Radiator : How often do you flush it??

**jeanpierre** · January 8th, 2006 10:30 PM

I've been using my ride for 1 year and 4 months now with 10,300kms ODO reading. Most of the PM has been done except for the radiator flushing. Do I really need to do it? How often should it be done?

**mazdamazda** · January 9th, 2006 09:16 AM

AFAIK - every 20K kms.

**jeanpierre** · January 9th, 2006 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by mazdamazda

AFAIK - every 20K kms.

Thanks. 700 clicks more to got then.

**jeanpierre** · January 9th, 2006 10:45 AM

I think they are adding some sort of a flushing additive and circulate it to your car's cooling system. Is that additive not harmful to the radiator? I remember once my brother-in-law had his mazda 323 radiator flushed in a gasoline station. After few days, his radiator started leaking. Because of that, I' thinking of just draining my radiator of old coolant and fill up with fresh water, circulate for few minutes and drain it again.Then add a fresh mixture of water and coolant. Will that be okay guys?

**vinj** · January 9th, 2006 01:22 PM

20K for me (per advise of Service Manual). IMO, if you flush regularly you don't really need to use those additives... we might not know the long term effects of these in the cooling system since flushing additives usually can be corrosive or strong.

**theveed** · January 9th, 2006 01:59 PM

Once a year regardless of mileage for me... Just drain, stick a hose into the rad until clear water comes out, then replace coolang/water.

**Dieseler** · January 9th, 2006 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by theveed

Once a year regardless of mileage for me... Just drain, stick a hose into the rad until clear water comes out, then replace coolang/water.

Same here.

**OTEP** · January 9th, 2006 08:34 PM

Don't forget to drain the water in the engine block. You have to flush the cooling system as a whole. This often involves locating for the coolant plug on the engine block itself.

Once you have drained the system and are in the process of refilling it, you should start the engine to let the thermostat open and let coolant into the water jackets.

Mechanics, please chime in kung mali yung procedure ko.