Fixing Cooling System Questions...

[AsH_]

i have a EG4 w/B16A and my cooling system is not the best

due to the sludge, rust, and other disgusting things its got i am going to fix it up.

things i am changing:

IACV
FITV
All Coolant hoses
Thermostat

in regards to the radiator how do i know the inside condition of it? or should i be better off replacing it?

also what is a good coolant system flush to use? i seen liquid and powder cleaners, what is best?

i used to hear crackling when i squeeze my hoses, and my IACV is corroded from the inside.

do i have to do anything to my engine block itself? like where the hoses connect to it?

i just thought if i'm going to solve the problem i might as well get all the shit out.

or would the coolant flush do that for me?

any feedback would be helpful.

[teh_mechanic]

for the radiator,a flush is ok,but to really clean it,take it out and take it to a radiator repair workshop and get them to clean it out internally,they can even tell you the % of blockage it had. Im a mechanic and we flush all the time but if you really want it back to 100% you gotta go the radiator repair guys.

Cracking when you squeeze hoses is the hoses corroding internally,because of the brownish old coolant i assume you have in it. These hoses need to be replaced as they can split from the inside out.

To flush your engine/cooling system-
-Turn your heater on (to open up the heater core to make sure it gets flushed too)
-if you are using a flush product,drain some coolant out,put the product in and run the engine for how long it says
-Stop car,Remove a heater hose from the firewall (dont get lazy and just take the top radiator hose or something off as it wont flush because of the thermostat),let engine cool down if its too hot and hard to get to hose.
-Use a garden hose (arghhh water restrictions) put the hose into the heater hose and let the water run....
-water will come out garden hose,go through the heater core (depending on which way you go,lets not get anal about this) through your block,radiator,hoses...everything.
-water will start coming out brown (or green if you have good coolant in there),run water until the water is coming out clear..and your system is now clean
-

[AsH_]

thanks for the info.

i suppose getting the repair guys to clean the radiator would cost as much as another radiator?

any recommendations on radiator flush? or it doesnt really matteR?

[teh_mechanic]

i dont no the costs...my boss takes care of that,i know its under 100,just give a place a call to get an idea then make a decision.

Ive never actually used a radiator flush product,we just use the water to flush the system until it looks clean,but if you really wanna clean it well i suppose they are the way to go

[AsH_]

a noob Q.

should i change the thermostat, hoses, IACV, FITV. before or after i flush the system with the radiator flush solution?

[teh_mechanic]

id change them before.no need to waste clean water trying to get them clean,no harm in cleaning the clean new parts....super clean new parts.replace the things you are replacing,this will probably dump most of your coolant,put your flush mixture in if you wanna use one and fill the rest of the system with water,run car,flush with water after,some water will run out as you put the hose back on and this allows some room in the system to put your coolant in (use a proper anti-freeze anti-boil coolant not just the anti corrosion stuff if you want to do it properly....it will tell you what it is on the bottle),fill rest with water,take for a drive,check its full when its cooled down a bit so you dont scald yourself

[Limbo]

If your radiator is rusting change the hoses and thermostat.
If its leaking just change the radiator, it worth it in the long run.
You can try a flush with water first and then try using a Nulon radiator flush.

You should get most of the rust out with that. Then make sure you run a good coolant (OEM honda or OEM toyota coolant) they will stop it from futher rusting as they have anti-rusting agents in them

[AsH_]

i figure perhaps replacing the radiator. just incase the rust is too far gone.

i had been running water in it for about 6 months in the past.

[AsH_]

what are the heater hoses to and from the IACV and FITV ???

i need to replace those...

where can i get them from ???

[teh_mechanic]

i dont know the size exactly,but if there arnt many awkward bends in the hoses its probably cheaper to just buy a straight length of that size heater hose and cut it up to fit. If not try Burson Auto Parts (i use them for most things up here in brisbane,dont no if they are in melbourne) they will help you out if gates or any of those hose manufacturers make a hose for that or basically your only other option is genuine through honda

[shadou]

the heater hose is bent but you can use generic as it doesn't touch the block or head so no need to stress about it melting, genuine heater hoses I got quoted around $55 and got it for like $8 from burson, pretty much all the coolant hoses you can source from bursons

[AsH_]

the heater hose is bent but you can use generic as it doesn't touch the block or head so no need to stress about it melting, genuine heater hoses I got quoted around $55 and got it for like $8 from burson, pretty much all the coolant hoses you can source from bursons

i'll go check it out 2moro...

[shadou]

oh it's probably best to give them a sample