radiator flush

[N0tac0p]

I while back i asked about a process for radiator flush, ie chemicals, soaking, flushing ,etc.  i only got a repsonse look at change coolant in shop talk.

well, that doesn't answer the question. 

anyone ever do a radiator flush?  what to use?  cautions?

[hubcapsc]

cautions?

Animals sometimes think radiator fluid smells and tastes good... and it kills them in
a miserable way... be careful with it...

-Mike

[Earl in Pensacola]

To be honest I have always done the "simplest" of flushes.  By that , I mean I just disconnect the lower hose, remove the radiator cap and let-her-drain.  I then  suck out the reserve tank with a "turkey baster".  I then start refilling the radiator (about half way) then start the engine.  Once I can see the coolant, I rev (just a  little) the engine a few times, put the cap on, rev her a few more times, go for a short ride.  turn off the engine, let her cool, recheck the radiator and top off.  99% of the time, that's it until it's time to do it again. My ride is still using the OEM radiator after 230K.

[Earl in Pensacola]

PS:  I forgot to say that I refill the reserve tank to about a third of the way up.

[GOOSE]

notacop......i set the bike upright in a chock, and while cold do these things:  pull drain plug on bottom of water pump/take off radiator cap/remove overflow tank-drain and clean it, and reinstall it.  then i lightly reinstall water pump drain plug, and refill radiator with just clean water, and redrain water back out.  now for the refill:  install drain plug with new washer back into water pump/refill radiator with honda premixed antifreeze to full mark/ fill overflow tank to full line with honda premixed antifreeze/start engine, and let idle for a few minutes/snap throttle 3-4 times/shut off engine/check both radiator, and overflow tank to make sure each are on full mark/reinstall radiator cap, and your done.   

[9Ball]

the normal procedure is "drain and fill" as opposed to what you are calling a radiator flush.

Unless you are having overheating problems associated with a scaled-up radiator or are dealing with a very neglected radiator, that's all you need to do.  Shop talk gives all the info you need for a drain & fill.

I doubt anyone here has had to do much more than this for routine maintenance of their cooling system.

[Jess from VA]

If you drain it and the drainage looks really bad, go ahead and stick a hose in the top and let it run thru the system for awhile.  Drain and fill with 50/50 (and a dose of Water Wetter).