I am sorry if I am in the wrong section but I tried using the search forum and I can not find how to flush the coolant. Right now it has muddy and rusty brown looking fluid. I tried finding the drain plug but I had no luck. Is there any way I can find it or is there some other way to flush the coolant? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

on the front passenger side (bottom of the radiator, there is a butterfly nut. pop the hood, release the radiator cap (when cool). unscrew butterfly nut and let the radiator drain. take a hose and blast water down through the radiator and you will see some rust flush out. when clear, put butterfly nut back on and fill radiator with water (USE DISTILLED WATER IF YOU HAVE CALCIUM AND OTHER MINERALS IN WATER< CALCIUM WILL BUILD UP). then run the jeep for a couple of minutes with the Heater on high. shut her off and drain the radiator again. replace butterfly nut and add coolant.

 

Oh and it would be a great Idea to replace your thermostat while youre at it. its just 2 1/2" bolts to take out rite on the front of your engine. ~6$ and you will make a big difference in heater

 

I would HIGHLY recommend that you do not use the petcock to drain the radiator. They are under-designed from the factory and subject to failure. And if they fail, you may end up replacing the radiator.

Simply loosen the clamp on the lower radiator hose and pull it off to drain the coolant.

Much safer..........

I agree wholeheartedly with replacing the thermostat. Go with a 195 degree. I buy my stats directly from Jeep and also like the Stant SuperStat. Stay away from inexpensive, no-name stats. They are absolute JUNK.

 

Thank you for the quick response. Just one thing, to locate the butterfly nut on the Jeep do I have to remove the grille? Will try to do what you said tomorrow. Very much appreciated

 

Thank you. I will look into buying a thermo. I am a complete noob but how do I try to remove the lower radiator hose clamp?

 

Get underneath the vehicle. The clamp will either have a screw style clamp on it in which you would just loosen it with a screwdriver.

If it has an old style factory clamp on it, you will need to use a pliers or vice grips to spread the jaws of the clamp enough to pull the hose out.

You'll see when you get under there.

 

Thank you for all the kind advice. I have the old style factory clamps but I will try to do this tomorrow. This sounds way way easier than removing the butterfly nut. Hopefully this will make my Jeep cooler.

 

don't forget to bleed the system when you're done.

 

gotcha. thanks

 

You can run CLR, or 50/50 vinegar then drain again, change Tstat. When you fill the final time, fill the rad slowly letting it burp, then start the jeep turn the heat all the way up, let idle with cap off fill as needed when the tstat opens youll see a big drop, top off, replace cap.

 

I've had this same problem and ive heard of a flush solution u can buy are they any good

 

How are the Petcock butterfly valves subject to failure? Ive never heard of one failing. is it because its plastic with plastic threads?

 

Yes, and if you break one off, you are screwed. This has happened to many...

Best to be safe and drop the lower hose. It is actually easier anyways, just get out of the way and have a pan ready when the hose breaks loose.

 

I wouldnt say you would be screwed, you could just drill into to it offset and leave the drill bit in to use it to unscrew it. the radiator house sounds like a good idea, but its just removing plastic from metal, not as bad as snapping off a bolt in threads ya know?