How to Change Radiator Fluid

This article has not been rated yet. After reading, feel free to leave comments and rate it.

The coolant in your car's cooling system needs to be changed every year in cold climates or every two years in temperate climates. If the coolant is changed regularly, there's no need to flush the cooling system.

1. Open the radiator cap with the engine cold.
2. Crawl under the front of the car and look at the bottom of the radiator. Find the radiator "drain cock" (also called the radiator petcock). The drain cock is a small plug or T-shaped bolt located at the bottom of the radiator. Sometimes it's plastic.
3. Place a large pan - 5 gallons or so - under the radiator. Open the drain cock with your hand or an appropriate-size wrench. Allow the radiator to drain into the pan.
4. Close the drain cock.
5. Refill the radiator with water until the water is at the top of the radiator or just visible.
6. Replace the cap.
7. Run the engine for 5 minutes to circulate the clean water.
8. Stop the engine, allow to cool slightly and repeat steps 1 through 4.

1. Add a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 antifreeze to the radiator. Fill it right up to the top.
2. Fill the overflow/coolant reservoir with the same 50-50 mixture.
3. Leave the radiator cap off, turn the engine on, and let it run until the radiator "burps." There may be pockets of air trapped in the system: You'll see the coolant level drop and may see a large air bubble come to the top as the system burps. Be sure to keep an eye on the temperature gauge throughout this process.
4. Refill the radiator to the top and the coolant reservoir as needed.
5. Put the radiator cap back on.
6. Add more coolant if the engine runs hot after this procedure - there may have been another pocket of air that burped.
7. Put the old coolant and water in plastic jugs using a funnel.
8. Dispose of coolant properly - don't pour it down the drain or sewer. Many service stations, repair shops and parts stores will take it so it can be recycled, or you can take it to a recycling center.

Comments:

2007-11-27, 07:18:04

anonymous from United States

i have a new (for me) 2000 tundra 90000 milesthat has milky coolant. the oil is clean and full a couple of times i have started it cold and after 2-3 seconds there is a noise, like low oilfor 2-3 seconds, could this be a bad waterpump or hope not an engine problem?gmae453@aol.com

NEW: Optional: Register   Login Email address (not necessary): Rate as Off-topic Very Helpful Helpful Ok article Not useful Very bad	Hide my email when showing my comment. Please notify me once a day about new comments on this topic. Please provide a valid email address if you select this option, or post under a registered account.
	Show city and country Show country only Hide my location
You can mark text as 'quoted' by putting [quote] .. [/quote] around it.
Please type in the code:
Please do not post inappropriate pictures. Inappropriate pictures include pictures of minors and nudity. The owner of this web site reserves the right to delete such material. Add a picture: