Do you have any suggestions? It is only a requirement to remove the thermostat if using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer (32 oz. My petcock will not drain,and,I was told that 2 units of your product ran of 50 miles with the heater on high would solve the problem,is that true? No, there isnt any concern in the Radiator Flush causing a problem. Repeat this several times and it will usually increase the efficiency of the heater core for a bit. If youre having trouble, refer to your owners manual. Yes, the BlueDevil Radiator Flush would be effective in cleaning the heater core. You would repeat the drain procedure followed in step 1 before adding the BlueDevil Radiator Flush and topping off with water. Now, heres how to perform a heater core flush: First things first. Air in the system can cause overheating. Will that be a problem? There was no radiator in the system at this point as I had a new one on order. Perhaps I'll just ask the shop to diagnose the heat issue and go from there. I suspect rust particles were still trapped in the bottom of the radiator, because the water was still murky after the second flush. It helped but I ended up replacing it, Is your coolant low? If just simply flushing the cooling system, the thermostat may be removed, but it is not required. Yes, the BlueDevil Radiator Flush is safe and compatible to use on aluminum engines. Nice!". Can one use more than one bottle of radiator cleaner to get a better results. If you were able to get your hands on an air compressor, now is the time to use it. It works better than anything else. Gasket failure is by far the most common cause of oil/coolant mixing. Which one is most expensive in our local market. Thank you. Removing the flush the way you have described may not efficiently clear everything out of the system. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Hot coolant left in the hoses can burn you and the surrounding area. But no heat in a Canadian winter is killing me. When using the Mechanic Approved 32 ounce BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer it is required to remove the thermostat to ensure proper results. Proper car maintenance involves understanding all the possible car problems. Chlorine is also a very strong corrosive agent and if added to your vehicles cooling system can greatly increase corrosion. Reinstall the heater core hoses. You can use them separately, or combined for the best results. If you choose to go this route, purchase 1 gallon of distilled water for every gallon of antifreeze. So I have a 2001 dodge Dakota that Im doing a engine replacement myself, the radiator is out of the truck now. Feel free to contact our technical support team at 888-863-0426 with any other questions. There will be an inlet and outlet hose, one that takes in the coolant and the other which pushes it back out. Stop leak products can also clog a vehicles radiator in a very similar manner. That is, of course, if their vehicles heat is functioning as anticipated. 9/10 times it doesn't clear the clog, and just degrades the system somewhere else. If it is slightly warm, the engine inside is likely still quite hot. Then get in and take a deep breath. up to operating temp. Youll want to catch it all and dispose of it appropriately since its bad for the environment. Even filtered tap water has minerals dissolved in it, especially if you have hard water and many areas have high levels of iron or other metals in the water. The ATF in my coolant system probably caused the heater hose to fail by softening the rubber. Once the water flowing through and exiting the heater core is clear without debris, turn the water off and let it drain from the heater core. We recommend using the BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer. I had a coolant flush at a local repair shop. What are you driving? Yes you should remove the thermostat prior to flushing the system. Thank you for asking about your Ford Aerostar. Since its already below freezing in my area, can I add the radiator flush to the coolant to do a driving flush for a few days before I have a power flush and refill done? Flushed about 10 times so far and its STILL puking GRAVEL out. That's quite labor intensive. You would need to drain the cooling system of antifreeze and simply add water to run with the BlueDevil Radiator Flush. The car shows no evidence of a head gasket leak (white smoke,oily water or watery oil). While each of these causes differs in origin, all lead to the same troubling condition, which must be remedied in order to restore heater core operation back to peak efficiency. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions. Please contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 so that we can get a little better understanding of the vehicles condition and be able to make any appropriate recommendations. Have a big block Chevy no petcock on radiator or heater hoses how would you flush pull off bottom hose when done. Coolant lines are affixed at these junctions, courtesy of hose clamps or quick-connect unions. For the last 30 years, heater cores and radiators have a design known as cross flow. RAY: Id have to disagree with your mechanic. If youre using Irontite products for flushing, coating, and sealing, youll want to read the directions thoroughly before beginning this process. I keep seeing that I have to drive around for 3-6 to completely flush the system. It may take a number of hours for an engine to cool completely. See: 19 Best Online Auto Parts Stores. Maybe your thermostat is stuck open and your engine is not getting warm enough, or your heater core is plugged, not allowing the coolant to get in. There may have been a few trace amounts of your old coolant still in the block or elsewhere in the cooling system that was not removed during the initial flush. We recommend using our BlueDevil Radiator Flush. It might need to be backflushed, but its not a guarantee. Hi I have a 1998 ford f150 my heater core supposedly is bad so while using blue devil radiator flush is it necessary to run the heater or can I just let it idle. Hi blue devil pro, I have had over heating issues on my vehicle for the last 3-4 months and cant figure out the problem, have had 4 compression tests done on it, coming back with normal results, Ive changed the thermostat (twice) changed the radiator, reservoir, and cap, I open the bleeder valve and theres a stream coming out, so Im assuming its not my water pump, but I ran across your tips and was thinking maybe I have poor circulation in my system even if I already replaced my radiator, you think it would work in my case? (and Average Installation Cost). Place a container under the vehicle, turn on the air compressor, and allow the coolant and grime to drain into the container. Thank you. You should only have to do the water flush once after running the BlueDevil Radiator Flush. Just to verify it was ATF I let the water sit in the pan after the last flush and the water was clear underneath a surface of ATF. I flushed each time till positive clear water and particle free ran through any opening . Heater core is usually one of the highest points in the cooling system and if the level drops a little first symptom is no heat. yellow label). Should I drain whats in it and do a couple of fresh water flushes before I use the Blue Devil Radiator Flush? Be careful not to spill coolant on the ground, as it is bad for the environment. There are numerous potential causes of a clogged heater core. There are a few telltale signs that your car needs a heater core flush. Hello , I have Diesel Cumins Engine , its radiator is aluminium manufactured . ), P0705 Code (Symptoms, Causes, and How to Fix), Driving Without an Oil Cap (Is It Ever Ok To Do? The most common symptom of a clogged heater core is a general lack of heat. i have a 97 Yamaha Royal star 1300cc and the previous owner i guess mixed antifreeze now i have brown/blackish sludge in it. What should be used first gaskets sealant or radiator flush. TOM: The easiest thing to do is to reverse-flush it by hooking a hose up to the heater core and pushing water through in the opposite direction from how it usually runs. Based on your description, it does seem like it would be beneficial to leave the flush in a little longer, driving it intermittently over the course of a week or so. Watch the temperature gauge carefully to ensure your vehicle is not overheating. I have a 2014 nissan altima I accidentally put washer fluid in coolant so i flushed my radiator and fill it with waterI let me vehicle run with heater on then shut it off do I drain it again? In certain instances, a clogged heater core can be flushed, thereby restoring a vehicles heating efficiency. Please contact us at 888-863-0426 and we would be happy to help you out. In such instances, a thorough flush will often restore a system to full functionality. Now you can close your hood and drive with confidence! Heres what youll need to get started: *An air compressor isnt 100% obligatory, however, it is extremely helpful in loosening up any gunk before performing the flush. Also, these corrosion inhibitors have a finite life span in your cooling system and after time will start to allow more rapid corrosion to occur. There are no separate instructions, as the flush would circulate through the heater core, as well as the rest of the cooling system. All rights reserved. Let it idle at normal temperature for about 10 minutes then shut the car off and let every cool until it is cold to the touch. Im surprised that the BD flush has not thoroughly cleaned my coolant system of the ATF. So then I flushed it twice with distilled water Blue Devil Radiator Flush and Oil Degreaser. If you use water from your tap to mix with your antifreeze, you are adding a whole new spectrum of chemicals to your coolant, many of which can be harmful to your vehicle. When flushing the radiator, if the heat is on, the flush would circulate through the heater core. Plus my garden hose is probably frozen. Im working on on 02 Escape 3.0 v6 that has been heating up only if i drive it above 55. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions. If you notice that your car is starting to overheat, or you notice that theres no heat at all, something may be wrong. Watch HERE! Thanks for your question. Keep in mind, you may leave the product in your cooling system for a few days for a deeper clean. You can purchase pre-mixed coolant and water or you may choose to mix it yourself. Hello, I plan to replace my hoses and do the flush in my Workhorse G.M. Then if you use distilled water to dilute your full strength coolant, your cooling system will be safe from any contaminants. also flushed the system on three separate times. