I have checked my coolant level and discovered that although the coolant level is fine, the cooland liquid isn't. It has a nasty brownish color and doesn't even closelyresemble any engine coolants I have seen before. So I am assuming a coolant flush is necessary as soon as possible.

But before I did anything I wanted to ask for some advice here. Do you think a coolant flush is what is needed?What is the proper procedure for a coolant flush? What coolant liquid should I use?

Thanks.

 

Brown coolant is never a good thing. I'll tell you how I change/ flush my coolant. First you'll want to drain you old coolant/water mix out into a container by unscrewing the drain plug on your radiator. After that you'll want to run some water through your coolant system via the radiator cap with the drain plug off. Next you should put back on your radiator drain plug and fill up your coolant system with water and get your engine at operating temp. (around 200 degrees) with your heater running full blast. Running you heater helps get out old coolant in the heater core. after that drain out the water and be careful because it will be hot. I suggest doing that last part at least a second time. Next you're going to want to put your drain plug back on, and pour a 50/50 mix of new coolant and distilled water into your coolant system. You'll need about 1.5 gallons of coolant ( I suggest using Dexcool which is what the factory puts in) and 1.5 gallons of distilled water (some people say that normal water from the hose is good enough, and it is, but since I consider myself a purist, I don't mind spending the extra $1/gallon for distilled water). The 50/50 mix of new water and coolant should equate to the coolant/water mix that you initially drained. With new coolant you're going to want to run your engine, get it up to operating temp, and unscrew the bleeder valve about 1/4 of a turn (its a little brass valve and should be near where your thermostat is located.) You'll want to bleed your coolant system to insure that any air in the system is released (you will be able to tell when the coolant coming out of the bleeder valve no longer spurts out and comes out in a nice flow.) With that over with your coolant sytem flush and change is done.

 

Banks, there's only one issue I see with your procedure. When you drain the radiator, that's all that's draining, what's in the engine is still in the engine. Then you refill the radiator with straight water to flush it. As you run the engine hot, the stat will open and that water from the radiator will go into the block and dilute what's in there greatly Then the stat will close again and trap the water in the block. You recommended doing the straight water flush twice, but you should absolutely do a second radiator drain after the first radiator refill with coolant circulates through the engine. Otherwise, the water that got trapped in the block the first time will dilute your new mixture when the stat opens, and your coolant mix will be well below 50/50. Or, when you refill, you could put a mix higher than 50/50 (75/25) to compensate.

 

In order to do a 'complete' flush, you need to drain the block through the sensors located on either side of the block. Get a repair manual. Easy job.

Good luck

 

Thanks for all the advice.I will let you know how it all goes when I flush it this weekend.

 

i dont know about the v6, but in the v8 section we just got this same thread. do your cars call for dexcool? its orange brown in color

 

Yes.

 

So a brownish color is normal?

 

check out the bleeding coolant thread in 4th gen. there is a pic of his coolant. is it that color?

 

or wait.... its not that thread, let me find it