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Flushing out 99 lumina


Gauchoy2k
04-21-2004, 12:32 PM
Ok, last saturday i flushed out my 99 after i bought it. But i screwed up and didnt open the bleeder valve.
So this friday am gonna do it again cause my mix is wrong and i want to get it right. So my plans are to do this when the engine is cool, open the bottom drain, with the cap off, then open the bleeder valve let it all drain out fill with water a few times to flush it out then proceed to fill with a 50/50 mix of dex cool. Now what i would like to know is how to properly fill the system with the bleeder valve cause the Haynes book i picked up is awful. What i was think on doing is close the bottom drain and proceed to fill with the bleeder valve open, once it stops filling close the valve and run the engine till it warms up and watch the levels.
Should i be doing something else or different with the bleeder valve?

hoosier1
04-21-2004, 12:47 PM
You need to open the Bleeder Valve as you are filling the system and close it when the coolant begins to run out. This is because the top of the radiator and t-stat housing are above the radiator tank. You MAY need to do this several times while filling. Don`t forget to rinse off the spill and keep Pets away from the area.

Gauchoy2k
04-21-2004, 09:04 PM
Ok, i seem to have it down now. But am i correct on the drain part?
Open the radiator plug and bleeder valve and let drain?

hoosier1
04-22-2004, 08:41 AM
Yes you are doing it right. Do not use well water or unsoftened tap water. Use distilled water mixed with Dex-Cool. Also remove the overflow reservoir and wash it out. Dex- Cool is OK if you do not allow it to get cross contaminated. To properly flush the radiator, you need to remove the T-Stat.
There are several web sites about radiator flushing.
I have mine done at a radiator shop.

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