How to Flush a Car’s Radiator

Your car's cooling system serves a very important purpose in keeping your vehicle running safely. Because an engine creates a lot of heat, cars needed cooling systems to keep the engines from overheating and leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere. One important part of the cooling system is your car's radiator. The radiator is in place to remove heat from the hot water that goes through the cooling system. When the radiator is functioning properly, the engine is kept as cool as possible to prevent overheating. When the radiator becomes clogged, its functionality is reduced and overheating may occur. This is why it's important for you to learn how to flush a car's radiator.

Radiator Function

Your car's cooling system contains hot water that circulates throughout the system when your vehicle is in use. This hot water enters a tank at the top of your radiator, goes through the radiator, and is circulated out through a water pump. If your radiator was sealed at the auto factory, you need to be aware of leaks, but don't need to take many more precautions. If your radiator is not sealed, however, you need to check the water level regularly and add water as needed. You also need to clear debris, like leaves, out of a radiator that is not sealed. You should learn how to flush a car's radiator to keep this auto part maintained and working properly.

Preparation

Preparing to learn how to flush a car's radiator is relatively easy. You need to park your car on an even service such as a paved driveway or section of concrete. The engine should be off, but the heater switch should be on. Because splashes can occur when learning how to flush a car's radiator, you should also cover the engine. You're now ready to begin flushing the radiator.

Instructions

You can learn how to flush a car's radiator in a few steps. The first step is to take off the cap of the radiator and drain the water from it by removing the cap at the bottom. Watch the fluid as it drains to see if it is clear or very dirty. If the fluid is dirty, you should flush the radiator very carefully to clear out an accumulated dirt and rust. You should also disconnect the radiator hoses and make sure that they are not damaged. If they appear to be damaged, replace them with new ones. The next step is to put your water hose in the top of the radiator and let the water run through for several minutes. Ideally, the water will run clear at the end of this process. Insert the hose into the outlet at the bottom of the radiator and do a reverse flush. This will also take several minutes. Dirt and debris can build up on the engine cooling jacket, so be sure to flush this part of the radiator as well. When you're done flushing the radiator, put the cap back on, reconnect all of the hoses, and fill it with coolant. Test how well the flushed work by running the engine and checking for leaks.

Benefits

Learning how to flush a car's radiator has several benefits. One is that you can save money by doing this important maintenance by yourself instead of taking the car to a mechanic. Another benefit is that your radiator will function better, reducing the chances of having the engine overheat when you are on a long trip and nowhere near a mechanic's garage. Learning how to flush a car's radiator will also help you become more familiar with your car's parts and you can replace worn out parts before they become a problem.