just started to drain my coolent

[Snuffalofogus]

i dont think its been done on my car ever! ive had the car for 1 year (the car is a 99), and lately its been running a little warm (195)

took off the readiator cap, stuff smelled like crap, and the coolant was getting chunky.

checked the resevior dipstick, chunky too.......

its draining now.

the stuff thats in there now is orange. if i flush out the radiator with water can i add green stuff in?

[hockeyman]

Yes, you should flush it out the best you can with water, and do it a few times to get rid of that chunky crap. Don't forget to fill it with water and start the engine to flush that crap out of the engine too.
After you are done with the water, you CAN use the green coolant with a 50/50 mix of DISTILLED WATER!!!!!! DO NOT use tap water! That chunky goop will come right back if you use tap water.

[Banks_2003]

sounds like a good idea for my car too. chunky **** everywhere and i just put a 180 thermo in but it still runs around the 210 mark all the time. think flushing it could help that out??

[Ian]

flush the crap out of it all, many many times, get all that Dexcool out, and fill it with green.

[Banks_2003]

isnt there some kinda coolant flush you can buy from a parts store that will eat away all the gunk better?

[Ian]

Originally posted by Banks_2003:
isnt there some kinda coolant flush you can buy from a parts store that will eat away all the gunk better?

dunno, all i did was flush the radiator about 7 times, totally removed the coolant resivour and cleaned the crap out of it, and flushed the block like 5 times. it took forever, but im anal about the car, and that Dexcool REALLY pissed me off

[BLLDOGG]

the dexcool i believe should be fine to use if your not stupid and believe that it will last 5 years. i use it and change it every spring.

[Banks_2003]

im gonna look into getting a chemical to flush it. when i took ASE classes i coulda sworn that we had to flush a car one time and used some kinda chemical to clean it all out.

[smcruikshank]

I know this is a LATE post, but there is a chemical you can use. There are some that take only 10 minutes, but if your radiator was like mine, get the SUPER cleaning one. The directions are VERY easy to follow. All you do is flush your system, pore the stuff in, mix with water, then drive 3-6 hours, doesn't have to be continous, then flush and fill with whatever coolant you want

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Since this topic is alive ... what do you do with the water washed out of the engine? Just let it go off the driveway? Is antifreeze biodegradable?

[RallyRed 98]

no but people let it drain anyway... one of the reasons repair shops and light industrial development is not allowed anywhere inside a chesapeake bay resource management area

[smcruikshank]

u shouldn't let it just drain away, for it goes into the ground and into our water. Many recycling centers and trash dumps will take the used coolant. Unfortuanetly Auto Zone or Advanced doesn't

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

ITS way EASIER TO BUy THE peak 50/50 mix all you have to do is poor it in.......

[CAMAROWIDBASS]

I flushed mine out yesterday and it looked like coffee.

[camaroincal]

Originally posted by Banks_2003:
sounds like a good idea for my car too. chunky **** everywhere and i just put a 180 thermo in but it still runs around the 210 mark all the time. think flushing it could help that out??

I'm not positive but I believe GM started using a "dummy" coolant temperature gauge in either 98 or 99..because people were complaining the gauge was fluctuating a lot..which it does..I have a 97 and it's kinda aggrevating seeing the temp. jumping around. Most cars since the early 90's I believe have the gauge that after driving around awhile just stays at the middle of the gauge. I'm not positive on all this but someone can respond.