Will running the engine during the flushing out process with just plain water in the system damage the water pump? I still have the factory coolant in my system and the repair manual says not to mix the factory coolant with the after market brands of antifreeze. I want to make sure I get all of the factory coolant out of the system. Do you also need to jack up or tilt the vehicle to aid in draining the system? I saw something about that in here.
>>>>>>>6. Fill the reservoir with 100% coolant to the fill line.>>>>>>
Why would I add pure 100% antifreeze (not mixed yet) to the system when I don't know how much plain water is still left inside the rest of the system, knowing the radiator and overflow resevoir are currently empty having just drained them out on step 5? How will I know when I have the right mixture in the system, at least a 50/50 mix or better is what I need living in the Buffalo, NY area. If I lose 1 1/2 gallons of water out of the radiator and resevoir after the old coolant has been flushed out in step 5, that leaves me with approx: 2.8 gallons of water still inside the engine block, heater core, lines etc. My system holds 16.3 quarts(no auxillary climate controls) or 4.3 gallons of fluid. If it takes only 1 1/2 gallons of 100% antifreeze to top off the system with the 2.8 gallons of water still left in the system, I would be under the 50/50 mix ratio I am looking for. I guess I'll have to measure how much comes out after I start draining the clear water from the system in step 5.
>>>>>>>>>7. Drive the vehicle up to temperature and at varying RPM, running the heater.
8. Top off reservoir with 100% coolant (not while the engine is hot!).
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until the level in the reservoir stops dropping.>>>>>>>>
I fully understand these steps, good thru here.
>>>>>>>>This should get you to ~40% mixture on the coolant, which should be perfect. >>>>>>>>>>>>
-40 Below zero protection is fine with me, where I want to be.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Obviously you could make the first half of the process quicker by leaving the petcock open and supplying water constantly to the reservoir.>>>>>>>>>>>
Do you run the engine while you are supplying fresh water to the resevoir and draining the system through the open petcock? Can you leave the resevoir fill cap off during this process? This way seems faster. Do you need to have the heater on when you do this or leave it off? What about "burping the system" after refill like I've been hearing about in here? Will the burping take care of itself by driving it after the initial refill process? Any additives recommended other than the antifreeze? Thanks for the tips Josh!