HOW TO: Flush/Change Coolant

[Redleg]

Have you got a fine point pick or scribing tool? Make sure the thing is really cleaned out and crud-free, because:


...and it certainly is possible someone swapped it out at some point, unless you bought it new and are sure that a mechanic didn't lose the original and just drop something he had handy in there to get you out the door.

 

[Redleg]

I tried an 8mm hex wrench - it fit, but the plug was so stuck that I was afraid of breaking the wrench. Sprayed it again with Blast'r, let it sit while I went to the local auto parts store for antifreeze. They recommended an 8mm hex socket (3/8" drive). Got back home, put it on a 12" breaker bar, applied some elbow grease, and the bleed plug cried uncle.

 

[uss2defiant]

Hi all,

A few months ago, I just changed my coolant, WP, tank,and hoses.

I just noticed that I am getting coolant into the overflow side after turning the vehicle off. It got to a point where coolant flowed out of the vent hole at the top.

I changed the radiator cap and emptied the overflow side.

Drove about 40 minutes, came home, checked the tank before turning engine off and there no coolant in the overflow side. As soon as I shut the engine off, the overflow side started filling up. I let it cool for about 2 hours and the coolant was sucked back in to the pressurized side of the tank.

Any thoughts on what's going on?

Will be pressure testing my system later tonight.

Thank you in advance.


Update: I think my tank is bad. I hear something hissing. Must be a new pin hole leak since the jeep doesn't overheat.

 

[CWBenjamin]

Well, our 02 Liberty doesn't have a cracked coolant reservoir. So I have no idea why the coolant would have started spewing out of it after it was shut off. I wonder if it was clogged or something and that caused the reservoir to over flow? I refilled it with coolant and it seems to be fine now. But I know I really need to flush the system out completely and I am willing to do it myself, I just need to know how. I know there's a kit I can buy and use my garden hose with it. What and where do I disconnect to drain it and where do I connect the hose to? Does the entire operation take place at the reservoir or do I need to disconnect something by the radiator at the front of the engine? There is only one cap, on the reservoir, nothing on the top of the radiator itself. I know I can just take it to a shop and have them do it, but I can't afford that and need to do this on my own.

Our 04 Grand Cherokee, it's the fan that is causing it to overheat and a mechanic in my neighborhood suggested to bypass the relay switch so the fan is on 100% of the time. They said it's manually intensive job and shops will charge you a lot of money to change it. There are a couple of other vehicles they own that they bypassed the relay because of the same issue. They said it's too much of a pain in the **** to properly fix it. They are good mechanics and usually willing to help me out, but getting them to actually do the work is another issue entirely.

Thanks for all the help so far. At least I know I can come here and get good, experienced people to walk me through some of the things I can do on my own.

Why would they do something like that when a new fan is only 100 bucks??? Just get the new fan assembly and it will have a warranty. It could be causing your radiator fluid to spew out the overflow too.