I just recently got my oil changed and they said that I should have my radiator flushed. Is this something that they say to make more money or is it not that important?

If I keep putting it off, will be it ok if I do not get it done until after the spring semester is over?

Thanks for any help

1/5/2006 11:10:33 AM

itll probably clog your toilet

good to do once in awhile. like 50k miles or something

1/5/2006 11:11:51 AM

i always do mine just before the winter, cheap and easy

1/5/2006 11:24:48 AM

Every two or three years.

All these places that say every year...they are saying it to make the dolla.

What kind of car is it? If you pop your radiator cap (or reservoir cap if it's a pressurized reservoir), and your coolant looks like a bad cup of hot chocolate or coffee or is really rusty looking, you need to go ahead and get it done. Otherwise, you can prolly wait.

1/5/2006 11:30:34 AM

its a 96 dodge caravan. thanks for the advice on checking it myself, i will have to look at it

1/5/2006 11:33:53 AM

you can do it yourself pretty easily, but it takes some time. if your cooling system is corroded all to hell, i wouldnt recommend a chemical flush though, it will cause 10 billion leaks

1/5/2006 12:25:53 PM

just buy an aluminum one, no more rust

1/5/2006 12:43:11 PM

i dont know enough about cars to do it my self, so i would have to take it to some place.

1/5/2006 1:25:07 PM

zxappeal is pretty good, and very reasonable.

1/5/2006 1:30:48 PM

I got mine flushed and refilled for like $30

1/5/2006 1:31:28 PM

You'd better take it to wherever gargs went.

1/5/2006 1:34:23 PM

yea PM me

1/5/2006 1:39:05 PM

^ knowing gargs, someone probably stuck a screwdriver through his radiator to drain it, then pissed in it to fill it back up, and charged $30 to do it

[Edited on January 5, 2006 at 1:56 PM. Reason : btw, dont be a tard, you can barely buy the coolant and flush stuff for $30]

1/5/2006 1:56:16 PM

hahah

I have been driving since the age of 7.

1/5/2006 1:56:52 PM

you really dont need to take out the engine block drain plug if it isnt very bad off and thats the only hard part, it just takes a few more flushes with clean water. the radiator drain is easy, its on the bottom, usually opposite the bottom hose. open it up, drain it out, then dump in some radiator flush, fill it up with water, then drive it for a few miles to warm it up, drain it out, repeat with clean water several times, then add pure coolant to top it off. ( check your capacity in the owners manual, but there should be enough water in the block for close to a 50/50 mixture.)

1/5/2006 2:00:11 PM

I paid for the coolant. Should have said that, sorry.

1/5/2006 2:18:20 PM

Having just done a couple radiator flushes, I find the most annoying part to be draining the coolant from the engine block--on a Toyota 1ZZFE and 7MGE at least. The drain can be pretty well hidden and the diagrams in various repair manual inadequate, but yeah you could probably get away with not draining it.

I don't think you need all that chemical shit. Just run some water through the thing with a hose. Coolant won't be very expensive, and then just buy some distilled water to make a 50/50 mix.
Coolant flushes are definately going to be more than $30 in my experience, at least at a regular shop. If you have a mind to do it yourself, buy a Haynes repair manual and follow the procedure. Otherwise just have zxappeal do it.

[Edited on January 5, 2006 at 2:20 PM. Reason : .]

1/5/2006 2:18:37 PM

go to wal-mart and get their brand coolant. good quality - cheap.

[Edited on January 9, 2006 at 4:57 AM. Reason : unless you own a toyota/honda/euro car.]

1/9/2006 4:56:44 AM

I tried to be a badass and not flush the radiator, but now my heat does not work. Is this something that will happen when you do not flush your radiator when it needs to be done.

1/9/2006 1:00:59 PM

Well, could be one of several things...

first...you have a coolant leak somewhere, and there ain't enough in the system to get to/go through the heater core on a consistent basis. Prepare to buy a new engine if you don't do something about this soon.

second...your heater valve is stuck or not working.

third...your heater core is plugged with crud.

Bottom line is this: make sure the radiator has enough coolant in it, and make sure your temperature gauge is registering correctly...as in at least showing something (like 1/3) without overheating.

Everything else you can hold off on. Of course, if the heater valve is vacuum operated (and I'd bet a jelly donut that it is), those assholes could have unhooked the line to it and plugged it...basically turning off your heat. But I'd bet money you'd have noticed it by now.

1/9/2006 1:23:42 PM

if you have sludge floating aroung, take loose the heater hoses and hook up a water hose to one at a time, if crap comes out, you need to flush the system

1/9/2006 1:24:10 PM

Discovered a coolant leak in the car today. gah

1/9/2006 1:49:51 PM

btw, dont take your cap off right after you've been driving for a while. YOU WILL GET BURNED when coolant spews out all over you.

Let it sit and make sure it's nice and cool before attempting to take your cap off.

I'm not saying you're dumb enough to do this, but you'd be surprised at what people will do when not really thinking.

(i've been burned before because i just wasnt thinking at all...and i've been workin on cars since i was 8).

1/9/2006 6:01:37 PM

if it even has a heater valve

1/9/2006 9:52:38 PM

You mean it may have an air mix door shit?

1/9/2006 10:13:25 PM

yeah my car does, a lot of the new shit flows through the heater core full time now

1/9/2006 10:14:56 PM