Flushing the Radiator, just checking.

[01FR500]

I decided to flush my radiator today. I have two gallons of Prestone Antifreeze/Coolant, three gallons of Distilled water, and a bottle of Water Wetter, and one of thoes little coolant testers. I have been trying to follow this, http://www.bullittarchive.com/1008.htm, but I still have been getting a little confused. I opened the drain valve, let everything drain from that and then run tap water through it alot. I then turned on the engine and with the tap water still running in. I let the engine heat up, and turned on the heater (I just read somewhere to do that so I tried it).

Alright, now I want to start adding the distilled water and antifreeze. Do I just let the engine run and pour the dH20 in untill I feel like its gotten enough, and then turn off the engine and close the drain? And then add as much antifreeze as possible since there will be alot of water in the block?

The reason it confuses me is becuase the guy that did the Bullitt write-up never says anything about adding anymore water after adding the dH20 and letting it all drain. So I figure that it must not all drain out and leaves about 2 gal. in the system, and so you'd fill the rest up with Antifreeze. Is this correct?

Thanks for any help, kind of a simple task but I've never done it before.

[Steeda97]

I'm probably going to do this tomorrow. Sounds easy enough.

He kept the drain open as he poured in the 4 gallons of distilled water. After it drained out, he closed the valve, then poured in 6 quarts of antifreeze. Turned the engine back on, then topped it off with more antifreeze.

edit: He pours in 4 gallons (16 quarts) and lets it drain out, it leaves 2ish gallons in the block, and then fills the rest up with antifreeze to get the 50/50 (or close to it) mixture.

[01FR500]

Originally Posted by Steeda97

edit: He pours in 4 gallons (16 quarts) and lets it drain out, it leaves 2ish gallons in the block, and then fills the rest up with antifreeze to get the 50/50 (or close to it) mixture.

Thats what I was thinking. So now I kinda messed it up I think. I just now poured in two gallons of distilled water, closed the drain, then tried to pour in a gallon of antifreeze. I can't even get one gallon of Af/Coolant in though and the level of it isn't going down with the engine on. I guess I have too much water in the system, but unfortunaly it's probably all tap water. I don't know, I've got 3.5 quarts of antifreeze in there, and I've got plently of water, it's not a great ratio but I guess I'm ok to drive it and fill it up with more antifreeze as I can. I need to get that bottle of water wetter in there also.

[Steeda97]

Anyone have any input on this?

[03gtmustang]

Originally Posted by 01FR500

I guess I'm ok to drive it and fill it up with more antifreeze as I can.

Problem solved.

[spike_africa]

There are drains on the block as well if you want to get as much water out of it as you can. There is one on the passenger side.

[Steeda97]

If you do that, won't you mess up your 50/50 mixture?

[03gtmustang]

You could start over.

[01FR500]

Originally Posted by Steeda97

If you do that, won't you mess up your 50/50 mixture?

Yeah other than starting over I won't get a 50/50 mix, not that I wanted it to begin with. I wanted about 60% water. I think I've got everything covered now. I got my $10 bottle of Water Wetter in there so I'm not draining all that stuff out again.

I'm still a little unfamiliar with the degas bottle on the 4.6 system, the fluid in there will circulate through the system correct?

[Steeda97]

Shit i went to autozone today and a gallon of anti-freeze is like 14 dollars. I'm heading to walmart. ha.

[blownstang]

Mix your antifreeze and distilled water together prior to pouring it in, therefore you already have your 50/50 mixture. Keep whatever is left over to add later if needed.