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One of the most overlooked maintenance items on your
car is the coolant system. Most people don’t even think
about it until they are on the side of the road with the
hood up and steam pouring out of the radiator. This
traffic nightmare can be avoided by some simple routine
maintenance. Your coolant system should be flushed every
two years and the anti freeze replaced as well. The
chemicals in anti freeze begin to lose their effectiveness
and rust and grime can build up in your engine and
radiator. This will clog up your engine’s cooling system
and cause your engine to overheat. The good news is very
little mechanical skills are needed to flush your system
and keep your car running for the years to come. Just
follow these simple steps:
1. First of all make sure your car engine has not been
running and it is cool. This is very important. A radiator
can get very hot and possibly burn you. With the engine
cool, open the radiator cap and relieve any pressure.
2. Next locate the drain valve on the radiator to drain
it. It should be located on the bottom of the radiator. Be
sure to drain the fluid into a container and not the
ground. Once you have drained it, close the drain valve.
3. Now you are ready to install a back flush kit. This
kit is inexpensive and can easily be purchased at your
local auto parts store. Follow the instructions on the
back on the kit. Basically, you have to cut the heater
inlet hose going to the top of the engine. This is where
you install the T section provided in the kit into the
line. Slip both ends of the hose onto this fitting and
tighten the clamps provided in the kit. Go ahead and
connect your garden hose to this fitting.
4. Now place the diverter that came in the kit into the
opening on the top of the radiator. This is where the
water and coolant will pour out from when you start to
flush the system. A hose or tube will be helpful to direct
the run off into a bucket.
5. Now it is time to start the engine, turn the heater
on high and turn on the garden hose. Coolant is now
circulating through the engine and coming out through the
diverter on the top of the radiator. Continue this process
until clean water begins to come out the top. This should
only take a few minutes.
6. Turn off the engine and garden hose. Now drain the
radiator again into a bucket and close the drain valve
when you are done.
7. Now it is time to add the new anti freeze. Pour the
entire contents of the anti freeze bottle into the empty
radiator and fill it until coolant pours out of the neck.
Screw back on the radiator cap and you are done. Make sure
you have also screwed back on the provided cap onto the T
fitting you installed.
8. Take your car for a test drive around the block and
make sure everything is ok.
Now you have a back flush fitting installed for the
next time you need to flush your radiator and it will be a
lot quicker. You will thank yourself the next time you
pass that unlucky person on the side of the road with the
ominous steam cloud pouring from the hood.
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