Citric acid flush, no step in the instructions for REALLY stupid people like me!
 

Well, you all forgot the step in the citric acid flush instructiosn for REALLY stupid people lik myself.

And the step is....mix citric acid powder with water thoroughly BEFORE putting in reservoire and filling collant system....otherwise, someone with no sense like myself might actually pour the 2.2 lbs. of powder directly into the reservoire with a funnel a little bit at a time with water to flush it in each time...making sure that clumps of citric acid are floating around in your coolant system, not mixing proberly and making all kinds of air locks.

Good God, this is a pain in the butt sometimes.

To make this even more fun, the hose clamp connecting the hose to my thermostat housing was loose and came off when I reached a destination today, spraying nice sticky citric acid (and a few clumps) all over my engine compartment...

Oh, yeah. It's been a FUN day :cool:

Pete.

We assume you would have done this step......guess that was the first mistake...:eek:


I premixed it with hot tap water......

Never assume with me.:rolleyes:

Is it okay if there's still the occassional small clump of citric acid in there after the 4-5 flushes with water...eventually disolving? Any longterm (or shorterm) damage issues with some of this stuff possibly floating around?

What a PITA I've created for myself.

Please don't forget the "stupid people" steps next time...I need them with anything mechanical, or I become leathal to the very thing I'm repairing.:eek:

Pete.

How long are you running it between flushes? it should all disolve in hot water thats circulating. Where are you at geographicly?

Okay. I just figured that maybe some of it would have hardened since it wasn't pre-mixed. Maybe I shouldn't worry about it and just flush as planned.

I'm near the Telegraph exit off I-495 in Alexandria, Virginia, I'm about to flush it with water for the first time (other than the water I put in it after having the loose hose come off).

Where's the block plug again?

I see the alternator and the thermostat housing....now if I can just figure out where the starter is, I can find the block-plug:D

You can't see the starter or the block plug from the top. They are below the manifolds.

Go underneath, on the passenger side, and find the starter, neatly tucked into the side of the block, below the manifolds and at the very back of the engine.

Now find the very forward end of the starter.

Go three inches further forward and about 1 inch vertically upward and there will be a bright hex plug that sticks out of the block. That's the block plug. It won't be difficult to remove.

Thats down near where a coworker lives. I see the rush to get it finished its dipped below freezing here already. How long have you ran the engine with clear water? minutes or have you driven it to work for example...

if you've never been out of the driveway after you have flushed it as best you can with the bolck drain please do drive it for maybe an hour...will help get the last bit disolved so you can get it out of the system.

Thanks, BHD. It should be okay, though, I'll plug the block heater in tonight (I forgot last night, but nothing froze as I had it running until about 12:30AM).

Still having trouble finding the block plug. I found the starter (for the first time) but don't see the block plug...any pics?

Thanks,

Pete.

I'll look...if you can feel the bracket that goes from the top rear bolt of the mount pedital to the exhaust manifold...then feel the area around 10-11 oclock based on that within a hands width....it will be the only hex head you will leel in the area...you can see it from underneath but not from above.

.....what's the mount pedital?

Sorry.

I do have it jacked up on a stand, though. I'm looking from underneath.

Pete.

When you guys say "bright hex plug," is it a particular color?

Thanks,

Pete.

Block Plug & De-oil
 

Coming from underneath is the only way I've ever been able to get to the block plug and even then it's a pain in the butt.

BTW, did you think to de-oil prior to doing the citrus flush. The MB service manual procedure has this as the first step and specifies some MB de-oiler, but 1/2 cap of tide or the like will work fine. Flush with good clean water 2-3 times and on with the flush.

Also, 1 pound of citric acid is sufficient for a good flush. Finally, I use purified water with the coolant...

-Ken

I used a few ounces of palmolive, drianed, flushed with water, and then filled with the citric acid. Currently trying to drain the citric acid...can't find the block plug.

Would it be okay to just drain the "regular way" for now? I need to go to work in the morning and it's getting late. Need to start flushing this thing before I plug in the block heater and leave it for the night.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...4&d=1099087819


The circled item is the block heater....look at the 4 oclock position from there...before the mount pedistal.....you will see the block drain plug...not my photo but one I linked after using the search funtion on this site.

I just found it 3 inches forward of the starter and one inch up.

Holly crap!

How the heck do you guys get a socket or wrench on that thing and manage to turn it?

Also, it looks like the washer on it might be corroded.

Pete.