Drain or flush coolant?

[poison]

Car just rolled 70k, bought her with 67k. I'm going on a long road trip soon through hot Central Cal, and it's pretty hot in LA anyway. I don't know when the coolant was last changed.

Should I drain myself, or have it flushed at Jiffy Lube? I know Subaru doesn't recommend flushing, a it can damage the radiator. Any issues here?

 

[JCell]

i dont see how flushing would damage the radiator?

flush it

 

[poison]

Pressure, I guess. Subaru recommends a manual drain, and it's so damn easy there's no reason not to. Just glancing under the Mazda, it looks just as easy, a nice easy drainhole.

 

[el_Don]

Drain it and do not take it to jiffy lube, they're crooks. At least they are here in Houston. It's easy enough to do it yourself.

 

[poison]

:lol: I know they're crooks, but I stand and watch em.

 

[JCell]

the way i used to do flushes was to disconnect the top line of coolant to a external tank.


then turn the car on, as the water pump sucks fresh water, the old water in dumped to external tank B

i would still do a flush if it hasnt been done in a while, i drain and fill mine about twice a year so its always clean

 

[el_Don]

Watch them close hahaha, seriously though...crooks.

 

[poison]

OK, cool, I guess I'll flush for this initial change. I might throw in some Water Wetter, too. Cheap enough and effective.

 

[TheMAN]

if your cooling system has NEVER been contaminated with either the wrong type of antifreeze or tap water, then no sense in flushing it

if you flush it, you're using tap water and the s*** in tap water is GOING to cause you to *need* flushes in the future... s*** in tap water causes buildup! distilled water (the stuff mixed in from the factory) doesn't!

 

[RABID_MP5]

If the heater hoses (and others) are original, should they be replaced?

Should we use Dex-Cool or whatever the 5-year stuff is called or just the 2-year antifreeze?

 

[poison]

if your cooling system has NEVER been contaminated with either the wrong type of antifreeze or tap water, then no sense in flushing it

if you flush it, you're using tap water and the s*** in tap water is GOING to cause you to *need* flushes in the future... s*** in tap water causes buildup! distilled water (the stuff mixed in from the factory) doesn't!

I'm talking a flush at the lube place. They flush with coolant and distilled water. Worth it?

 

[poison]

Well, it' done. Twas a Jiffy Lube next to the place I had lunch at with family and friends today, so I dropped it, ate, and picked it up. $90 minus $8 he took off, 2 year coolant, 50% water. Eh, at least it's done now.

 

[slavrenz]

If the heater hoses (and others) are original, should they be replaced?

Yes. Hoses are cheap. New engine due to cracked block from broken hose isn't

Should we use Dex-Cool or whatever the 5-year stuff is called or just the 2-year antifreeze?

Not unless you've got an engine and cooling system from a Chevy inside your car (hand)

 

[TheMAN]

Well, it' done. Twas a Jiffy Lube next to the place I had lunch at with family and friends today, so I dropped it, ate, and picked it up. $90 minus $8 he took off, 2 year coolant, 50% water. Eh, at least it's done now.

with plenty of tap water in it!

 

[Deleted58156]

if your cooling system has NEVER been contaminated with either the wrong type of antifreeze or tap water, then no sense in flushing it

if you flush it, you're using tap water and the s*** in tap water is GOING to cause you to *need* flushes in the future... s*** in tap water causes buildup! distilled water (the stuff mixed in from the factory) doesn't!

...i have never heard of anybody every stating this, and i've read a few shop manuals on draining/flushing the rad system, on not just on mazdas. Who told you about this idea?

 

[poison]

I've heard it. You need to use distilled water, minerals in tap water cause milneral buildup, and potential failure of the radiator.

 

[Deleted58156]

no i understand what your saying, but if you think about it, you would really need to be changing your rad fluid more then the recommended amount of times, seeing as how water from the tap, usually contains a small amount of mineral content in it. Not enough to do major damage right away, imo

 

[slavrenz]

...i have never heard of anybody every stating this, and i've read a few shop manuals on draining/flushing the rad system, on not just on mazdas. Who told you about this idea?

Then you haven't talked to many people. Considering distilled water is like, 50 cents a gallon, I think it's money well spent.

And yes, one coolant change with tap water probably wouldn't do harm if you changed the coolant regularly. But most people's cooling systems are already in crap shape, and that tap water would likely sit in the engine for another 150,000 miles.

 

[poison]

Yeah, next time I'll just drain and fill myself. I figure the flush was worth it the first time.

 

[knorverto]

has anyone switched the water pump in the 2005 mazda 6?