What's the best way to flush the old coolant out?
 

First question... We're almost at the point where we'll be ready to button up all the coolant hoses, etc. and I would like to get the old Dexcool that's been sitting in the engine for well over a year out BEFORE we do. There are no heater hoses on it yet. It has an electric water pump - could it be used to help? The radiator is mounted but dry at this point. Basically, what would be the best way to flush the block before I put new coolant in it?

Second question is... If I flush it with a hose, then the block will be full of regular tap water. Shouldn't distilled water be used to mix with coolant? Would it be a big deal if some tap water was in there?

Third... How much volume would the block hold? If a 50/50 mix is required, I need to know how much plain water would be sitting in the engine after the flush.

Thanks.

The best would be to pull one of the coolant plugs in the block once you have flushed the system to remove as much of the tap water from the block as possible.

Where's the plug? I was hoping I wouldn't have to 'break the seal'.

you dont HAVE to. very optional thing.

heres what i did:
filled the coolant system with tap water, and ran it (you could just run the water pump.)

drained that out, and refilled again... just to be sure...

then i drained that out and filled it with "all color compatible" green antifreeze and bottled water ... but there should be no dexcool in my system.
i hate dexcool.
id go into why, but it would be a 4 page rant that i dont have time to type.. lol.


if you're worried about corrosion, put some sacrificial zinc somewhere in the coolant. mine is hanging in the end tank.

shop vac....

Oh yea... never thought of that. i could flush it out and then suck as much water out as possible.