Flushing radiator?

I have an '03, and according to the owners manual, it's time to flush and
refill the radiator.
The dealer wants $120 and Oil Express wants $70. Is there anything I should
know that would help me decide who I want to do the job? For various
reasons I'm not doing it myself.

Thanks

-----
Clark Friedrichs /

You are getting close to the price of a good used radiator!
Using chemicals to clean out the cooling system may damage the heater core.
The same is true of an over ambitious pressure test.

"Clark Friedrichs" > wrote in message
...
> I have an '03, and according to the owners manual, it's time to flush and
> refill the radiator.
> The dealer wants $120 and Oil Express wants $70. Is there anything I
should
> know that would help me decide who I want to do the job? For various
> reasons I'm not doing it myself.
>
> Thanks
>
> -----
> Clark Friedrichs /
>
>

I think the owners manual is refering to flushing (with water) out the old
coolant and replacing it. Not chemically cleaning.
The car is only 2 years old.
The common name for this task would be"change the anti-freeze".

"Chuck" > wrote in message
news:LQi5f.5974$OM4.572@dukeread06...
> You are getting close to the price of a good used radiator!
> Using chemicals to clean out the cooling system may damage the heater
core.
> The same is true of an over ambitious pressure test.
>
> "Clark Friedrichs" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have an '03, and according to the owners manual, it's time to flush
and
> > refill the radiator.
> > The dealer wants $120 and Oil Express wants $70. Is there anything I
> should
> > know that would help me decide who I want to do the job? For various
> > reasons I'm not doing it myself.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > -----
> > Clark Friedrichs /
> >
> >
>
>

Chas Hurst wrote:

> I think the owners manual is refering to flushing (with water) out the old
> coolant and replacing it. Not chemically cleaning.
> The car is only 2 years old.
> The common name for this task would be"change the anti-freeze".

Question: if you flush the system with clean water, does the heater
matrix drain? If not, the new coolant will be diluted because of the
water held up in the matrix.

"Zog The Undeniable" > wrote in message
news:43568908.0@entanet...
> Chas Hurst wrote:
>
> > I think the owners manual is refering to flushing (with water) out the
old
> > coolant and replacing it. Not chemically cleaning.
> > The car is only 2 years old.
> > The common name for this task would be"change the anti-freeze".
>
> Question: if you flush the system with clean water, does the heater
> matrix drain? If not, the new coolant will be diluted because of the
> water held up in the matrix.

I have no idea if the heater will drain. Plan on it not draining and don't
fill the system completely.
After the engine is run to mix the new anti-freeze check the freezing point
and adjust as needed.

In article <43568908.0@entanet>, says...
> Chas Hurst wrote:
>
> > I think the owners manual is refering to flushing (with water) out the old
> > coolant and replacing it. Not chemically cleaning.
> > The car is only 2 years old.
> > The common name for this task would be"change the anti-freeze".
>
> Question: if you flush the system with clean water, does the heater
> matrix drain? If not, the new coolant will be diluted because of the
> water held up in the matrix.
>

Are you not supposed to flush a cooling system while running the heater
on high?

Al

In article >,
Alley > wrote:

> Are you not supposed to flush a cooling system while running the heater
> on high?

On a Miata, it doesn't matter. It's a full-flow system, and coolant
cannot be prevented from circulating through the heater core without a
major hose reroute.

---
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html