Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Cooling system flush?

[Woodenhead]

I pulled my head off the other day and noticed I have a lot of buildup/corrosion in the water jackets. I'd like to come up with something to clean and flush this crap out. Anyone done this before? I bought some Prestone cooling system flush solution but I have my doubts as to how well it will work. It'd be nice to some how pickle it and flush it like we do with coolers and piping at work.



Mike

 

[Skydiver]

When I flush my cooling system I first drain (and properly dispose) old coolant. Then refill with soft water.



Soft water? If your unsure if you have soft water buy distilled. It's less than $1 a gallon. Hard water will have minerals (mostly calcium)that are dissolved within. Example- take a spoonfull of sugar and stir it into a cup of water. You can't see it but you know it's in there.



Back to flushing. After adding soft water I run the Cummins up to normal temp. I might do this for 3 or 4 times. Once the water is fairly clear after draining I then add 3 gallons of NON- 50/50 antifreeze to the radiater then start engine and top it off. I do not use 50/50 because there will water in the engine and I will not be able to get the 50 percent mixture needed using 50/50 premixed antifreeze.



As far as your question about "I'd like to come up with something to clean and flush this crap out. "I would be cafefull about useing harsh chemicals. They could attack your freeze plugs.



I just flushed out the radiator on our 96 3. 8 regal and I had to fill and drain the system 8 times and it still had trash in the water. It had not been flushed in 5 years.



Skydiver. Almost 28 years working at a water treatment plant.

 

[The patriot]

I do mine every year. I use the dishwashing powder. I dont remember the name offhand.

If you do a search it should come up.

I reverse flush (shown in the manual) through the block with the lower radiator hose off. Never got anything spectacular out of it... . I guess because I keep up on it.

Eric

 

[Woodenhead]

Sounds like some good advice here. Once the heads back on I'll fill it with distilled water and either the Dishwasing soap or some other rad flush. I'll run it for a couple short trips and drain it when I do my re-torques. Once I get clear water out I'll dump in the coolant and more distilled water.



Thanks for your input

 

[Hammer]

The dishwashing soap you are refering to is powdered Cascade. Add one full cup of powder to the water,seal off the system and warm it up. Do as many times as you need to until it is clean. Its best to waste a few dollars on one of those large soild wash baskets to use a catch pan. We have done this many times with motors that have had headgasket failures to remove the oil from the cooling system.

 

[The patriot]

Dare ya go.

I was told a few tablespoons would suffice.

Is 1 cup standard for regualr cleaning, or messy oil problems?

Eric

 

[Hammer]

Eric...

When I use it I always used 1 cup,no matter what job it was. this was told to me by a fellow TDR member who has spent alot more years with these motors than I will ever have..... Andy

 

[Woodenhead]

Powdered cascade it is then. I'll run that for a few short trips then dump it. Then it'll be several runs of clean water to get it all out. Hopefully this'll get it cleaned out. Thanks for the info.



Mike

 

[The patriot]

Thanks. I'll have to use more next time.