So, some of you may have read my issue I had last year with the heater core leaking. My '72 skylark has a '70 455 in it. The PO removed the AC components from the vehicle and the heater blower motor. I ended up disconnecting the heater core and looping the lines one day in the parking lot of a Kohls when my wife was shopping. She said the heater core finally let loose and it was leaking pretty good onto the passenger floorboard. The fluid on the passenger floor mats were a bright green, but when i pulled the hoses from the heater core to loop them, the fluid that came out was a nasty brown color. Never had an issue with temp or anything, but now that it is nice out, does a guy drain the coolant from the radiator and refill?
Sure seems like good insurance and inexpensive to flush fluid. If it were mine I would use a "flush and fill " T in the line and use a hose to power flush any crud or sediment out of the system. Check hoses and button it back up.
Forgive my ignorance. I would have to agree that i should do this. Is there a howto on this? I have not done this before and do not want to screw it up.
Very good way to flush.... Although the plastic T you get at the local parts store is not of the best material.. Caps come loose T breaks ETC ETC .... If you use the plastic T remove the heater hose from motor.. place a put a temporary foot long or about heater hose on motor, Then put the T in the hoses.. Remove the T and Temporary hose.
You put a "T" adapter in the heater core supply line (smaller hose). Then you put a nozzle in the radiator filler neck to direct the outflow away from the car. (I use a piece of hose on that to reach 5 gallon bucket to catch as much coolant as possible and dispose at the auto parts store.) While engine is cool, (You do not want to ever add cool water to a hot engine/coolant system as thermal shock hates your engine and radiator) I turn on the water hose, and start the car. (mine does not have a heater control valve in the coolant supply system, those that do may need to be "triggered to open to heater core", if electrical, by suppling power to the switch, and if vacuum, by connecting to manifold vacuum for the time of the flush. Then run the car until the water runs clear. I do this in the driveway, and after the car cools, pull the lower radiator hose, to drain enough water to allow full replacement of coolant, put the hose back on, and use straight coolant (not the diluted stuff) and add the correct amount, then top off with water, start, warm and top off as required, keep an eye on temp to make sure there is no trapped air. You can get the flush kit at auto part store and either get a new heater supply hose or leave the "T" adapter in the hose. (I do not, it is just another failure point, in my opinion). If you still have questions, post. Other folks will add their methods.
Usually when you buy the flush and fill kit there are basic instructions for use included; I would also follow what TrunkMonkey adds in his comments.
alright, any advice on which flush and fill kit to use? I have amazon obviously, but locally in Iowa, I have Oreillys, Advanced Auto, and Auto Zone.