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. Aluminum, copper and brass also can corrode releasing particles and the rubber hoses and gasket can also deteriorate over time adding to your cooling system gunk. Only reason I'm asking is because the heater core is buried (like everything is on this fucking car) behind the plenum and the upper intake, breather, throttle linkage, and EGR tube all have to come out to flush it. But a coolant leak is a problem. Will using this product show any results due to the fact Im baffled as to why I cant get the engine hot or to over heat? If youre not handy with mechanics, a heater core replacement can cost up to $950 give or take. In terms of performing a radiator flush, it is not super important to run the heater, however, doing so would allow the flushing agent to go in through the heater core to remove any possible build up. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Should I wait until the cloudiness is gone in the tap water coolant before adding distilled water and concentrated antifreeze? I tried several full flushes with thermostat out of system and heater control and fan on max setting. This would be the best product to remove the brown/blackish sludge you discovered and is intended for deeper cleaning. Feel free to contact our technical support line at 888-863-0426 with any other questions. All rights reserved. Yes, you can use water straight from the hose to flush your cooling system without damaging anything. To help remove any buildup in the system we recommend running a bottle of the BlueDevil Radiator Flush through the system to help remove anything that may be causing a reduction in flow. Now you can begin to refill the coolant in your heater core system. Yes, you can use BlueDevil Radiator Flush to obtain a more extensive cleaning of the cooling system. After a few hundred miles I check mycoolant level and the coolant in the reservoir was pink again. I'd like to fix it, but I don't know where to get those items at reasonable prices. If you are unsure of what kind of coolant is right for your vehicle, ask the clerk at your local auto parts store for assistance. However, the exact price of these repairs can vary greatly from one model of vehicle to the next. Remove any parts blocking easy access to the heater core, like the air intake filter housing. Find the heater core hoses, which are usually connected to two ports on the firewall. The hoses can usually only reach one nozzle, so it is easy to determine which goes where. Once your system is refilled, start your vehicle and let it idle until it reaches normal operating temperature. Hot coolant that has passed through other parts of the engine is run through the heater core as air is forced past it and into the cabin of the vehicle to heat it. Subscribe to our newsletter now! Thanks for your question on our article What is the Best Way to Flush a Radiator! I was reading in the posts and it left me with a few questions. I do have a small vacuum leak at the EGR tube to the intake plenum, but nothing too bad. If the hoses are old, and perhaps contaminates are covering up weak spots or areas of deterioration, flushing the system would remove those contaminates and allow water loss at those weak spots. Make sure to catch all of the coolant in a drain pan, and take it to your local coolant recycling facility ort auto parts store. That's what I did. If you are not sure which one that is, you may pull all of the spark plugs and will sometimes notice one will have a white-crystal-like substance on it and/or may look dirty; this is the plug you should pull. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. But my question is can I use blue devil radiator flush while the radiator is out and just let it sit overnight?. The rad cap showed caked on sludge as your picture does. Approved. By using our site, you agree to our. Does a total cooling system flush also clear the heater core? You dont want to install seats in your wifes car only to find out that they were in the car of an old lady who drove around all day with her eight male cats while chain-smoking Cuban cigars. ), What is a Slip Yoke Eliminator? Put the radiator cap back on, start the engine, put the heat on to the max setting and let the vehicle idle for 10 minutes. I know you cant answer that,but,will doing this hurt my therm or thr system. BlueDevil Radiator flush has a concentrated formula with powerful cleaning agents designed to remove any gunk or scale from your cooling system without damaging any of the components. Burping will allow trapped air to be released. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404. You can check with your local shops to see if one is near. Oh and my heater comes out cold, that was my main attraction to your advice, thank you. Like, how did all the gunk get into your radiator? This may be a better option for your vehicle. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 CarTreatments.com. Im using this on a 1963 Studebaker. Find out which product is the best for your car. These are issues that should not be ignored, especially if you want your car to live a long and happy life, full of safe trips. This sludge quickly spreads throughout a vehicles cooling system, including the heater core. 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