Coolant change?

[93octane]

I have an idea of how to change the coolant. Just need to know if I'll be doing it right.

1. Drain the radiator.
2. fill up with distill water
3. run engine and turn heater on.
4. drain radiator
5. to steps 1-4 until water comes out clean.

Now to re-fill. Should I mix the one gallon of anti-freeze with 1 gallon of water in one separte container and then pour the mix until I fill up the radiator??? Will this give me the 50/50 mix I need and what a happens to all the water trapped in the heater core?? I don't know how much water is trapped in there. That means I'll have a little more water than anti-freeze will I still have a 50/50 mix???? Any tips welcomed

 

[bdcardinal]

i personally never use distilled water. ive been told my people from prestone that it is formulated to use tap water instead of distilled. if you want you can get a funnel and try to pour the water and coolant in at the same time. but it wont matter if you have a little more water than coolant or vice versa as long as its within a 60/40, 40/60 mixture.

 

[johnnyboy1111]

distilled water

I would go for the distilled water and the red anti-freeze , with a 50-50 mix done like you did .......I've read that when aluminium heads, blocks , radiators are used ....the red anti-freeze is needed...I have 100,000 plus and looking in everything looks A1...... I've been using distilled water for about 20 years on different cars and have found its much better, where you live in the US has a lot to do with how the water will affect the cooling system, Florida tap water will turn your tea pot white in about a week.......I rest my case !

 

[YardSpecial]

Johnyboy is SO RIGHT !!

You never know the quality of the tap water.

In our house its super full of minerals and very hard.

Wal-Mart sells distilled very cheap...........

I pre-mix mine so to have a PERFECT 50/50 mix.(5 gal can)

I change mine every two years along with a NEW thermostat every time.

My water pumps last over 150K doing this and ZERO rust in the block !!

 

[YardSpecial]

To answer Merc..............



Cause I no trust it...............

Me - stuburn mech. 25+ years..........

I like Prestone and Peak brands.........

Some say pre-mix is used Anti-freeze........

Good point Merc !!

( i have money to BURN also)

 

[merc123]

Why not buy the pre-mixed stuff? I mean it's a few $ more and it's never wrong (theoretically)

 

[93octane]

Should I buy 2 gallons of Prestone anti-freeze?? Mix 2 gallons of Anti-Freeze and 2 gallons of distilled water and premix in a 5 gallon container and fill the car radiator??? Sounds like a good plan to me.

 

[YardSpecial]

Thats what I do bud !

I use a CLEAN 5 gal.kerosene can marke for 50/50 anti-freeze only !

Reason is I have 2 Stangs and 2 trucks.

 

[twogts4us]

Yep, buy 2 gallons of Prestone and mix with water in a separate container, then add to the car. By the way, one point not made here is the fact that you need to get the nose of the car up to at least level if not higher to prevent air from becoming trapped in the system. You want the fill neck to be the highest point of the system so air trapped air will rise out of the neck. I fill the system, then put it up on ramps, remove the cap and top it off.

 

[bdcardinal]

Yep, buy 2 gallons of Prestone and mix with water in a separate container, then add to the car. By the way, one point not made here is the fact that you need to get the nose of the car up to at least level if not higher to prevent air from becoming trapped in the system. You want the fill neck to be the highest point of the system so air trapped air will rise out of the neck. I fill the system, then put it up on ramps, remove the cap and top it off.

 

[YardSpecial]

Never had a problem with air, since the thermo has a hole in it.

The DOHC has big time air problems.......

Good advice tho !!

 

[Red mustang Gt 46]

When your done filling what you've got, you will have to purge any air in the cooling system (sealed cooling system). If you do not, the engine will run hot.

 

[93octane]

How do I purge any air in the cooling system??? My car is a 99 GT??? Will putting the car in an incline after filling purge the system. Or should I incline the car before filling it up???

 

[Red mustang Gt 46]

Sit in incline (radiator up) fill, 1. run until thermo opens, 2. let cool, fill, repeat 1&2 until full. Massaging the upper and lower hoses when cool speeds the process.