Had to remove my radiator to facilitate other maintenance. Anyway, I know green fluid, how much will I need?(how much does the radiator/car hold?

Thanks, searched and couldnt find this.

If you dont know the numbers, how you usually do it would be great!

 

ahh... Check the manual... If you don't have one... give me 5 mins to check mine...

I just fill it all the way, start the car with the cap off (the fluid will work its way through the system) fill it more. Put cap on and drive around the block a few times...

Let the car cool down enough to where you can take the cap off without re-configuring your face and hands. Check to see if you can add more fluid...

 

here's the best way to do it....fill up your radiator until its full. next what you will want to do is lift the front of the car up to make the radiator cap neck the highest point in the cooling system.

Then run your car and as it warms up top it off. do this with the vents on max hot. once your thermostat opens it will lower then coolant fill it up once again and at that point you are done. Do all of this with th cap off.

The only problem with just filling it up and driving it around is that not always will you get all of the air out of the system. sometimes this works but not always. and if the air is in the system while operating for a while, it can lead to cavitation, which deteriorates the system over time.

Also there is never a need to let the car cool down when taking off the radiator cap AS LONG AS YOU TAKE IT OFF SLOWLY, otherwise yes will will get squirted with hot coolant.

 

these guys did a good job here ....but u need to fill the reservoir bottle to the left of the radiator with coolant as well....fill it just past low.

if u changing coolant u might as well flush the system and use a good coolant....

what coolant u guys use?

i changed coolant today

 

I still have the radiator out, but I have a few Gal. of the Mitsubishi OEM coolant, what came out is going back in. Wasnt sure what was better to use. So I fill the radiator to the top, with 50/50 mix with water. Distilled or regular water? or does it matter? Have about 2 more hours before I install the coolant system back.
Thanks for the advice
James

 

a good coolant is Chevron AC Delo....its what i use...dont use the same coolant....if Ur engine overheats u can run into hell lol..

if u want a detailed write up of how to change coolant, flush the system and put new coolant let me know i dont mind...love to help fellow members after how much they helped me...

 

Id like that, sure!

Would be a great addition to the How-to section. I get the idea of it, never personally had to do it myself, and am always worried about little details.

BTW> I didnt mean literally the same coolant. I just mean new-fresh coolent of the same OEM type from mitsu. lol

 

Damn I would have taken pictures while I did it yesterday lol

Here we go, no pictures though!!!

Tools:

1. Phillips head screwdriver.
2. A continues source of water (e.g. a water hose)


Procedure:

1. Firstly jack up the car or put it up on a ramp. Preferably if you could only jack up one side, jack up the right hand side of the car.

2. Remove the stone shield from under the car, only the right stone shield needs to be removed.

3. Locate the radiator drain cap...look on the right of the radiator, it’s a small plastic cap located on the right side of the radiator.

4. Open it! When you do this, quickly open the top cap of the radiator. (If you don’t do this the coolant would drain slowly and the radiator may collapse) and let the coolant drain completely! Give it approximately 10 mins.

5. Then while the radiator cap is open, keep pouring water into the radiator to flush the system properly. Keep pouring water till the only color liquid exiting the radiator, is clear (water).

6. After this unscrew the coolant reservoir, is located next to the radiator and it’s a small white/clear bottle.

7. Disconnect it and wash thoroughly, my coolant reservoir was disgusting!! And my car is only doing 10,000kms.

8. After washing replace bottle and screw into place. Then fill with your new coolant, only till a little above the low mark (see below for coolant mixture).

9. By now the system should be properly flushed, put the cap (bottom cap) back onto the radiator. It is a plastic cap, so use your hand to tighten if you use a screw driver it will damage the screw or even break it.

10. Now I used Chevron AC Delo it is a coolant and antifreeze...Read up on it, lasts 8 years or 750,000 miles!!! Plus it’s RED!

11. Mix coolant in a container or bottle in a 50/50 mixture with DISTILLED WATER (I just bought some bottled water).

12. Begin to fill the radiator, pour until the radiator is filled!!

13. Start the car, the coolant level of the radiator liquid will begin to drop slowly keep topping up the radiator.

14. You’re done! If you use the same coolant I did you will have some left behind. Drop it in your trunk until you need it.

Hope this was helpful I can get some pics to later on to add in...

Enjoy!

Any questions feel free!

 

Looks like I need to get some distilled water real quick!

 

you dont need distilled water it really doesnt matter. but it is actually a good idea to top off your coolant closer to max depending on how you fill it. the reason being is that if you dont get all the air out, then you have enough in the reservior to go to the system.

 

true but if u love ur car like i do then u will lol!

 

^^very good point.

 

^^^ i knew someone would agree with me!!

 

I fixed all my problems. Installed everything. With the car at a 15 degree incline I filled the rad. with 50/50 (im in FL so you might use something else) antifreeze/water. Once it was full, I made sure the reserve tank was okay. Ran the engine for about 10 mins, Checked fluid level, drove around the block, all was well, except for what I think was the smell of burning antifreeze (from spillage?) or mabye the anti-seize on my exhaust components burning. Ill check it again tomarrow, thanks for your help!

 

u sure its burning? the problem could just be the smell of old coolant/antifreeze?