Rad Flush Additive
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: SWFL
Rad Flush Additive
Hello All
After doing a quick search in a couple of threads I couldn't find my answer.
I am looking to do a rad flush. I replaced my water pump about 7 months ago and while doing that job flushed my system repeatedly with the garden hose, let the system pressure up and drained a few times, then finished the job with new antifreeze.
Now my coolant is that nasty rust brown colour.
I am looking for a good, readily available rad flush product in an attempt do rid my system of this problem before changing the antifreeze again.
Thanks.
CS45
After doing a quick search in a couple of threads I couldn't find my answer.
I am looking to do a rad flush. I replaced my water pump about 7 months ago and while doing that job flushed my system repeatedly with the garden hose, let the system pressure up and drained a few times, then finished the job with new antifreeze.
Now my coolant is that nasty rust brown colour.
I am looking for a good, readily available rad flush product in an attempt do rid my system of this problem before changing the antifreeze again.
Thanks.
CS45
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 139
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From: okc,oklahoma
i've used the prestone flush and fill kit on both my vehicles as well as the super radiator flush they also make a radiator cleaner which is made for heavy rust deposits but i have never used it. Prestone :: Products : Cooling System Treatments
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From: SWFL
So, I went to open the rad drain **** yesterday in preparation for this job and nothing came out. I pulled the thing right out and it was blocked solid with some sort of soft rust crapola. Tried digging in the hole with vaious things and only got a minor trickle of AF out, even after spraying in some CLR in there and continued poking.
So I pulled hoses, hit the system with the hose to flush as best as possible, then put in the Prestone Super Rad cleaner, topped up with water and now I have to drive the 6 - 10 hours before going throught the whole process again. Temp guauge is still hitting the A in normal when I drive around with the AC cranked (South West Florida).
I also replaced the thermostat (stock) and the thermostat housing while I was in there.
MTF.
CS45
So I pulled hoses, hit the system with the hose to flush as best as possible, then put in the Prestone Super Rad cleaner, topped up with water and now I have to drive the 6 - 10 hours before going throught the whole process again. Temp guauge is still hitting the A in normal when I drive around with the AC cranked (South West Florida).
I also replaced the thermostat (stock) and the thermostat housing while I was in there.
MTF.
CS45
Last edited by CS45; Jun 16, 2009 at 08:53 AM. Reason: spelling errors, as usual
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 139
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From: okc,oklahoma
wow mine was not that bad. i used the cleaner your using on friday when i got a used radiator and i drove for 3 hours.
with the system that clogged after using the super cleaner i think i would use the flush and fill kit also.
with the system that clogged after using the super cleaner i think i would use the flush and fill kit also.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,371
Likes: 46
From: Palm Bay, Florida
The Prestone flush and fill kit is a great product-I've used it with great success! make sure you turn your heater to wide open before flushing so your heater core will be flushed too! the cooling system cleaner is good too-they do make a HD type, and it sounds to me like you need that one!
I'd open the petcock while you are flushing to clear out that as well-make sure you run the engine while you are doing the flushing.
I'd recommend that you remove your tstat before flushing and just temporerely re-install the tstat housing even if it leaks a little.
I'd also recommend going to a 180* tstat when you button it back up-this will help the engine to run a little cooler but don't go any lower in a computerized/injected engine.
Keep us posted to how you come out on this!
I'd open the petcock while you are flushing to clear out that as well-make sure you run the engine while you are doing the flushing.
I'd recommend that you remove your tstat before flushing and just temporerely re-install the tstat housing even if it leaks a little.
I'd also recommend going to a 180* tstat when you button it back up-this will help the engine to run a little cooler but don't go any lower in a computerized/injected engine.
Keep us posted to how you come out on this!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 139
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From: okc,oklahoma
The Prestone flush and fill kit is a great product-I've used it with great success! make sure you turn your heater to wide open before flushing so your heater core will be flushed too! the cooling system cleaner is good too-they do make a HD type, and it sounds to me like you need that one!
