I am trying to flush my cooling system in as little time as possible. This is how I planned to do it: remove cap, remove reservoir hose, remove lower radiator hose, remove thermostat, turn heater on high, take a garden hose into the lower radiator hose and run the engine.

Will this damage the system other than maybe the mineral deposits from the hose water? What if I do not take out the thermostat? Am I missing something?

 

Anyone?

 

Last bump before I let this die

 

I wouldn't undo any of the hoses, open petcock, just remove the thermostat (don't have to change gasket until done flushing -just bolt back on) and this will help clear the entire cooling system

You don't even have to have it running when the garden hose is on it... keep garden hose in the cap area of the radiator and walk away for 15 -20 mins.... then you can undo one side of the heater hose and stick garden hose on there.... helps clear out in different areas.

If you have a lot of CRUD or chunks of rust, you can use some CLR cleaner (like for bathrooms), run the motor for about ten minutes with the tstat out and leaking (not a big deal) & let it sit in the system over night and do another flush with the hose.