Coolant condition?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
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to do a proper flush you need to buy a plastic TEE and install in one heater hose. You connect a garden hose to the TEE and flush thru the motor with the drain valve on the radiator open, and the fill cap off the overflow tank. You put about 10 GPM thru the system for 10 minutes and it will run clean. I try to pinch one heater hose, then the other, to force the water thru the heater core, then thru the block, etc
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 165
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Personally, on an engine that old and with that many miles, I would not attempt to remove the block drains. Very good chance they are rusted-in-place and will be difficult to remove. The better method is to buy a flush kit like steve mentioned.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,740
Likes: 37
From: Central NYS
Easiest one to get to is on the driver's side of the block near the bell housing. After removing the drain plug you will have to use a screw driver or punch to break the crust of junk in there to get the coolant to flow out of the block drain.
Flush it as Steve described, but with the block drain plug out. When it runs clear, close all the drains, fill it with water and run the engine for about 10 minutes. Then (don't burn yourself) open all the drains and flush as Steve described. Keep repeating until it runs clean after running the engine.
Hint - it took NINE cycles before my '02 Navigator ran clean. The problem is the drain for the radiator is slightly above the lower radiator tank and the passenger side block drain above the starter is too difficult to access.
I take the plastic coolant tank out and put about a cup of small, sharp, fine stones in it with hot water and detergent and shake the heck out of it to clean the inside. Then flush it out. Be sure to get ALL the stones out of the coolant tank! This is not a winter type job!
Flush it as Steve described, but with the block drain plug out. When it runs clear, close all the drains, fill it with water and run the engine for about 10 minutes. Then (don't burn yourself) open all the drains and flush as Steve described. Keep repeating until it runs clean after running the engine.
Hint - it took NINE cycles before my '02 Navigator ran clean. The problem is the drain for the radiator is slightly above the lower radiator tank and the passenger side block drain above the starter is too difficult to access.
I take the plastic coolant tank out and put about a cup of small, sharp, fine stones in it with hot water and detergent and shake the heck out of it to clean the inside. Then flush it out. Be sure to get ALL the stones out of the coolant tank! This is not a winter type job!
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 53
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This is one of the most complete collections of information about coolant systems and problems.
Don't Rush the Flush
Don't Rush the Flush
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