Going to install the inline thermostat this weekend and need to flush my coolant. I'll be doing this at an apartment complex without a hose so I can't make too much of a mess. Any tips or ideas on how to drain and flush the coolant system in a tiny way? I will have 1-2 5 gallon buckets from HF. I assume use distilled water to flush? Also what coolant do people run and like the most? I know it can be a heated topic (ha ha). The PO had Evans coolant which states it can be combined with water. Not sure if its worth ordering again. at $50 a gallon I would like to switch to something else that can be put in in a pinch and not be over 5x the price of a gallon of gas

 

Standard green, or anything that says aluminum safe which is almost everything these days. You really need a hose, but what color is the current stuff?

 

I helped a friend flush his and change from pink to green recently.

It is very hard not to make a mess, you may want to find a different place.

Have lots of distilled water on hand. 6-7 just for the flush plus more if you are using concentrate coolant mix.

We had the in-line thermostat as well. We were able to pour down into the radiator and flush it out and pour back into the engine and have it come out the hose before going back into the water pump but still had some pink after buttoning it up and just using distilled water.

Basically, lots of flushing to get all the pink out and be prepared to make a mess and have a hose to water down all the spilled coolant on the ground.

 

Whatever you do, DO NOT mix pink/orange with green. You will end up with sludge in your cooling system. That is why it is essential to fully flush the system prior to changing the type of coolant you use.

Expect a mess.

 

get some rubber maid containers to catch the coolant as you flush the system. keeps the mess off the ground. a close by auto repair shop should accept the old coolant for disposal.

i use the conventional green in my Discovery and P38.

 

Unfortunately this is the only space I can work in Its a covered parking spot at the complex I live at. Management has mixed feelings with me. Property manager is also a car guy and will chat me up while I'm working on it but some of the leasing agents will give me a hard time, I'm moving out soon so not terribly worried about reputation but need to minimized the mess .With it being 107F tomorrow and high 90s low 100s through the week I would prefer to work under something, Its also my only car I have with me. I have a buddy who is willing to help me get parts but with both of us in summer school its going to be tricky! I would usually push this off until I have the right place and equipment but the temps will only get hotter where I am until September.

 

Get a large underbed storage box. Pull the drain plugs out of the block (accessible through the fender wells with a long extension and a socket) pull the lower radiator hose and the only coolant left anywhere will be in the heater core. Less than 1 gallon to flush it. Disconnect both heater hoses and shove a funnel in the hose connected to the intake manifold. It will come out the other one. You can flush the first or 2nd time with tap water, then maybe distilled the last time. My favorite to use is rainwater, I catch in a bucket and filter using paper coffee filters. Has to rain first though..

 

To drain the block completely, you need to open the drain plugs on the block and tilt it in all directions. To drain the radiator completely it's best to take it out. The other option is to use tons of water until everything is diluted sufficiently. That's a lot of effort for switching the coolant type. It makes sense only if you refill from dry for other reasons. The OEM XLC coolant is completely fine, it doesn't make problems nor does it cause overheating. It's just more expensive, but it's not something you need to change frequently and sometimes you can get a gallon for about $30.

 

I'm switching from EVANS coolant. The PO put a 4.6 in and used EVANS coolant. I've been seeing over 220F temps on the highway and it being a waterless coolant it can't transfer as much heat.

 

Well I couldn't find the engine drain port so I just pulled off the lower radiator hose. RIGHT as the property manager showed up behind me. As y'all mentioned it makes a mess. A huge mess. Luckily he was understanding and just told me to clean up the mess. I asked if he had a hose but he didn't so I've got to try and figure out how to wash the coolant off without running water. My plan right now is to carry tap water down from my sink (3 flights of stairs + 200 ft walk). I've tried using kitty litter but it just became a sloppy paste.