How to empty and clean a car radiator yourself

When emptying and cleaning the inside of the radiator, you must be very careful not to burn yourself when handling the cap or if there is a risk of splashing liquid. Remember to take all necessary precautions and follow the instructions for the fluids you are using.

All motor fluids need to be changed from time to time, all automotive fluids lose their components and stop doing their job properly.

The antifreeze also needs to be drained once a year to ensure it functions properly. This fluid has scale and salts, if it is not pumped or replaced, it begins to grow scale and salts, which clog the fluid flow in the radiator, gaskets and hoses. 

This will cause the engine to overheat and eventually lead to more expensive repairs. That's why we should always carry out maintenance on the car's radiator.

How to clean a car radiator?

The first thing to do is find where the coolant drain valve is. It is usually located at the bottom of the radiator and can be: a shut-off valve that is operated by hand, a screw, or just a hose with a clamp that you have to loosen to remove it.

Usually you don't need to disassemble anything. In the best case, lift the car from the side of the valve to gain access, but in many cases this is not necessary, because it is enough to lie on the ground.

Once you have found the drain valve, place a container under it and start draining the water from the radiator. Be careful because antifreeze is toxic, especially inorganic. Let it out a bit and then open the expansion tank cap to let air in and let the dirty antifreeze out more easily.

How to clean the radiator?

Before emptying the radiator, it is best to clean the inside of the radiator where it will not be visible. 

Fortunately, there are specialized products that will help us clean the radiator easily and effectively. Here we will tell you the steps you need to follow to clean up. 

– Open the radiator cap, cold and very carefully. 

– Pour the indicated amount of product, carefully read all product instructions.

– Close the top radiator cap.

– Start the engine and turn on the heating for about 30 minutes.

– Switch off the engine and let it cool down.

– Open the radiator drain cock to drain all the antifreeze used with the product.

– Flush the radiator with clean water until only clean water comes out of the radiator.

– Close the drain valve.

– Fill the radiator and expansion tank.

– Close the top cover and run again for a few minutes to check for leaks.  

: