I have a 1999 4.3L Chevy Blazer with 57,000 miles on it. Just recently I removed the radiator cap and what I saw was not good. There was tons of gunk in the opening and under the cap. Also, at the same time, red fluid is leaking from under the car. It looks like transmission fluid! First of all, does the radiator need to be flushed, and could this red liquid be from the transmission fluid leaking somewhere?
2007-09-04 11:40:38 · 4 answers · asked by Jaryd M 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It sounds as though the cooling system could a flush as you suspect. The red fluid is most likely transmission fluid. Probably from the pan gasket, but could be a bad seal somewhere else on the transmission.
2007-09-04 11:52:32 · answer #1 · answered by Otto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, red fluid is likely transmission fluid. If you're lucky it might just be leaking from the pan, which is just a matter of replacing the gasket/changing the fluid. If it's from where it meets the engine or some other perilous location, get your wallet out.
Yes, flush the cooling system if it looks all nasty with gunk in it. Drain the coolant from the bottom of the radiator, if it has a petcock (little drain plug thingy), or if not, from disconnecting the bottom radiator hose. Flush it by shoving a garden hose into the heater hose going into the firewall, if you can...that will help get gunk out of the heater core. Or, if you prefer, Prestone makes a little backflushing kit (5 bucks at Wal-Mart) which you can install in-line with such a hose, and then it's simply a matter of attaching a hose to the fitting and turning it on. Once you've made a mess that way, just put the petcock back in/radiator hose back in, etc...and fill it with half coolant and half water (don't use water if it's from a well with lots of iron or something like that...it will just assist corrosion), or a pre-diluted 50/50 mix.
2007-09-04 11:55:16 · answer #2 · answered by messenger_of_the_void 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure a solid flush could actually help. i could try a 10 minute flush which you put in the gadget and run for ten minutes previously flushing out each and all the coolant. start up with a heat motor vehicle so the thermostat is open, or greater beneficial yet, do away with the thermostat for the flush. upload an entire can or 2, of the main efficient answer you will get, to the radiator. Run the engine and variety the cost at severe speed for roughly ten minutes. intently do away with the radiator cap and placed a backyard hose interior the radiator fill beginning. Run the hose to sit down back your engine. Open the drain and enable it run out until the water is sparkling. shop the engine working for this and shop the radiator overflowing. ascertain you never run out of water! turn off the engine and the water. Reinstal the thermostat. close the radiator drain. upload a solid combination of fifty 50 antifreeze, (commencing with one gallon of organic antifreeze to combine with the water trapped interior the engine.) savor!!
2016-11-14 05:06:13 · answer #3 · answered by olli 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forget all this flushing stuff. Never use those flush kits, all they do is make matters worse. If you got all this gunk in your radiator you got a leak in your tranny oil cooler that is located in the bottom tank of your radiator. Disconnect the oil lines at the bottom of the radiator and pull the radiator and take it to a RADIATOR shop. If you don't want to do that just take the vehicle to the RADIATOR shop and they will do the whole job
2007-09-04 12:57:19 · answer #4 · answered by tronary 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