Advice for Cooling System Drain/Flush?

Hi All,

I am preemptively changing the original radiator on my 2005 access cab.

I was wondering if anyone has a good method to flush the old coolant out of the whole system, block, heater core, etc.?

Usually I just warm up the vehicle and pull off the bottom radiator hose, but it always seems to make a mess with coolant going everywhere, and I never feel like the whole system gets drained.

Anyone out there have a better method?

 

4.7 has block drains. Attach some hose and drain into pan or bucket if on a lift. No mess and it should get most of it.

 

https://youtu.be/OyVJxgqDko4?si=3YofI1APaZauVXaA

kind of a PITA you can also preemptively change the timing belt and water pump. That'll drain all the coolant for sure

 

Has it been getting a new water pump with the timing belt service? That seems to do just about a complete drain.

 

^ this. I'd just wait until the next timing belt and water pump replacement.

 

Just pulling the radiator hoses should get you almost 2gals out.

Top it off with fresh Toyota Pink 50/50 and you’ll be fine.

 

if he's throwing down the $$ for a fresh rad. I'd just do the job 100% perfect to ensure the longevity of the new rad.

 

The price of SLL is getting out of control.

 

FTFY

 

And it wouldn't bother me so much that it's LITERALLY EVERYTHING, but it's LITERALLY EVERYTHING FOR NO FARKING REASON (except greed and profit). Like, no legit policy changes that would cause it. No new taxes/tariffs/fees, no supply shortages due to pandemic/war&tumoil/demand increase, there's no friggin reason. Companies are just greedy, the shareholders want higher dividends, and the C-level wants raises to their already-inflated salaries and bonuses for the c-suite. It's such a f'n joke. And this inflation BS will never end as long as those assholes keep inflating prices arbitrarily on everything, just because some computer algorithmic model tells them, "here's how you can make more $$". And the computer's not wrong, but the computer can't grasp the fact that our corporate overloads have us by dangling by the short-and-curlies as it is.

 

Timing belt, water pump, and most hoses were done a couple of years ago. I should have done the radiator at the same time, but... well... that's coolant down the drain.

The original radiator is fine right now, but I'm concerned about the real probability of the "pink milkshake", probably a legitimate concern considering the radiator is 20 years old at this point, so for the price of the new radiator and a couple of gallons of coolant it seems smart to just go ahead and change it out.

I thought as long as I'm doing it it would be good to get as much of the old coolant/water mix out of the entire system, block, heater core, etc, as possible. It's probably overkill on my part, but why not.

I can just shove a garden hose into the old radiator and run the engine until it all runs clear, but I had hoped others might have a better solution as that method always ends up with coolant on the ground or down a storm drain, neither of which is very environmentally friendly. Plus being in Tahoe, we have bears, coyotes, and other critters around and they have all been know to lap up coolant spills.

 

Please don’t do this. Introducing all those minerals into the system is way worse than just leaving a gallon of coolant that’s two years old. I’m sure there are block drains (did it on the 3UR) but you risk breaking them or having a seep/leak if they don’t seal back up.