Flushing my radiator.

[Fun_Bucket]

I know this has probably been covered , but my search didnt return any results (search function is crap!)

I have a VP V6 Auto, and i wish to give the radiator a flush, as i don't know when the last time it was ever done.From what i know, i need to drain the coolant , and put a hose in.But where does the hose go.I think i read a while ago that you pull the thermostat out, and put the hose in there. Is that correct? How long should i have the hose on for, and should the engine be running?

Does it matter what type of coolant goes back in, are some better than others?

[levymetal]

you could do that or if you want to do it properly you can do a freeway flush, first thing is to drain the old coolant, then flush with water (as you said, thermostat out, hose into manifold) until clear water comes out, then fill with water and add a 'coolant flush' to system and go for a drive for 1-3 hours preferably on a freeway. then empty out the water and replace with proper coolant. according to some other recent threads you should use a mixture of 50/50 if you buy the concentrate (nulon is good). tap water is ok for the flush but you should use distilled water to mix with the coolant.

[_R_J_K_]

This is for an ecotec, but it should give you an idea of the direction you need to go in.

How To Flush A V6 Cooling System

[wortus]

you could do that or if you want to do it properly you can do a freeway flush, first thing is to drain the old coolant, then flush with water (as you said, thermostat out, hose into manifold) until clear water comes out, then fill with water and add a 'coolant flush' to system and go for a drive for 1-3 hours preferably on a freeway. then empty out the water and replace with proper coolant. according to some other recent threads you should use a mixture of 50/50 if you buy the concentrate (nulon is good). tap water is ok for the flush but you should use distilled water to mix with the coolant.

The Nulon coolant is a good choice and you don't need the pellets unless any small leaks develop. It only needs soft clean tap water. If you live ina n area where the water is crap you wil need distilled water and if you flush with tap water you'd need to drain the block.

Once it's flushed if you don't drain the block you need to make sure you have got at least 5 litres of water out or else you won't get all the coolant you need in (it has to be 50/50). You may need to remove a heater hose fromt he engine and blow the water out.
Add the coolant concentrate first then top up with water. If it's an early VN with a surge tank there is no need to bleed it.

[zai]

Set the heater controls to the hot position.

When all the old coulant is gone, reverse flush into the radiator and the system + also clean the radiator core outside with a garden hose (and the best is to get out the radiator and clean inside with the hose, quite easy to do)

If your coolant is really dirty, you should refill the system with clean water, then run the engine up to operating temperature and when it is cool drain and flush again. This will ensure a clean environment for the new coolant.

Do this procedure until the water is CLEAN.

When it start to be clean you can add a bottle of Nulon R40 or other brand before your last flush to a warm radiator to ensure that the radiator and engine are as clean as possible.

I flush my system 3 times in one week and for the last one I added a bottle of nulon to really clear all the dirt.

If you have a serie 2 the thermostat is quite easy to disconnect. It's up to you. I didn't do it because on a serie 1 it's harder to get it out. And it still works.

Fill the surge tank with the specified coolant and install three cooling system pellets, available from holden for 15$, into the tank (pellets are required to prevent deposits forming on the water pump seal which may cause coolant leakage. )

Start and run the engine for 20 minutes to dissolve the pellets and purge any air that may be trapped in the cylinder heads. You have a bleeder valve for this, not far from the thermostat

You should buy a good coulant like castrol special commodore (35$) to mix with demineralised water (or ask your holden dealer for a genuine one, it's not so expansive)

[wortus]

If you use the Nulon long life coolant you will not need the pellets from Holden unless there are small leaks afterwards this is n the Nulon web site.