How to Flush a Car Radiator (DIY)

Introduction

Flushing your car radiator is one of those regular maintenance tasks that every vehicle needs to keep working. The radiator is the heart of your vehicle’s cooling system, sending liquid coolant (antifreeze) to various parts of the engine to keep it from overheating. Fortunately, it’s an easy project you can do yourself.

What is a radiator flush?

A radiator flush, sometimes called a coolant flush, removes rust and gunk that naturally builds up in your car’s cooling system. This process, along with running distilled water through the radiator before adding fresh antifreeze, is collectively called “flushing” the radiator.

How often should you flush your radiator?

Experts recommend draining and replacing the antifreeze in your radiator every five years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Is a radiator flush necessary?

Yes. . Skipping this process could lead to a cooling system blockage and, ultimately, an overheated engine.

What’s the difference between a radiator flush and changing the coolant?

Flushing your radiator not only removes the old antifreeze, it gets rid of rust and sediment that builds up inside your coolant system and extends the life of your engine by preventing corrosion. Changing coolant is just what it sounds like, swapping out the old antifreeze for new, but it doesn’t include cleaning out the gunk that doesn’t belong in your car. If you’re going to change the coolant, you should do a flush too.

How much does a radiator flush cost?

Typically, you can expect to pay around $200 for a radiator flush, though that number can vary from location to location. Fortunately, it’s also something you can handle on your own.

Follow this step-by-step guide and learn how to perform a radiator flush the right way.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p63MoqOyoJGjsbq5wKdlnKedZL2zu8memq1nlqHCtLSMmmScmaJiv6KwyJqrqKpf