Flushing coolant?

teR_

It seems i've been using the wrong coolant (pink) when i should be using the blue one. Now i need to flush the coolant as i've bought the blue stuff and don't want to mix them...

By flushing does that mean just drain the bottle either by cyfilling* it out or my disconnecting one of the hoses?

mickdw

You need to get it all out so just emptying the bottle is no good. Seeing as its a different type completely you need to run water through it IMO so that there is no danger of any of the old type remaining.

You would need somewhere between 5 and 10 litres depending on car I say.

There should be a tap at the lower end of the system or alternatively pull a hose as you suggested.

teR_

Ah right. So could i take the rad out and flush the block by sticking a cold water garden-hose through the pipes without doing any damage?

Nissan doctor

Since you mention blue coolant, is it a Japanese car?

crosstownk

I thought that the pink stuff was 'backwards compatible' and would be OK in all engines. This is the case with VW coolant.

biko

You can check on the bottles and see online if they are compatible.

The flush:
It costs close to 70 to get it done by a garage so if you can diy you'll save.
You will find manuals online for your brand but usually it goes like this:

Set heat knob to full and turn ignition to 2 (the setting just before the car starts). This will open the core valve.
Unscrew the radiator cap and bleed screw.

There is a screw at the bottom of the radiator. Unscrew this and have a bucket ready (it'll prob get everywhere anyway...) so don't unscrew fully.
Wait 30 mins or so for coolant to fully drain.

Screw the bottom screw back and fill radiator with water, run engine for 5-10 mins.
Unscrew the bottom screw and drain.
Repeat filling with water and drain until water is clear.

When clear fill with correct coolant (some will need water and some are ready-mixed) and presto, done.

Take the drained coolant to recycling. Wash any on the floor away with plenty of water, animals will lap it up otherwise (sweet taste).

mickdw

Some engines will retain some of the fluid so if using pre mixed, you might infact be diluting it further with any clear water that was retained in system - just something to be aware of. No harm checking concentration when finished.
Refilling some engines could be an issue too with retained air pockets etc. I recently changed my water pump and used a cheap vacuum extractor with a bit of diy piping to suck air out of system and then let it drag the new fluid back in. Worked very well.

teR_

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Since you mention blue coolant, is it a Japanese car?

Nah. Its a German shltbox. My German shltbox

crosstownk wrote: »

I thought that the pink stuff was 'backwards compatible' and would be OK in all engines. This is the case with VW coolant.

100% sure about that?

Might go back and change it for the pink stuff if thats the case. Looking at the haynes manual there :eek: ..timing belt, back cover, thermo the lot has to come off... timing belt does need to be done though (don't know when it was last) so might get a kit and water pump in the next week or so and do the lot.. well get the brother to do it :pac:

Nissan doctor

Ah, I was thinking that some Japanese cars are still using blue coolant.

The coolant that would originally have been used in your car would be shorter life coolant, normally supposed to be changed every 3 years. The pink coolant that you'd buy in most places today is higher spec long life coolant, it can safely be used in older cooling systems like your Astra, but the lower spec coolant can't be used in many modern cars.

crosstownk

teR_ wrote: »

Nah. Its a German shltbox. My German shltbox





100% sure about that?

100% sure with VWs. You can use one or the other but they can't be mixed.

Your car will be fine with the older blue stuff.