COOLANT FLUSH

Radiator, thermostat, water pump, antifreeze, etc.
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nsx1pete
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COOLANT FLUSH

Post by nsx1pete »

HI, I'M A NEWBY TO THE FORUM AND WANTED SOME HELP ON FLUSHING MY COOLANT ON 2002 ASTRO, I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HEATER HOSE IS THE INLET OR OUTLET, PLEASE HELP.

PETER
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Smiliesafari
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by Smiliesafari »

Hi Peter........Welcome to the site. It doesn't really matter which one you use. Either one will flush the engine. Remove the lower radiator hose and let the water run until it comes out clear.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle

Topic author
nsx1pete
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by nsx1pete »

THANKS FOR THE FAST RESPONSE, I WANTED TO USE A PRESTONE FLUSH KIT AND IT SPECIFIES WHAT HEATER HOSE TO TAP, ALSO WHILE I'M ON IT WHAT COOLANT CAN YOU RECOMMEND. 2002 ASTRO

PETE

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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by rlsllc »

Welcome Peter!

Please lose the caps lock.

IIRC, the inlet hose is the one that hooks to the intake manifold, and the return hooks to the pump on the suction side. I hope I have that right.

If you run the heater on a cold engine, you can feel the hotter hose as the engine warms, that is the inlet.

This is how I did mine, it is the only really good way if your van had Dexcool in it, IMHO. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5199&start=0
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CaptSquid
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by CaptSquid »

PLEASE don't use a Prestone Flush Kit. Cutting a line gives you one more place for a leak and the cold water from the household water supply will cause the t-stat to stay shut.
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by LaGrasta »

Hey, welcome to the forum! Great people here with lot's of help. I agree, scrap the flush kit.
Just unhook each hose and jam a garden hose in and blast away, works great. If you really want to flush the whole system, unhook any and every hose and flush both forward and back. I think you'll find this cheap, easy and effective. Doing it even just once should last a long time before any need of it again.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

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nsx1pete
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by nsx1pete »

Thanks a lot, I will let you know how I make out.

Pete, 02 Astro
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crash
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by crash »

CaptSquid wrote:the cold water from the household water supply will cause the t-stat to stay shut.
stupid question perhaps.... can you pull the stat and then flush it with cold water? .. or when run, if the cold water warms up anyway .. wouldn't the stat open? :-k

curious
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by Smiliesafari »

The Capt. is correct. Cold water will keep the t-stat closed. However, if you flush through one of the heater hoses the t-stat will not affect the flush provided the heater hoses are connected to the manifold and water pump. In order to flush the radiator you will have to remove the radiator hoses.
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by LaGrasta »

If you're doing the flush, this would be a good time to spend $5 and replace the stat anyway, good insurance.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by kings-x59 »

LaGrasta wrote:If you're doing the flush, this would be a good time to spend $5 and replace the stat anyway, good insurance.
+1
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CaptSquid
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by CaptSquid »

crash wrote:
CaptSquid wrote:the cold water from the household water supply will cause the t-stat to stay shut.
stupid question perhaps.... can you pull the stat and then flush it with cold water? .. or when run, if the cold water warms up anyway .. wouldn't the stat open? :-k

curious
Sorry, crash, but the water flowing through the engine isn't in there long enough to get warm. I did that on a 77 DJ5 and only managed to flush part of the system. It NEVER got warm.

I went to the hardware store and got the metal hose ends and a few worm clamps. I kept them in my tools until I got rid of the old girl (the N. Charleston PD took her away because they CLAIMED I was parked illegally. They hated sailors.)
Mike, Billings, MT, 'MERICA!
92 Safari SLE w/Z Motor (sold to a good home)
98 AWD Stro LS
93 Suburban Silverado 4x4

Look for the MISSING Alien in the Right Seat. AL, PHONE HOME!!!

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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by Meterpig »

FYI-be careful about putting 40 degree water into a 150 degree engine. Sometimes physics wins.
What do you think of my quest to swap transfer cases to the venerable BW4472?
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http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-xSjRG/i-bHzD6cz
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Smiliesafari
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Re: COOLANT FLUSH

Post by Smiliesafari »

That sounds SCARY :yikes: . Care to share the details?
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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