Ye Ol' Cherokee

98 4.0

I was just going to disconnect lower radiator hose, stick garden hose In radiator, and let water flow for a while.

If this is a good way, then which side of the lower hose should I disconnect? And should I let the jeep run while the water is flowing through?

Also, how do I burp the system afterwards? My heater core is bypassed also

Firestorm500

What you're wanting to do won't help.

Go get an inexpensive Prestone flush kit from a parts store or Walmart and follow the directions.

golden210

There should be a drain plug on the left bottom side of the radiator. The bottom hose should drain the motor. I recommend a cleaning agent, you can buy anywhere. Drain the system. Fill with water and agent. They call it the 10 minute flush. Works a lot better then just draining cause it cleans the whole system. Not sure how to burp the system. Just my input.

Firestorm500

You pull the bottom hose, everything comes out.

DieselDaze

Would it be worth flushing a complete system after the rad is removed.... I ask as Im waiting on a rad and mine is removed and I was considering flushing it fwiw..
.

rdr8887

Listen to firestorm. That's the best way. Another option if you're going to ignore the advice is to throw a garden hose in the cap and loosen the drain plug. Put water in and drain it constantly for 30 minutes with the motor running. This allows the thermostat to open and you'll get the junk out of the block. Get coolant back in quickly as it has rust inhibitors.

What you do with the coolant that comes out depends on how well you respect your environment.

sycoglitch

Well first. The coolant should be disposed of properly regardless of what you care for the environment. Second, OP, what reason do you want to flush the coolant for. Overheating. Dirty looking coolant, etc. This also helps us to help you better. And why is the heater core bypassed.

Bugout4x4

I found the easiest way to get all the air out of the cooling system in the first try. I put it low range first and drive the left front wheel up onto a steel work ramp to extremely lean the jeep over away from the filler neck. Then I raise the RPMs just a bit by hand at the throttle body while topping off bit by bit and allow all the bubbles to work themselves out. Then after it will not take anymore fluid and there are no more bubbles coming out I put the cap on while still having the RPMs raised. If you let off the RPMs it will throw some out and suck air back in.


This has worked perfect everytime.

sycoglitch

And an open cooling system is as easy to burp as just let her run with the cap open. Keep filling and it'll burp itself. I've never had an issue the several times I had to burp her when I had radiator issues last year

Firestorm500

As far as coolant disposal, my wastewater agency recommends pouring it down the sink, then running water for a minute or so.

This keeps it away from animals. They apparently can be attracted to the sweet smell and taste. If they drink it, even a little, it causes immediate and irreversible kidney damage, leading to death.

Pet dogs and cats around the house are particularly vulnerable.

madmanmarty

If u r putting a new radiator in,I would pull the thermostat housing off & flush the engine block completely with a hose. U should put a new thermostat,rad cap in anyway.
As for disposal,bring the used coolant to a garage that accepts used oil & coolant. They will dispose/recycle it properly.

bryanintowson

Ditto on using a Prestone kit from the parts store or Wally World. To burp an open cooling system, while you are filling it, squeeze the rad hoses and it will force air pockets out of the system as you fill it.

Also, if you follow the owner's manual for draining the system it advises opening one of the freeze plugs on the block to get the gunk out of the block. Consult your owner's/ shop manual.

EZEARL

If you want to do your own system flush sometime here is a procedure I saved that was posted here.



THANKS to djb383:
"Remove the top radiator hose and top heater hose from the t-stat cover. Remove the bottom radiator hose from the water pump (very easy if the plastic air filter box is removed 1st). Stick a garden hose in the heater hose and flush. Stick the garden hose on the heater hose nipple on the thermostat cover and flush. Stick garden hose in the top radiator hose and flush. All areas are now flushed without crud moving from one place and lodging in another."

DieselDaze

so without a radiator in place I could simply jam a hose through the bottom and let it rip..... I've already done a flush in the past, and replaced thermostat.....

maybe even narrowing the diameter of the outlet (top hose) a bit to provide more backup...

yeah or nay, say you??