How many times to flush the cooling system?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I have searched the internet and can't seem to find the answer to this simple question. When I'm flushing my cooling system with water, how many times should I do it to be thorough?

I did my first flush with a solution meant for cleaning out the cooling system. Now I'm flushing with water.

 

[jgue467]

Till it runs clear? :cowboy:

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Till it runs clear? :cowboy:

That's what I was wondering. I'm on my 5th water flush so far and the water afterwards is still pretty murky.

 

[Chim]

I just kept running distilled water through it until it was clear.

If you buy a factory gallon of toyota red there are some clear flushing instructions on the side of the container.. I used those.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I just kept running distilled water through it until it was clear.

If you buy a factory gallon of toyota red there are some clear flushing instructions on the side of the container.. I used those.

I'm using tap water for the water flushes. Distilled will be mixed with coolant when I get to filling it.

 

[01thunder]

what's the point of distilled water?

 

[alumarine]

I'm using tap water for the water flushes. Distilled will be mixed with coolant when I get to filling it.

Yes, no need to spend extra money on distilled just for flushing.

 

[infamousRNR]

Yes, no need to spend extra money on distilled just for flushing.

Can you just stick a hose in there and let the water run?...

I will be making the move from something green back to Toyota red

 

[SnowLizard]

I get 12 distilled gallons of water. I fill with water, and drain, usually I get a gallon to come out. so, after I get to gallon 8, I try and practice how long it will take to get 1.5 gallons out, so when I'm out of water, I put in 1.5 gallons of Toyota red coolant.

it takes time.

between each fill up, I drive the runner and get the temp moving, I have the heaters flowing full water, your inside fan does not have to be 'high' to move the water... in fact, low is better cause you want that t-stat to be open wide. this mixes the water and dilutes all that's left.

I drain after every drive right away from the drain plug on the bottom of the rad.

 

[SnowLizard]

Can you just stick a hose in there and let the water run?...

I will be making the move from something green back to Toyota red

the problem with a hose is some area's have 'hard water' with a lot of minerals/deposits, you still have to be careful with soft water, these deposits can help 'erode' the engine from the inside, leading to other failure issues, it's more common on older iron blocks. but with these alum engines, the deposits like to go in between the parts during heat expansion/contraction, usually around the head gaskets. I'm not say'n this is exactly what causes issues, but it is a contributor.

distilled water is THE best to use, cause the process only allows water to be the end product, there is no way minerals or deposits will be in distilled.

 

[wc11]

I've replaced all fluids including flushing the rad on my 98' Ltd every 3 years since new and had replaced the rad for the 1st time at 515.000km (320,000 miles).
it's preventative maintenance to me.

 

[JayRolla]

I always run it till clear. Fill it up with water again and let her run to full temp. Once that thermostat opens and lets her flow I will drain again. It comes out murky. I then fill again, let it heat up, open thermostat and drain again.

 

[amalik]

what's the point of distilled water?

a lot of people say tap water is really bad for the interior of the radiator and piping; sediment build-up.

probably better for a real mechanic to comment
[MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION]

 

[AZPartsGuy]

Don't forget to turn on your heaters so the coolant trapped in the core can circulate too.

Flush until clear.

Prestone also makes some crap you could use if you're inclined to spend money.

 

[infamousRNR]

I always run it till clear. Fill it up with water again and let her run to full temp. Once that thermostat opens and lets her flow I will drain again. It comes out murky. I then fill again, let it heat up, open thermostat and drain again.

Do you know happens if you switch from green to Toyota red and you don't get all the old coolant out?....

 

[SnowLizard]

Do you know happens if you switch from green to Toyota red and you don't get all the old coolant out?....

nothing... Toyota designed the engine to be able to cool even with mud in the radiator!

 

[JayRolla]

Do you know happens if you switch from green to Toyota red and you don't get all the old coolant out?....

Nope, and I dont want to know.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Do you know happens if you switch from green to Toyota red and you don't get all the old coolant out?....

Not much, it shouldn't have a bad interaction like say Dexcool. But you'd want to get as much of the old stuff out as you can as Toyota "Red" LLC is a low silicate formula and most Green coolant is not.

I'm not particularly a fan of chemical flushes, so I'd personally advise against it unless you flush it out really good.

The Tap vs. Distilled water thing is something I'm not entirely sure about anymore. I used to think you wanted distilled but apparently it can actually cause corrosion because it's too pure? I haven't looked into this heavily enough yet to have an informed opinion.

 

[BlazeRunner]

I had thick brown coolant when I bought my rig, it was from mixing coolant types. I flushed with a mild vinegar solution, about a 1:3 solution in distilled water, then flushed a few more times with straight distilled. It ran clear about 4-5 flushes after the vinegar and I did a few more for peace of mind. Been running the red coolant ever since and still looks new. The vinegar is an old school trick somebody passed down to me, and I didn't see any adverse effects other than my garage and air vents smelling like vinegar for a day or two.

 

[nevada]

That's what I was wondering. I'm on my 5th water flush so far and the water afterwards is still pretty murky.

get another bottle of treatment, and do it again. there are still deposits being removed. another bottle should finish them off. then flush until clear.

but, what exactly are YOU doing, that you're calling a flush? what procedure exactly?

Not much, it shouldn't have a bad interaction like say Dexcool. But you'd want to get as much of the old stuff out as you can as Toyota "Red" LLC is a low silicate formula and most Green coolant is not.

I'm not particularly a fan of chemical flushes, so I'd personally advise against it unless you flush it out really good.

The Tap vs. Distilled water thing is something I'm not entirely sure about anymore. I used to think you wanted distilled but apparently it can actually cause corrosion because it's too pure? I haven't looked into this heavily enough yet to have an informed opinion.

oh, yeah im just the opposite. I have gotten some excellent results using chemical cleaners.

I like to do a double flush, it works amazingly well.


I have used tap water for many years, I have yet to see any negatives from it.
its my understanding that the anti-corrosion additive package in the coolant will be used up quicker, with tap versus distilled. but, if the coolant is changed on a regular, proper schedule, I don't think it will matter.