Rad Flush - antifreeze question
Winter is coming and don't ask but I am in the midst of a thorough radiator flush and hose replacement. The chemical cleaner I am using suggests driving the for 3-6 hours over a few days to allow the ...
Forum Discussion
MarkLDN wrote:Stop and think about this for a minute. How did the water get hot while just sitting in the radiator or the connected hoses? It didn't.westend wrote:
Some vehicles will have a "T" in the upper heater hose to eliminate air. Some vehicles have an expansion reservoir that is plumbed into either the radiator cap or a fitting on top of the radiator. That plumbing to the reservoir acts as an air eliminator. Any opening on the top of the radiator will eliminate air in the cooling system. IOW, leave the cap loose.
Ah okay yeah it has a reservoir with a hose connected to the radiator cap.
I've done the hose squeeze after warming up, cap off, thermostat opened. However alarmed when I turned the engine off and water shot out of the radiator.
Let engine cool a bit and added more water. Warmed engine. This time thermostat didnt seem to want to open. Then water started shooting out again and I immediately shut the engine off. Seems quite hot. Steam was coming off exhaust manifold from splashes. Getting worried!
It takes a running engine to heat the coolant and the coolant doesn't flow into the radiator until the thermostat opens. Opening temp is probably around 190f or better. That is just shy of boiling point and some of that coolant may be above that temperature.
I'd suggest that you now fill the system with antifreeze, start engine with cap on and allow to cool. Make sure any valves to heater core are open. Remove cap when radiator cap is cool enough to open and top off the system with antifreeze. Fill your reservoir to the correct level.
I don't know your level of experience but it sounds like there is a lot of over-thinking about this whole process. What is the reason behind all this flushing and filling?
