3 Common Signs You Need a Coolant Flush

In a general sense overheating is part of the signs you need a coolant flush. But there are other factors that make your car overheat.

The engine’s cooling system is equipped with the ability to regulate the temperature of the car and keep it moving. Coolant is the fluid that runs through the cooling system to ensure the temperature is been regulated all through the combustion process.

The car’s cooling system consists of a water pump, freeze plugs, a thermostat, a radiator, cooling fans, the heater core, the pressure cap, an overflow tank, and hoses. These components work together to regulate and keep the engine cold when needed.

Car coolant also called antifreeze is a substance that is used to regulate the temperature of the car’s engine. Now that we have known how the cooling system works let’s see common signs you need a coolant flush.

Common Signs You Need a Coolant Flush

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Whenever your car’s cooling systems need a coolant flush the following signs will be eminent

1. High temperature and overheating when the engine is running
2. Leaking of antifreeze from under the vehicle
3. Forming of colored puddles under the vehicle as a result of an antifreeze leak
4. Unusual grinding noise from the car
5. signs of rust or rusting start showing up inside the antifreeze fluid
6. Emission of steam from the engine as a result of heat
7. Emission of unpleasant odor like that of maple syrup from the engine

All these, are signs you need a coolant flush or antifreeze. These mentioned signs are the most eminent cause or causes of overheating in cars.

What is a Coolant Flush?

Simply, a coolant flush is the act of running water and coolant through the radiator at the same speed at which the engine will. The purpose of a coolant flush is to clean out all forms of dirt, debris, and rush from inside the radiator.

Coolants also called antifreeze get worn out and lose their ability to efficiently regulate the engine’s temperature. The idea of coolant flush or radiator flush is to push out and drain all forms of clog in the radiator.

What Does a Radiator Flush Do?

Over time coolants even tend to start showing some signs of dust and rusty particles. Any form of dirt and rush in the coolant can cause blockage in the radiator thereby obstructing the normal flow of antifreeze.

Overheating is the next experience once the radiator gets clogged with dirt from the coolant. I guess the question going through your mind now is how often should you flush a coolant or how often should you flush your radiator.

How Often Should You Flush Your Radiator

This is not fixed but some experts suggest that you should flush your radiator after every 5 years. I agree with this as a general answer to how often should you get a coolant flush but with exceptions.

Definitely, climate and weather differ from place to place. Climate and weather conditions should be considered before you can determine how often you have a coolant flush.

For people leaving the dusty Sahara, how often they perform coolant flush might differ from grassland. A typical example is people living in Texas and those in Los Angeles also those in California.

What Happens if You Don’t Flush Coolant?

Apart from an early morning disappointment on your way to the office when your car stops in the middle of the road, you still stand a chance of a premium repair. Overheating is the end result of a dirty clogged radiator.

Debris and dirt sitting on your radiator could end up damaging or corroding your engine too. Other possible harms that could happen when you don’t flush your radiator are as follows

Engine scale and erosion
Clogged radiator or heater core
Cooling system leaks
Stuck or broken thermostat
Water pump problems

What is the Difference Between Coolant Flush and Coolant Drain

In a coolant flush, a chemical is first added to the cooling system that removes debris and buildup from the system. A machine is then used to remove the old fluid and add new fluid. The machine pushes the fluid through the system at the same speed it would travel where the engine actually running.

A coolant drain and fill, or standard coolant service is just that. The fluid is drained from the vehicle using gravity instead of a machine and the new fluid is mixed and refilled by hand.

How to Flush a Radiator

Follow the guide below to get started and flush a clogged radiator with a garden hose. This guide will help you save money as you can do it at home

Disconnect the lower hose under the radiator
Drain the cooling fluid into a container
Now seal the lower radiator hose with a piece of rag
Make sure the radiator cap is put back and covered as expected
Disconnect the upper radiator hose
Now connect your garden hose and fill the system with water
Remove the rage used to cover the lower hose earlier and let the water drain out
Now plug the garden hose back and flush the system out until it is clean
Use a glass cup to collect the water from the last flash to see how clean it is
Repeat this process until a desired result is archived
Fit the respective hose back when after flushing
Now pour 50% distilled water and 50% antifreeze into the coolant reservoir
Cover the radiator with the pressure radiator cover

If at some point you notice these mentioned symptoms, always remember that they are signs that you need a coolant flush. If you still have any questions about coolant flush, radiator flush, or car cooling system in general please use the comment box to ask us at Cookip.