can i flush my own radiator or do i really even need to change it?

Question

96 grand am 2.4 w/ 100k. fluid never been changed JiffyLube guy did test that said it was bad under 0 F. and that i needed $100 flush immediately

Answer 1

96 and never changed then yes it should be done. This car takes GM Dexcool and that is a 5 year or 100k mile coolant. Whichever comes first. So yes change it and I would not recomend doing it yourself.

Answer 2

NEVER let anyone talk you into a radiator flush. If you think you just HAVE to do it forget the flush part. Drain your radiator and refill it, run the engine till the thermostat opens, let it circulate for a few minutes, drain and refill with coolant Use whatever amount of anti feeze you rquire.
Flushing a cooling system stirs up all the particles hat have settled in the system and I will guarantee if you have a flush it will plug your radiator before long. If you have a radiator problem go to a radiator shop, not jiffy lube. If your car is running a normal temp. leave it alone. Don't waste mpney on unnecessary work.

Answer 3

Sure you can and you need to do it every year regardless if your vehicle uses the green stuff. If it uses the pink stuff would not let that stuff go longer than 50,000 miiles and actually don't recommend using it at all anymore as is no longer against warranty to change it out with the green stuff. The pink stuff causes electrolysis to increase and eat out the radiator and heater core, etc. The green stuff just goes bad. What most folks don't realize is that the antifreeze itself doesn't go bad and will still keep the car okay in cold weather. It is the "anticorrosion" additives in it that go bad. Antifreeze itself is corrosive so they add chemicals to it to keep it from eating your car's cooling system up. These deteriorate and eventually the antifreeze starts rusting the block and eating the aluminum parts. Flush it with clean clear water and unless you keep getting tons of rust out that you can't seem to get rid of you don't need any commercial flush chemicals. If the water keeps appearing rusty no matter how hard you flush it get a bottle of the Dupont or similar radiator flush and follow the instructions on it. Then after flushing all that out fill with a 50 50 mix of water vs "full strength" antifreeze, preferably the green kind. :-)

Answer 4

Yes you can and Yes you should. Generally easy, there is a drain on bottom of your radiator. A small pip cock to loosen and drain. Purchase a "Flush" for your radiator and follow directions, at any part store,Auto Zone. Close pip cock, fill with water and flush, run engine, drain again. Refill with Antifreeze and water mix according to directions on jug. Make sure engine is Cool when Draining. Should take maybe 1 hour. Ask auto part store about disposal of old antifreeze.

Answer 5

You can do it yourself. There should be a drain plug at one of the corners. Drain it, fill with water and flush chemical. Start engine, let it run for about 15 minutes with the heater on full blast. Drain and fill with 50%water 50%dexcool antifreeze.

Answer 6

10 years on the same coolant! Disconnect the lower rad. hose flush it through the add coolant spot and buy 20 bucks of rad fluid!

Answer 7

the jiffy lube guy is probably correct. your coolant breaks down after a few years and a few thousand miles and can then cause corrosion to your radiator and cause scale on the inside of your engine affecting the way your engine can cool itself, not to mention if you are operating your vehicle in cold weather you stand the chance of freezing up. this is part of the regular maintenance of your vehicle. proper maintenance is always cheaper than major repairs. good luck.

Answer 8

Yes you should flush it once a year. Just get a big bucket, and unhook the bottom hose.

Answer 9

Do it yourself, it takes no time and or skill. You can rent a dual-check from Auto zone or other store. It's used to check you radiator fluid.

Answer 10

DON"T LET THEM DO IT!!!!!

Please!!!! go to a reputable shop to get this done!
I've heard and seen too many horror stories about the "quick lube" places getting into repairs that they aren't qualified or capable of doing. spend the extra few dollars and get a reliable general repair shop to help you out.