pits200

I take good care of my vehicle, but one thing that I feel I am overlooking is the radiator. I have had my car for a little over a year and did a quick radiator flush when putting in my IceBox.

Prior to me having the car, I don't know what maintanence schedule was followed.

Has anybody reverse flushed their CL because I know most antifreeze additives only are good for about 2 years and if you don't completely flush the system and just readd more fluid, that cuts the life in half because you are mixing it with old stuff.

What does everyone recommend???

redsly

If I were you, I would flush it...
As you said, you would be mixing old with new.
I haven't done it to my CL yet, but I plan on having the dealership do it. I think they said it's only $90.

pits200

From what I heard, some dealerships just unplug the bottom radiator hose and let the coolant drain out. Thats the half assed way of doing it, and I hate paying for outisde people to work on my car.

I am just wondering what ways everyone else has done it and what mileage.

redsly

I would think that the factory ani-freeze is supossidly good until the 105k tune-up...
Don't quote me on that, I just think that it is required at that point.
If was not needed until then, then I would just use an anti-freeze tool... Can't think of what it is called. I know that I have 106k and when I checked it, it says that I need to replace it.

On my old cars, I would just hook a hose up to the return line coming from the heater core and just flush the entire system until it was completly clear flowing water. Then I would would drain it and add the new mix.
Those were 4 bangers though.

I did the same thing on my first mustang 5.0 as well, but that was a much older engine.


Oh, I just checked on Owner Link at the maintenance schedule and didn't see anything about replacing, just checking the fluid levels and conditions.

I guess it is at your discretion or if it fails the test.