I'd open the petcock while you are flushing to clear out that as well-make sure you run the engine while you are doing the flushing.
I'd recommend that you remove your tstat before flushing and just temporerely re-install the tstat housing even if it leaks a little.
I'd also recommend going to a 180* tstat when you button it back up-this will help the engine to run a little cooler but don't go any lower in a computerized/injected engine.
Keep us posted to how you come out on this!
I'd open the petcock while you are flushing to clear out that as well-make sure you run the engine while you are doing the flushing.
I'd recommend that you remove your tstat before flushing and just temporerely re-install the tstat housing even if it leaks a little.
I'd also recommend going to a 180* tstat when you button it back up-this will help the engine to run a little cooler but don't go any lower in a computerized/injected engine.
Keep us posted to how you come out on this!
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A 180 degree T stat will make the truck run rich and cause poor fuel economy. I know personally. I tried it on my truck a few years ago and it just ran rich. It ran so rich that when I romped on the throttle black smoke came out the tail pipe. It dropped the fuel economy 2-3 mpg too. It also failed sniffer test because of it. I put a new 195 stat back in and everything it great again.
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From: SWFL
Hey Guys
So I am using the Prestone Super Rad Cleaner product, hence having to use the truck for 8 or so hrs. I did crack open the rad petcock last night and there was good flow out of it, so the product is working. I am about to flush the system out with water (heater on high) and I figured on doing the entire thing again as it was so plugged up. More to follow.(MTF).
I decided to use the stock thermostat as the replacement. My truck is enough of a gas pig as it is.
Regards
CS45
So I am using the Prestone Super Rad Cleaner product, hence having to use the truck for 8 or so hrs. I did crack open the rad petcock last night and there was good flow out of it, so the product is working. I am about to flush the system out with water (heater on high) and I figured on doing the entire thing again as it was so plugged up. More to follow.(MTF).
I decided to use the stock thermostat as the replacement. My truck is enough of a gas pig as it is.
Regards
CS45
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,666
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
If after all of that it should run some cooler but if you are still have a problem I would think about a real engine reverse flush as what you did does a lot of good but does not have the pressure to get sand and other junk out of the system.
You would not believe what will come out of an engine when you hit the 180 pounds air to it. Remove the thermostat but do not have the radiator or heater hooked to the engine when you hit the air or they will be destroyed. I have had a lot of customers bring their cars to me after doing all of what you have done and you would not believe what would come out of the engine when the Power Air Reverse Flush was done.
You would not believe what will come out of an engine when you hit the 180 pounds air to it. Remove the thermostat but do not have the radiator or heater hooked to the engine when you hit the air or they will be destroyed. I have had a lot of customers bring their cars to me after doing all of what you have done and you would not believe what would come out of the engine when the Power Air Reverse Flush was done.
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Junior User
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From: SWFL
Subford
Thanks for the advice.
I did flush, run up to operating temp with the heater blasting (very odd thing to do in the 94 degree FL heat) and then dropped the fluid 3 times yesterday. Oy vey; wife is not impressed that the driveway is now orange.
I put another container of Super Rad flush into the system and am going through the 8 hr of running time before I do it all again. I have already noticed a significant drop in operating temp, even when I took it out on the interstate at 80mph with the AC blowing full strength. The temp guage hovered around the R in normal. Before it was hitting between the A and L.
Things are looking up. Once I'm done playing with the cooling system I can hook up my new Innova 3145 and try to figure out why my gas milage is in the crapper.
CS45
Thanks for the advice.
I did flush, run up to operating temp with the heater blasting (very odd thing to do in the 94 degree FL heat) and then dropped the fluid 3 times yesterday. Oy vey; wife is not impressed that the driveway is now orange.
