Since I have the NC now and it's on it's original coolant tank, I just ordered the aluminim MOROSO unit from FM to replace it. With the NC cooling system, the tank is under pressure so if/when it fails you lose coolant and it seems that NC engines don't really tolerate being overheated once.
I realized I've never done an actual "flush" all of the time it's been a motor swap or cooling system change, so I just drained and refilled the system. Or filled a system that was already dry.
Suggestions?
I've used the systems that you can get for a few bucks from whatever FLAPS you can wander in to. I think it was branded as Prestone, but basically you cut the hose, install their adapter that has a port for a garden hose and then you force water in through the heater hose and out through the radiator cap. I have no idea if that's doing a "good job" or not, but it does eventually run clear so I assume it's doing something.
When I pull the engine, or change the radiator or water pump or heater core or whatever, sometimes I put new coolant in instead of reusing the old stuff when I put it back together.
I just run a hose straight in and let it run through. It always gets lots of crud out.
+1 for the hose job. Although -1 for the mess. Blech!
Dave M (Forum Supporter) said:
+1 for the hose job. Although -1 for the mess. Blech!
That was my thought as well. I suspect my community would prefer I don't just let that run out into the street.
Bumping this, since I'll be doing a timing belt/water pump in my Subaru when my income re-starts.
I've bought the Subaru coolant conditioner, and will be buying the Subaru coolant; it seems that those are considered important by the Subaru community.
I use the hose as well, but make it a process that usually goes over multiple days/weekends.
I start by visiting the department store and getting whatever "radiator flush" is cheaper (Prestone or Blue Devil usually), 2 or 3 2.5 gallon jugs of store brand distilled water, and an ample supply of whatever type of coolant is supposed to go into the car.
Open up the radiator drain or pop off the lower radiator hose (whatever's easiest to access) and then button it back up when it stops draining. Top off the system with the flush and distilled water. Let the car idle for a while and/or take it for a drive. Disconnect both radiator and both heater hoses. Run the garden hose both ways through the engine, radiator and heater core until the water comes out the other end clear. Remove the overflow tank, dump and hose it out until clean. Reinstall the overflow and reconnect all hoses. Top off and bleed the system with only distilled water.
I'll then do some regular driving in the car for at least a couple days before taking a look at what's in the radiator to decide whether it needs more attention or if it's OK to put fresh coolant in it. In most cases the water is just a tad cloudy, so I'll drain it out and fill with the correct coolant. If it's more than cloudy, I'll usually go back and repeat a few steps, either to adding the flush or just running the garden hose through. That said, I think I've only ever had to repeat the process on a couple of cars... One was a car that uses Dexcool where the previous owner let a waterpump leak and simply topped it off for a LONG time before resorting to several bottles of that glittery "radiator stop leak" crap. The other was a truck that had a stubborn probably at least a decade old heater core clog.
