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[alexw80]

Got a week off coming up shortly so was thinking of doing a full coolant flush and change. Got my ABS TC card through so will try and find a dealer that still does it and get some red GM coolant. I'm assuming the 20ltr from GM (93165619) is concentrate and not ready mix, sounds a good price at £46.98+vat for concentrate.

I've had the coolant changed before, not for a while I'll admit, but never fully flushed. The head went shortly before I got the car so chances are there could still be some oil in there somewhere.

So, was thinking of chucking in some coolant flush, then cleaning it through followed by a degreasing agent of some kind, and then doing another flush to get it all out. Questions, firstly should I go for Bars flush or Holts Redflush 2 step? Secondly, what would you recommend I use as a degreasing agent? Also, does this sound a little like overkill?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The V6 takes 4.5 litres for a fifty-fifty mix.

I'm not sure about the impoverished four pot model, but I'm guessing it's less.

[TheBoy]

Flush it through a few times with water, runign the engine for a few mins with heaters on HI and LO, until the water comes out perfectly clear. Then fill up with about 4l of neat...

[robson]

V6 is 9.5 litres.of 50/50

[kevinp58]

V6 is 9.5 litres.of 50/50

If you manage to drain block. 
But op has 2.0 ltr

[alexw80]

Flush it through a few times with water, runign the engine for a few mins with heaters on HI and LO, until the water comes out perfectly clear. Then fill up with about 4l of neat...

Flush while the engine is running? Cap off, hose in and drain open to provide a constant flow of water while keeping the car running?

[kevinp58]

Flush it through a few times with water, runign the engine for a few mins with heaters on HI and LO, until the water comes out perfectly clear. Then fill up with about 4l of neat...

Flush while the engine is running? Cap off, hose in and drain open to provide a constant flow of water while keeping the car running?

Yes but make sure the engine is cold or cool  as you might crack head or block  if it is hot and you flush with cold water. 

[Mr.OmegaMan]

Still got to get round to do mine  , Tap water a no no then ?

[kevinp58]

Still got to get round to do mine  , Tap water a no no then ?

If you live in an area with hard water then best to use distilled or filtered rain water. but if you live in a soft water area like me then tap water would be ok. 

[Mr.OmegaMan]

Still got to get round to do mine  , Tap water a no no then ?

If you live in an area with hard water then best to use distilled or filtered rain water. but if you live in a soft water area like me then tap water would be ok. 

Very hard around here  .. Bottled shop water it is then  ... Waterbut filthy old thing of no use..

[alexw80]

Flush it through a few times with water, runign the engine for a few mins with heaters on HI and LO, until the water comes out perfectly clear. Then fill up with about 4l of neat...

Flush while the engine is running? Cap off, hose in and drain open to provide a constant flow of water while keeping the car running?

Yes but make sure the engine is cold or cool  as you might crack head or block  if it is hot and you flush with cold water. 

 

Any recommendation as to what to use to clear out any oil that might still be in there from when the head went. I've heard that Forte bio degreaser works well but it's a little pricey. Anything that does the same sort of job but doesn't cost quite as much?

[kevinp58]

Flush it through a few times with water, runign the engine for a few mins with heaters on HI and LO, until the water comes out perfectly clear. Then fill up with about 4l of neat...

Flush while the engine is running? Cap off, hose in and drain open to provide a constant flow of water while keeping the car running?

Yes but make sure the engine is cold or cool  as you might crack head or block  if it is hot and you flush with cold water. 

 

Any recommendation as to what to use to clear out any oil that might still be in there from when the head went. I've heard that Forte bio degreaser works well but it's a little pricey. Anything that does the same sort of job but doesn't cost quite as much?

Some on here use dishwasher tablets. 

[Entwood]

Flush it through a few times with water, runign the engine for a few mins with heaters on HI and LO, until the water comes out perfectly clear. Then fill up with about 4l of neat...

Flush while the engine is running? Cap off, hose in and drain open to provide a constant flow of water while keeping the car running?

IMHO and from experience this is a total waste of time UNLESS all you are trying to clear is the radiator.

If you are trying to clear the whole system, including the heater matrix, then this procedure fails totally, as the engine thermostat will remain closed thus shutting off the engine block/heater matrix loop, so all the water simply goes in at the top and out at the bottom, it never reaches anywhere else.

To fully clear the engine, add dishwasher tablets or low suds biological washing powder, run engine until warm - thermostat open - heater on max , idle for 10 minutes -switch off and allow to cool for 30 minutes - this also allows the detergent to work better - then drain. repeat 10-15 times.

[dbdb]

If there's oil in there is should show, it either floats on the surface or emulsifies.  Personally I wouldn't add anything to my cooling system except antifreeze and soft water unless I absolutely had to.  I'd definitely be wary of detergents.  I suspect they will do more damage than a small amount of oil.  In fact some additives such as water pump conditioners contain oil.

I haven't looked it up but I would do before adding bottled water, I think some types can be hard.  Cheaper and better to use distilled or de-ionized water.

I do flush the engine with it running and a cold water hose pipe going in the expansion tank with the rad plug open, I know others say don't do that.  TBH I've never had any problems - after all on a cold day the cold radiator water will be released to the hot engine when the thermostat opens in the course of normal running.  However if you're extra cautious don't I suppose. The thermostat will open based on the engine block water temp even if the rad water temp is cold (otherwise it would never open!)

[alexw80]

Thanks for that. A little confused now though lol. Think I might do a bit of both, chuck a dishwasher tab in and run it with the system closed. Then flush straight through with it all open.

There's defo a little oil in there as I can see a small amount on top of the water. Would 1 tab be enough? Don't really want to put too much in as it might do more harm than good.