I'm replacing my radiator this weekend. Is this a good time to flush the system? Is it worth the time?

If so, can I just put the garden hose to inlet and let it idle for a while while I run water through it?

 

nobody knows about flushing the cooling system while the radiator is out?

 

I wouldn't run the engine without the rad in place if that's what you are asking?

You could remove the T stat and run the hose from the top and let it run out the lower hose to get the old stuff out of the engine block while you have the rad out.

You'll still have some old coolant in the heater core, but not enough to make any kind of difference IMO...

If you want to do an off the shelf chemical flush, then you need to have the whole system hooked up and run the engine to oper temp and then flush it all out...

I'd probably just run the hose thru the block and then mix up some antifreeze with distilled water or get the 50-50 mix and then pour that into the top of the block to get the hose water out. Pop in the new rad, new T stat, fill up the rad with 50-50 mix and let it run with the rad cap off to get out any air pockets and call it good..

Mitch

 

Just fill it back up. I wouldnt run it without the radiator installed either There is no way to flush it without the cooling system intact. Its only an 04. Filling it with new coolant will be all it needs.

 

OK, thanks Mitch and Jet.