How to Clean Out an Automobile Radiator
Although not the most glamorous part of a vehicle, the radiator is one of its most important components. The radiator, along with the water pump, is responsible for keeping the engine within its optimal temperature range. Over time, the metal or plastic fins within the radiator become clogged with sediment from the engine, which reduces the radiator's effectiveness. Thankfully, cleaning out these sediments is fairly easy, but does require that the radiator be removed from the engine compartment.
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Instructions
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Allow the engine to cool, then remove the radiator cap and drain the radiator. The majority of radiator caps can be removed by pushing down on the cap and simultaneously twisting it in a counterclockwise direction until the cap is loose. Some radiator caps feature a red lever in the center of the cap, which must fist be lifted upward before the cap can be twisted. Once the radiator cap has been removed, remove the single drain plug located at the bottom of the radiator facing the engine with a wrench and allow the radiator to drain.
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2
Disconnect the upper and lower radiator hoses, and the overflow hose if applicable. All three hoses attach to the radiator with hose clamps. Each hose features one clamp. The clamp is tightened onto the hose with a single screw. To remove the hoses, loosen each screw with a flat-head screwdriver, then pull the hoses away from the radiator.
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3
Disconnect the transmission cooler lines from the radiator, if the vehicles is equipped with an automatic transmission. There are two cooler lines which connect to the bottom of the radiator. At the end of each line is an integral nut, which tightens onto a threaded tip on the radiator. Turn the integral nut on each line with a flare nut wrench in a counterclockwise direction, then pull each line away from the radiator.
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Remove the radiator from the engine compartment. Radiators are typically held in place with four bolts, one located at each corner of the radiator. Some radiators use more than four bolts. Remove each of the bolts with a wrench, then pull the radiator straight out of the engine compartment.
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Insert the end of a garden hose into the top of the radiator, then turn the hose on and allow the water and deposits to run out of the opening at the bottom where the lower radiator hose attached to. Flip the radiator upside down, then insert the garden hose into the opening at the bottom of the radiator that the water was flowing out of. Turn the garden hose on again and allow the water and sediments to flow out of the radiator cap opening. Alternate between flushing the radiator from the top and from the bottom until the water runs clear.
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Lower the radiator into place within the engine bay, then install the radiator's retaining bolts. Attach the two transmission cooler lines, if equipped with an automatic transmission, to the bottom of the radiator with a flare nut wrench, followed by the radiator hoses.
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Fill the radiator with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water, unless the antifreeze's instruction label provides otherwise. Place the radiator cap onto the radiator, then press down on the radiator cap while simultaneously twisting the cap in a clockwise direction. If the radiator cap features a red lever in its center, press the level down so that it is parallel to the cap.
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