I put another container of Super Rad flush into the system and am going through the 8 hr of running time before I do it all again. I have already noticed a significant drop in operating temp, even when I took it out on the interstate at 80mph with the AC blowing full strength. The temp guage hovered around the R in normal. Before it was hitting between the A and L.
Things are looking up. Once I'm done playing with the cooling system I can hook up my new Innova 3145 and try to figure out why my gas milage is in the crapper.
CS45
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: SWFL
Final Entry
Spent the weekend flushing the cooling system (again). I spent the time between flushes and engine run up - cool down - re-flushing installing my new 6.5 inch Rockford Fosgate front door speakers. Had to do some custom fitting to get them to sit flush and getting the 14 guage speaker wires through those rubber things from the doors to the cab was another story.
Anyway, I finally got clean water after countless run up - cool down cycles sometime Sunday. One final flush and in went the antifreeze. I checked the system Monday evening after driving the truck and the coolant is still green with no hint of contaminants. Temp guage only went above the R before the thermostat opened, then immediately went back to R. This all with the AC blasting.
It seems the Super Flush product did its job. I'm sure the previous owner never flushed the coolant system judging by the initial plugged rad petcock and the now orange color of our driveway.
Thanks for all your help. Now it's on to the Innova 3145 and pulling codes. I need to raise the gas milage of this pig above 10mpg. Then new exhaust system. Wife asked "are you almost done with the truck?" Almost, honey............
CS45
Spent the weekend flushing the cooling system (again). I spent the time between flushes and engine run up - cool down - re-flushing installing my new 6.5 inch Rockford Fosgate front door speakers. Had to do some custom fitting to get them to sit flush and getting the 14 guage speaker wires through those rubber things from the doors to the cab was another story.
Anyway, I finally got clean water after countless run up - cool down cycles sometime Sunday. One final flush and in went the antifreeze. I checked the system Monday evening after driving the truck and the coolant is still green with no hint of contaminants. Temp guage only went above the R before the thermostat opened, then immediately went back to R. This all with the AC blasting.
It seems the Super Flush product did its job. I'm sure the previous owner never flushed the coolant system judging by the initial plugged rad petcock and the now orange color of our driveway.
Thanks for all your help. Now it's on to the Innova 3145 and pulling codes. I need to raise the gas milage of this pig above 10mpg. Then new exhaust system. Wife asked "are you almost done with the truck?" Almost, honey............
CS45
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 45
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From: Bonita Springs, FL
ha! i went through the same thing and my driveway is orange too! still a lot of junk in there, my upper rad hose its still rusty, im thinkin i need to pull my hoses and clean those individually.. i ran a pint of purple power HD cleaner through it and that got a lot of crap out but still rusty....
Subford
Thanks for the advice.
I did flush, run up to operating temp with the heater blasting (very odd thing to do in the 94 degree FL heat) and then dropped the fluid 3 times yesterday. Oy vey; wife is not impressed that the driveway is now orange.
I put another container of Super Rad flush into the system and am going through the 8 hr of running time before I do it all again. I have already noticed a significant drop in operating temp, even when I took it out on the interstate at 80mph with the AC blowing full strength. The temp guage hovered around the R in normal. Before it was hitting between the A and L.
Things are looking up. Once I'm done playing with the cooling system I can hook up my new Innova 3145 and try to figure out why my gas milage is in the crapper.
CS45
Thanks for the advice.
I did flush, run up to operating temp with the heater blasting (very odd thing to do in the 94 degree FL heat) and then dropped the fluid 3 times yesterday. Oy vey; wife is not impressed that the driveway is now orange.
I put another container of Super Rad flush into the system and am going through the 8 hr of running time before I do it all again. I have already noticed a significant drop in operating temp, even when I took it out on the interstate at 80mph with the AC blowing full strength. The temp guage hovered around the R in normal. Before it was hitting between the A and L.
Things are looking up. Once I'm done playing with the cooling system I can hook up my new Innova 3145 and try to figure out why my gas milage is in the crapper.
CS45
