Quick antifreeze fill/mix question

[Formula51]

I am flushing my radiator fluid by draining, refilling with distilled water, running with heat on, draining again, repeat.

However, when draining at the radiator it only takes about a gallon or so to fill the system up. I'm filling the overflow tank, then capping and filling at the crossover tube, then running and burping it.

So my question: only the final fill, how the hell am I going to get near a 50/50 mix when the system holds 4 gallons and I can only add about a gallon!?! With the water in there, should I just add a gallon of straight antifreeze and a bottle of water weter?

 

[Rich'sTRsvt]

I want to say that when I drained mine, I drained it at the thermostat housing and got quite a bit more than that out, but I am going off of memory so maybe someone else will chime in with a better answer.

 

[John M]

I usually do it a bit different but you can buy a glycol tester to see where your at now and then go from there

 

[Formula51]

Can I pressurize the system with my air compressor, say at the crossover tube and blow it out? I'm guessing the block and heater core are holding 2+ gallons.

 

[John M]

with the thermostat out, and no more than 15 lbs

 

[John M]

glycol testers are really cheap and if your close on your measurements prior then youll be in the ball park

 

[jrichber]

I blow air with my vacuum into the overflow tank and get close to another 1/2 gallon to gallon out.

 

[Formula51]

Pulling the hose running from the crossover tube to the thermostat housing was the trick! Got another gallon plus out there. Boy what a mess I made though! Thanks yall.

 

[dblj32774]

Try below....

http://www.reischeperformance.com/refill.html

 

[P49Y-CY]

op where are you draining at?

if you are only getting one gallon i would say you are not draining at enough locations. if you drain at the radiator only, you will get about a gallon.

but if you drain at the t-stat, you will get an additional 1.5 gallons.

then if you drain at the engine block (only one side is accessible) you will get an additional .5 gallons.

i service my cooling system in the exact way you are describing every two years, and when i get to about 99% pure distilled water, for the final fill i drain at all 3 locations and add 2 gallons antifreeze, and then the rest distilled water, for a 50/50 fill.

i have installed draincocks at the crossover tube near the t-stat and at the driver side block to help me with this process.