348 Coolant Flush

I am about to attempt my very first coolant flush, but I have a few questions first. In this picture, can anyone tell me what #8, #9, and #10 are? In the manual, it only gives you a description up to #7. I see that #1 are the Air Bleed Screws, are these the screws that I would use to bleed the air out of the system or would I have to also use #7 which is also an air bleed screw. Also, based on these instructions sent to me by PAP (thanks PAP), for instruction # 3, are they referring to a radiator cap right on the radiator or do they mean the cap that is on the Expansion tank? Do both tanks have a radiator cap, or just one, or neither? thanks in advance, and if the responses can be in lamens terms that would be MUCH appreciated as I am not a mechanic, but PAP tells me it is very easy to flush the coolant system and can be done myself.


1: remove right rear wheel and unscrew the inner fender liner liner (forward section is all that is need to come off),
2: Unscrew the coolant drain on the bottom right of the coolant radiator, but do so only part way (i.e. don't completely remove the drain plug),
3: Open the radiator cap and insert a garden hose that is only partially turned on such that when you start the engine in step 4 that your coolant level in your fill tank neither overflows nor drains out of sight,
4: start your cold engine and let the car idle until the color of the liquid being drained from your right radiator reveals water-only,
5: Turn off your engine and drain as much water now as possible,
6: close your drain plug and fill your coolant reservoir with new coolant and water. Add coolant first, then water. Close radiator cap
7: Start your engine and turn on your Heater to high heat, allow to idle until both cooling fans kick on,
8: bleed your cooling system by slightly unscrewing both bleed nipples on the black cooling tubes on your firewall (right side U.S.)
9: turn off engine and allow to cool, then check coolant level in reservoir the next morning when engine is cold.
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As usual, all of you guys are AWESOME!!! I plan on completing the flush in the next couple of weeks, I will post an update with the results in case anyone wants to compare with they find when doing their flush.

cheers.

 

Thanks Tom - I will keep that in mind and also post notes about my findings on this.

cheers

 

Good to know PAP - thanks....one last question, when draining the radiators, do I drain both at the same time? or one first then the other?

 

thanks once again - i just noticed in your instructions that you actually do say to open both at the same time, so my apologies for the redundant question!!!

cheers

 

Okay gentleman, thanks to everyone's advice and patience on this thread I successfully flushed the coolant this weekend. I used 3 bottles of Prestone 50/50 (3.78Litres per bottle) and the rest is water. So that means 11.34 litres of coolant and 8.66 litres of water, which is 57/43 in favour of coolant - is that too much coolant? I was told that the coolant contains chemicals and is acidic that may harm engine components if too rich and that it should never be more than 50/50? I checked the coolant with a Hydrometer and the reading came to -45, and was advised that it should be around -26. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I also attached some pics.
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Thanks BT. I actually meant that I used the one in which you have to mix it with water, not the pre-mixed stuff....either way it looks like I am in good shape. I was just concerned that I have TOO MUCH coolant and not enough water.

thanks again.