How to flush a car radiator, self-cleaning a radiator

The car's radiator keeps the engine cool while driving. It is located immediately behind the grille and road dirt and dust constantly settles on it.

Experts recommend:

wash the radiator from dirt and dust every 20 thousand kilometers;
conduct a complete external and internal cleaning of scale and rust once every two years.

The sequence of complete cleaning of the radiator is as follows;

we turn off the engine and wait for the system to cool down completely, the antifreeze when the engine is running heats up and is under pressure, so you need to make sure that the engine has completely cooled down;
lift and securely fasten the hood of the car, unscrew the filler plug of the radiator, put a small container under the bottom equal to the volume of antifreeze or diluted antifreeze being poured;
check the upper radiator cap - it should firmly stand in its place and not give in to pressure, there is a spring inside the cap that restrains internal pressure, if the cap is loose, it must be replaced, also check the condition of the radiator pipes - upper and lower, they should not let in antifreeze;
unscrew the drain cock and let all the liquid drain, if the antifreeze is free of rust and dirt, then flushing is not required.

If you see that a complete cleaning is required, then the radiator should be cleaned both inside and out. Outside, it is enough just to pour water from a hose under pressure and gently wipe with soapy water with a soft brush. Radiator honeycombs are very fragile, so don't overdo it. The radiator can be completely removed, to do this, disconnect the pipes and simply remove it from the mounts.

How to flush a car radiator, self-cleaning a radiator

Internal cleaning:

pour clean water inside with a hose and drain it, repeat this operation until the water is completely clean;
if a lot of dirt has accumulated inside, use a special auto chemical agent to clean the radiator, dilute it correctly and fill it in, start the engine for 15-20 minutes so that the liquid cleans the entire system well, then, with the engine running, thoroughly empty the entire cooling system of the car;
fill in antifreeze or diluted antifreeze - choose only the type recommended by the manufacturer, since different additives can cause corrosion;
air jams can form in the system, they can be pumped out by starting the engine with the plug open, the engine should run for about 20 minutes, turn on the heater at full power, the plugs will disappear and there will be more room for antifreeze.

Add antifreeze to the expansion tank so that it is between the min and max marks. Dispose of all waste.