Hi all,

What is your preferred method for draining and flushing the cooling system on our 4.3l motors?

I was going to use the block drain plugs to do a proper draining but I could not see how to get to them. As such in order to get the old coolant out I'll have to do a system flush.

Is there a way to do this without the Prestone Flush kit? I ask as I just don't like cutting into my heater hoses to install that Tee connector.

Thanks,

Christine

 

As cheap as hose it I would just install the tee connector to do your flush and then when you are finished replace the entire hose with new!

 

You gave me an idea; I could get an extra bit of hose that would go between the end of the stock heater hose and the heater core joined together by the tee fitting. Then when I'm done I can remove the extra hose. This would be less messy than replacing the whole heater hose and perhaps a bit easier to access too.

The final challenge is how to only use distilled water in the flush. My household water is pretty hard.

Thanks!

 

I have always ran CLR in it for a day and then hooked up a garden hose and purged away! I guess if your water is really hard this could be an issue but it never was for me.

 

Sorry to add another step, but I'm the same fussy. Drain the hard water out and fill it with distilled water. Cycle that around and drain it.

 

And CLR won't mess up anything?

 

I don't know what adverse reaction the CLR may have to the cooling system's radiator, hoses, heater core, heater hoses, engine block , water pump, and other parts. I would use a known and tested product like Prestone flush in a yellow bottle you buy at your favorite auto parts store. Follow the instructions on the label to the letter. I would hate for you to have to replace all the afore mentioned parts. A bottle is only $2.63 USD at Walmart. There is also a Prestone radiator flush KIT which splices into the heater hose. I am suggesting that you use the bottle flush product.

https://www.google.com/search?q=pres...+flush&ie=&oe=