Coolant Flush?

[koz85037]

Hi guys, I have a 2004 chevy siverado 1500, with 80,000 miles on a 4.8 liter engine. I want to do a coolant flush, and was looking for any info, pics or video, on how to do it.

 

Do I use coolant only from chevy, or can I buy coolant at a auto parts store?

 

Is there anything that I need to make sure that I do, that is specific only to this truck? or is it pretty much the same for any truck.

 

Thanks.

[RyanbabZ71]

email me at [email protected] I have the scanned pages from my gmt-800 repair manual on how to do the flush. Its a word file

[RyanbabZ71]

hmmm let me try and see if this works

[koz85037]

hmmm let me try and see if this works

 

Wow that was fast! Hey Ryan thanks alot!!!

[tyhuck]

Or you oculd use the backflush kit from Prestone. I got mine at Walmart.

 

http://www.prestone.com/prestone%C2%AE_flush_n_fill_kit

 

Drain the radiator and reinstall the petcock. Then follow the instructions on the package.

 

Just be warned, this kit will require cutting one of the heater hoses and splicing in a plastic T fitting. Screw a short water hose on the fitting after installing it and you can catch all the flushed out stuff in a bucket.

[koz85037]

Or you oculd use the backflush kit from Prestone. I got mine at Walmart.

 

http://www.prestone.com/prestone%C2%AE_flush_n_fill_kit

 

Drain the radiator and reinstall the petcock. Then follow the instructions on the package.

 

Just be warned, this kit will require cutting one of the heater hoses and splicing in a plastic T fitting. Screw a short water hose on the fitting after installing it and you can catch all the flushed out stuff in a bucket.

The prestone flush is a good idea too, thanks Z71. Which way do you think is better?

[tyhuck]

The Prestone method is the only one I used as I usually have not kept a vehicel long enough to have to worry about a flush, but my 01 S10 had some cooling problems, so I used that kit to flush the system before I replaced the water pump and radiator.

 

I also suggest using a can of radiator flush before you drain it completely. preston makes a bottle of flush, but I use what my parts guy suggested. I cant remember what it was.

 

Just poor that in the radiator and run the truck for a good 20-30 minutes. THen drain and do the back-flush.

[big_dawg74]

Ryan: I thought that there was no draincock on the radiator. I looked on my radiator and there was none.

[RyanbabZ71]

Ryan: I thought that there was no draincock on the radiator. I looked on my radiator and there was none.

 

There was one on my 2000.

[Carder09]

I believe some models have them and some dont, I know my 06 doesnt, come to think of it, none of my major components have a drain plug except the damn oil pan lol. everything else is sealed up and can only be drained but removing the cover, pan, or hoses etc. poop......

[tyhuck]

Im not sure if there is a drain or not. There was one on my S10, but I havent had to do anything to my Silvy yet.

[Chevrolet1]

Just changed the coolant in my 2005 5.3L. No drain cock. Was able to extract 3 gallons by removing the lower radiator hose and using my shop vac on the heater core hoses and the ones that connect the overflow to the radiator. I didn't want to introduce any regular water into the system and only use distilled (mixed 50/50 with DexCool) when refilling. Didn't see or know about the procedure provided above, but I did somthing similar and all seems fine following a test drive.

 

Glad to see the 210F temp is normal, as I was wondering about the factory thermostat temp.