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Flushing cooling system

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:37 am
by MountainManJoe
I'm thinking of installing a flush kit. The kind where you splice in a 'T' for attaching a garden hose. Anyone know the size of the hose going from the heater to the pump?

Also, out of curiosity, are there any cooling system diagrams out there?

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:15 pm
by CaptSquid
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! DO NOT CUT ANY COOLING LINE! It only leaves more places to leak. Besides, this topic has just recently been discussed in these forums.

The topic is: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5737

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:57 pm
by MountainManJoe
Why would it leak? Even if it did, it's very easily accessible.

It's a good point about the thermostat not opening though. I could always yank the hose off the radiator to drain it, and the hose from the rear heater to drain that, although that's what I was trying to avoid. Or better yet, I could T into the radiator hose. The question is, does idling generate enough heat to keep the t-stat open long enough.

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:23 am
by CaptSquid
Again, I refer you to the other topic already existent. Why cut lines when you don't have to?

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:33 am
by MountainManJoe
CaptSquid wrote:Again, I refer you to the other topic already existent. Why cut lines when you don't have to?
To make the process easier and quicker. But there's no easy way to do it, is there? You either have to unplug several hoses, or do several flushes.

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:14 pm
by CaptSquid
You catch on quickly.

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 9:14 pm
by MountainManJoe
So the cooling system capacity is 16L. That means I'll need 8 to 10 L of coolant. Anyone know the capacity of just the radiator?

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:50 am
by LaGrasta
timelessbeing wrote:So the cooling system capacity is 16L. That means I'll need 8 to 10 L of coolant. Anyone know the capacity of just the radiator?
I believe the tech section at autozone.com has all these stats online.

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:19 pm
by MountainManJoe
This is all it says on Autozone
The Cooling System Mix
1 3/4 Gallon (s) of Full Strength Anti-Freeze

Application:
Without rear heater


Specification amount is for a 50/50 ratio mix in the cooling system. If using pre-mixed anti-freeze double the amount needed.

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:56 am
by LaGrasta
Maybe try looking up a replacement radiator, sometime they list the capacity of said part.

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:23 am
by LiftedAWDAstro
I don't know those weird L measurements... :muhaha:

But the radiator will only hold between 1 and 2 gallons. So if you mix 50/50, 1 gallon of antifreeze will net 2 gallons with water. That would be enough to fill it up if you drain just the rad. You could always buy 2 gallons of AF and just store the remainder for later use.

Side note...I always mix 2/3 AF and 1/3 water since 70/30 is too hard to figure out. :-s I pour 2 gallons of AF and 1 gallon water into a bucket and then whatever is left is marked 70/30 on the jug and placed in the cabinet for storage. You could also carry it in your van if you carry a supply of lubes and parts in a tool kit.

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 1:55 pm
by MountainManJoe
OK so it sounds like after a complete drain, I can dump 2 gallons of AF into the rad, and then top up the rest with water. Easy.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+

Litres are actually pretty cool. You get to work with numbers that are really easy to remember, understand and do math with:
* 1 litre H20 = 1 kg
* 1 litre = 1000 cubic centimeters
* 1.234 litres = 1 234 millilitres

The imperial conversion are easy enough
1 litre ~ 1 quart
4 litres ~ 1 gallon

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:12 pm
by MountainManJoe
I was flushing the cooling system, and noticed a disconnected electrical plug. It's on the same loom as the windshield fluid pump, and it has a red rubber seal (most are blue).

Anybody know what this is for?

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:10 pm
by astroturf
Dutch door washer pump?

Re: Flushing cooling system

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 2:17 pm
by MountainManJoe
Ah good point!

Astros never came with washer fluid heaters did they?