B18Redline

My radiator is leaking so I head to the autoparts store and pick up some tables that you put in the radiator to dissolve and supposedly plug up the radiator. The instructions said to put them in the hose if they don't fit in the radiator plug area, so that's what I did. Well shortly after my car starts overheating. I pull over, pull off the big radiator hose and black clumps and liquid start pouring out and the part where the hose meets the radiator is stocked up with the tablet not letting any fluid get through. So I take it out with a screwdriver, put the hose on and everything is fine. My question is the radiator hose goes to the block. Does anyone know if this chemical can damage anything? Also is it OK for a engine to temporarily overheat?

Teggsr2120

I doubt the chemical will harm anything since it is made to go in the radiator... because whats the difference of putting it in the radiator than in the hose? I'm sure you'll be fine and if you are worried about it flush your coolant system.

timmy8151

If you used a product like Bars Leak or those pellets, remember that it's just a temporary solution. These products while stopping the leak are also known to gunk up the radiator and cooling system. IIRC, those pellets are made up of peanut shells. After using any of these stop leak products, it' recommended that you thoroughly flush your cooling system.

Gman8941

was it leaking around that top gasket...because if it was you should probably replace it...there are lots of different places to pick a radiator up for cheap. the cheapest oem replacment is 102 dollars + shipping...i would never use that sealer crap on my car. the radiator only takes like 20 min to replace to so its really easy.

B18Redline

thanks for the replies...

How do I completely flush the cooling system?

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First drain the coolant from the radiator thru the drain plug, then disconnect the lower radiator hose from the radiator to let coolant drain out of there. Put the radiator hose back on.
Next locate the coolant drain bolt on the engine block. On B and D series engines it's behind the exhaust manifold/header, slighly towards the tranny end of the block. It's a BIG bolt, 19mm I believe, hard to miss. Remove that. Have a large container ready, because it will come GUSHING out. After it finishes draining, replace the bolt.

Now comes the tricky part. Remove the lower radiator hose and coolant temp sensor from the thermostat housing and then remove the housing w/ the thermostat. One of the housing bolts is pretty difficult to get to, so have some wrenches or a swivel socket joint handy (I can't remember what I used). Put the housing back in w/o the thermostat and reconnect the lower hose.

Now remove the upper radiator hose from the radiator and point it towards your drain bucket. Stick the garden hose into the top of the radiator where the upper hose connects and run the water. The remaining coolant in the block will be flushed out through the upper radiator hose. Keep the water running until the fluid coming out of the upper hose is clear.

Reinstall the thermostat and coolant temp sensor and all hoses etc. Fill the radiator w/ a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water (Honda pre-mixed, or Prestone and distilled water, do NOT use Xerex or Peak as it contains silicates which can damage the radiator). You will have to pour it in SLOWLY as it tends to bubble up and spurt out of the filler hole while you pour it in.

Once the coolant reaches the base of the filler neck, run the engine with the heater slider set to HOT. Continue to run the engine until it fully warms up and the radiator fan comes on. The upper radiator hose will also become hot. After this the coolant level in the radiator should have dropped since the thermostat opens and allows coolant into the block and the heater core. Shut off the engine, and continue to fill the radiator until it get to the base of the filler neck.

Locate the bleed bolt where the upper radiator hose attaches to the cylinder head. Loosen this bolt and let the coolant flow out until it flows out steady w/o bubbles. Squeeze the upper radiator hose to help get any remaining air out of the system. Continue squeezing the upper hose until no more bubbles come up at the base of the filler neck, and continue to add coolant as necessary to keep the level at the base of the filler neck.

Remove and wash out the coolant overflow tank, fill it to the proper level, and you're done!
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Changing the radiator is easy, but this flushing procedure will take you a good hour or more. On my car it took FOREVER sitting there idling before the fans would finally kick on.