| Re: [GMCnet] Filling the cooling system [message #324497] |
Sat, 30 September 2017 21:39  |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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At the suggestion(s) of Bob Burkitt, I bought a Prestone fill and flush kit (my local O'Reilly's didn't have the recommended Dorman 40178) to use to fill through a coolant hose. In looking under the "hoods" I see two hoses to the heater box that are well above the level of the top of the radiator. One of the hoses has some sort of a valve which I believe is the heater input hose. If I insert the filling tee between the valve and the heater core, would that be the best location to fully fill the cooling system?
Any better suggestions?
D C "Mac" Macdonald
Amateur Radio K2GKK
Since 30 November '53
USAF and FAA, Retired
Member GMCMI & Classics
Oklahoma City, OK
"The Money Pit"
TZE166V101966
'76 ex-Palm Beach
k2gkk + hotmail dot com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Filling the cooling system [message #324504 is a reply to message #324497] |
Sun, 01 October 2017 02:15  |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I can not imagine what you are trying to do with that thing. A flush kit is used under water pressure to flush water through the engine and radiators. To use it you will need to have the drain valve from the radiator open and probably the radiator cap off. Be careful as the radiator can not stand much over 9 PSI without ballooning. The city water pressure is 30 to 50 PSI and can be higher in some cases.
I can not imagine how you are going to get antifreeze in the system with that flush kit.
The easiest thing to do is to open the radiator cap and fill it that way. That is why the rad1ator cap is there.
If you are trying to flush the system then maybe you want to use it for that. I suggest that you do not leave it installed when you are finished. I have seen 2 of the Prestone ones leak when left installed in an engine heater line.
Also if you are using it in a heater line be aware that the heater control shuts off the coolant flow with a vacuum controlled valve in line. With the valve off there could be as high as city water pressure in that line. Then say By Bye heater core.
I personally would not use it.
If you want to flush it, on a cold engine. Follow the instructions on the radiator flush can and fill the system. Keep in mind that you have a 6 gallon cooling system and will probably need 2 cans of flush.
When you are finished flushing, drain the radiator and then with the drain still open simply open the radiator drain and stick a garden hose in the radiator fill by removing the radiator cap. Turn the hose on and wait for the radiator to fill. Then start the engine with the hose still running and adjust the flow rate at the radiator fill to keep water flowing to the point that it is just SLIGHTLY overfilling at the radiator fill. Let it run until you are happy with the water coming out of the drain is clean. Probably about 30 minutes as you need to get all of that flush out of the system. Then remove the hose and let the radiator drain completely again.
You will need 3 gallons of 100% antifreeze. Close the radiator drain and pour in the 100% antifreeze. Then add water as necessary to finish filling and to top it off later. I use distilled water which is $.88 per gallon at Walmart. You will not be able get 6 gallons back in because you will never be able to drain the system good enough to get all of the old water out. Expect to use somewhere between 3 and 4 gallons of anti-freeze and water. That is why I said to put the 3 gallons of 100% in first before adding water. Do not forget to fill the overflow bottle also. It should be flushed by hand at the same time that you are doing the rest of the system.
I'm not sure why you are doing all of this, especially the flushing. I thought that you were just adding 50/50 antifreeze to top it off. I also suggest adding 1 can of water pump lubricant when you are filling. It helps keep the water pump seals in place longer.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Filling the cooling system [message #324514 is a reply to message #324504] |
Sun, 01 October 2017 13:04 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Our experience with the Prestone Kit is fine, but the plastic material used
oxidizes within several years and need to be replaced or discarded.
On Sun, Oct 1, 2017 at 12:15 AM, Ken Burton wrote:
> I can not imagine what you are trying to do with that thing. A flush kit
> is used under water pressure to flush water through the engine and
> radiators. To use it you will need to have the drain valve from the
> radiator open and probably the radiator cap off. Be careful as the
> radiator can
> not stand much over 9 PSI without ballooning. The city water pressure is
> 30 to 50 PSI and can be higher in some cases.
>
> I can not imagine how you are going to get antifreeze in the system with
> that flush kit.
>
> The easiest thing to do is to open the radiator cap and fill it that way.
> That is why the rad1ator cap is there.
>
> If you are trying to flush the system then maybe you want to use it for
> that. I suggest that you do not leave it installed when you are finished.
> I
> have seen 2 of the Prestone ones leak when left installed in an engine
> heater line.
>
> Also if you are using it in a heater line be aware that the heater control
> shuts off the coolant flow with a vacuum controlled valve in line. With
> the valve off there could be as high as city water pressure in that line.
> Then say By Bye heater core.
>
> I personally would not use it.
>
> If you want to flush it, on a cold engine. Follow the instructions on the
> radiator flush can and fill the system. Keep in mind that you have a 6
> gallon cooling system and will probably need 2 cans of flush.
>
> When you are finished flushing, drain the radiator and then with the drain
> still open simply open the radiator drain and stick a garden hose in the
> radiator fill by removing the radiator cap. Turn the hose on and wait for
> the radiator to fill. Then start the engine with the hose still running
> and adjust the flow rate at the radiator fill to keep water flowing to the
> point that it is just SLIGHTLY overfilling at the radiator fill. Let it
> run until you are happy with the water coming out of the drain is clean.
> Probably about 30 minutes as you need to get all of that flush out of the
> system. Then remove the hose and let the radiator drain completely again.
>
> You will need 3 gallons of 100% antifreeze. Close the radiator drain and
> pour in the 100% antifreeze. Then add water as necessary to finish filling
> and to top it off later. I use distilled water which is $.88 per gallon
> at Walmart. You will not be able get 6 gallons back in because you will
> never be able to drain the system good enough to get all of the old water
> out. Expect to use somewhere between 3 and 4 gallons of anti-freeze and
> water. That is why I said to put the 3 gallons of 100% in first before
> adding water. Do not forget to fill the overflow bottle also. It should be
> flushed by hand at the same time that you are doing the rest of the system.
>
> I'm not sure why you are doing all of this, especially the flushing. I
> thought that you were just adding 50/50 antifreeze to top it off. I also
> suggest adding 1 can of water pump lubricant when you are filling. It
> helps keep the water pump seals in place longer.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] Filling the cooling system [message #324527 is a reply to message #324497] |
Mon, 02 October 2017 00:13 |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Remove the 1/4" pipe plug on each side of the block to drain the engine of coolent and open the radiator drain . Put the 1/4" plugs back in tighten the radiator drain. Also empty the overflow tank. You will be able to get most all the 6 gallons of coolent and distilled water in the radiator and overflow tank as Ken suggested. Run the engine to normal 180 degrees and when it cools the system should have sucked what it needed from the overflow tank and be void of excess air. This has always worked for me and I had the aluminum radiator. No special magic needed like in modern systems.
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
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