My jeep has developed a pretty bad coolant leak and I'm finally getting the time to work on it tonight. Its either the bottom radiator hose or a whole in the bottom of the radiator. I'm hoping a dry rotted hose. If its a bad hose then I will have to drain the radiator correct? And I might as well flush it while I'm at it. My question is do I just run water through the radiator cap and let it run out the drain hole untill all the dirt and stuff seems to out? Or is there something else I need to do?

 

A flush can be done a number of ways. If the cooling system maintenance has been kept up with (ie: frequent coolant changes), then I'd just replace the failing component, replace coolant and distilled water in a 50-50 mix or buy 50-50 premixed and you'll be good to go.

If coolant is not green, you should flush it. Your action should be based on history of maintenance and current condition of the coolant. When was it changed last?

If coolant is not green, I like a mild citrus based chemical flush unless it is really bad. Follow instructions on the bottle.

While you are doing this, a good time to inspect ALL components of the cooling system. That includes a new radiator cap, all new hoses (if one fails, others are not far behind) and of course, a new 195 degree thermostat.

With cooling system maintenance, it's "pay me now, or pay me a LOT MORE later!"

 

Make sure not to put dexcool in either....most people screw tbat up and put the red stuff in instead of the green. Just an FYI.

 

Agreed. Use conventional (green) anti-freeze.

 

When you under your jeep checking for leaks, check around your water pump really well. They have a built in weep hole and they leak pretty rapidly when they do go. The location of the weep hole makes it look like a hose leaking. Hope you get it fixed up soon

 

More good advice.

Leaking from a "weep hole" of a water pump is telling you that catastrophic failure is not far behind.

If you EVER see a leak from that weep hole, change the water pump immediately.