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Flushing radiator

S

Stan in Oly, WA

Well-known Member
We've had unusually cold weather here lately, with the possibility of nighttime temperatures in the teens (typical low winter temps are above freezing). I drew off some water from the cooling system of my old Nissan pickup, and it's rusty colored with visible debris in it. I'd estimate the anti-freeze content to be near zero (zero anti-freeze, not protected to zero degrees). I would flush the radiator, or even the whole cooling system, but I remember from years ago that flushing an old, poorly maintained radiator can cause leaking. I like this vehicle a lot, but it's near the end of its useful life, so there's not much upside to me to put much money into upgrading systems. Am I better off just draining the radiator and adding the appropriate mixture of coolant/water, or would it be reasonably safe to flush it to the extent of running a few gallons of distilled water through it?

Stan
 

Most times I back flush old radiators like that Stan . You can do this with the radiator still installed , remove the top and bottom hose connections shove a hose into the bottom one and stuff around it with rags to seal it . Run the hose flat out until the water runs clear out of the top connection . If you want to get creative then you can send a few bursts of compressed air through along with the water , short bursts from a gun next to the water hose will really loosen up any contaminants , of course you need to be prudent when doing this .
A commercial flushing preparation can help but sometimes they cause leaks if the radiator is too far gone .
 
Stan, what I would do is flush it with the water hose.

Drain the existing coolant for disposal. Leave the radiator drain open. Then carefully remove the return heater hose, direct it down, away from anything that water can damage. Hang the water hose in the radiator, start the engine, adjust the water flow to match the amount being pumped out on the ground. Let the engine run, fast idle preferred, until the water coming out is clear, then give it a couple minutes more for a good flush.

Shut everything off, let it drain until the system is empty. Reconnect the heater hose, close the radiator drain. There will still be some water in the block, so add a gallon of non diluted antifreeze. Let it run until the thermostat is open, then top up with water. You can use distilled if you want, but at this point in it's life, it won't make much difference.

This should not be detrimental to the aging radiator or freeze plugs. What starts leaks is using flushing additives. I have never used them, never will, just asking for trouble!
 
I'd actually test it with a freeze point tester first. If it was good to the temp. you expect I'd leave it alone as messing with it will likely cause leaks.
 
Not something to do in cold weather,but I ran a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar in the radiator of my big tractor for a week last fall when I was filling silo. I drained it off and ran it three days with straight water,then opened everything up and stuck a hose in the top of the radiator and just let the water and the engine run for 15 minutes or so,then put new antifreeze and clean water in it.

I couldn't believe how black that crap was that came out of there. Looked like thin used oil.
 

It needs a good flushing Nissan's are the worst of the bunch that I have seen from corrosion issues caused by coolant that has lost its corrosion inhibitors, Chrysler's are not far behind them :wink: are any vehicle when it reaches the 15/20 year old mark....

Flush flush flush look at this post at the end this is the EZ way and the most effective without removing a bunch of parts.... If you end up with a radiator leak it was on its way out anyway a flush did not accelerate it.

http://forums.yesterdaystractors.co...ostorder=asc&highlight=flush&start=15
 
I was more concerned about creating a leak than about finding one. Apart from that, I doubt that I've driven that vehicle late at night in the last ten years. Driving it after dark at all is already the kind of adventure that I no longer have any interest in.

Stan
 
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