Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

[tutin12]

I know this can hardly get any more stupid as a question, but here it is.

I needed to have my engine coolant liquid replaced, you know winter is coming and all. So I popped the hood open with a friend and saw there are in fact 2 caps that say engine coolant. One says Never Open Hot and is directly on the radiator, the other is to the left and has the liquid measurement plastic thingie hanging on it.

I'll probably take it to the garage anyway for this and some other preps for the winter, but this really made me wonder :)

Where do you pour in the antifreeze, in which of the 2 caps, or is both the same ?

[Vanquish]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

Pour it in the one that is on the radiator itself. The other one is your overfill reservoir.

[kristen]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

dude your going to get taken for money if you take it somewhere to get this easy a$$ work done. do it all your self!

[tutin12]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

Seriously, thanks !

It's no problem, i wont get ripped off, that I know :) The garage where they service my cars are partners of the company i manage so it's a give/take thing. They wouldn't abuse, as I wouldn't either.

Kirsten, don't laugh but yeah. My car was in a garage forgotten for over 6-7 years, i seriously don't remember anymore where i had to pour the thing :)

[cam98aro]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

dude your going to get taken for money if you take it somewhere to get this easy a$$ work done. do it all your self!

if they have a question like that, its best they not try this themselves

[Vanquish]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

if they have a question like that, its best they not try this themselves

But, it's as simple as open and pour. Doesn't take rocket science...

[tutin12]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

Yeah man no worries. Like I said, I had not touched this car in about 7 years. Now I pop the hood and I see 2 caps saying engine coolant. Better ask first than ask after :)

It's not a question if I should or should not do it myself, clearly i dont "need" to go to the dealer whenever i need to poor in some window washer liquid :)

[Vanquish]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

Definately, but unless you have a lot of free time I wouldn't suggest going to a shop to have coolant changed out either.

I mean, it's not a question of whether or not you will get raped on the price of the job, since you have a place you can go. It's just the fact that you could do this at your home and be finished in a few minutes. This is way better then taking the time to drive to the shop and then sitting and waiting for them to get around to your vehicle and then doing the job.

But, it's your car, so you have the final decision and say so on it. I'm just trying to save you some time, because time is precious.

[cam98aro]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

But, it's as simple as open and pour. Doesn't take rocket science...

they said they needed it replaced, not just more added

[kristen]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

to replace it is only one wingnut screw under the radi. open that. let it drain. water to flush it... threw the same spot you out the coolant in. do that a few times. tighten screw. add coolant. run car. add coolant.

now who can't do that. lol

how the heck do you forget about a car......

[Vanquish]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

to replace it is only one wingnut screw under the radi. open that. let it drain. water to flush it... threw the same spot you out the coolant in. do that a few times. tighten screw. add coolant. run car. add coolant.

now who can't do that. lol

how the heck do you forget about a car......

I don't know if he will be able to get off that easily this time. Since the car was sitting for so long, if it had antifreeze in it, he probably needs a pressurized flush. This can be done at your house as well for next to no money and a few minutes of your time. You just have to go to an auto parts store and buy the pressurizing kit that hooks up to your regular household hose, or if you have one, a pressure washer (even better).

But, if you want to be lame about it, you can always take it to the shop :P
Seriously though, it is very easy to do this, my nephew has been able to flush a radiator since he was 8, so I think you are up to the challenge.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

For those that say draining and flushing a radiator is easy - where do you drain and flush the coolant? Down your driveway into the street?

No, take to a shop that has the PROPER means of disposing of coolant. And fill it with PRE-MIXED 50/50 Dex-Cool. DO NOT use tap water.

And BTW, the petcock on the radiator does not drain all the coolant. There is more to it than that.

[Vanquish]

Re: Ok, a very lame question - engine coolant refill

I don't use tap-water and I wouldn't advise anyone else to.

As for disposal, all of my drain pans have tops to them that close up very nicely and I stop by Speedy Oil or any of the many car shops in my area and they happily dispose it for me.