I am putting on my new radiator today and hoses, thermostat...

I have the old one out, and see coolant in the thermostat housing... I don't think the manual says anything about flushing that part...

I see some posts about another drain plug on the water pump area....

Can I flush with a garden hose with all the hoses off, and will that get it out, or is there a drain plug I have to find.....if possible I don't want any old coolant getting in to the new radiator.

Also, I forgot to order the hose from the expansion tank to the lower radiator... I think it is 1".... can I buy about a 32 inch long 1" hose from AutoZone? Will it fit.....Thanks in advance

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

it's a 1" (or metric equilivant) but the end is like 1.5 so, no. 1" hose will not suffice.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
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1987 300TD
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1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Yeah, I noticed that today when I looked, it is flared so it will have to be done the next coolant change I do. The one on the car is in pretty good shape compared to the upper and lower I am replacing....

Ok, thanks.


Any advice on the remaining coolant.....

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

The best solution is to remove the drain plug. But, it's hard to reach.......just ahead and above the forward end of the starter.

So, the alternative is to connect a garden hose to the hose that leaves the back of the head and goes to the passenger compartment. A flush T installed in this location will get most of the fluid out of the block. The fluid will exit the head and leave the thermostat housing via the upper hose (which is currently not connected).

Don't run full line pressure because the heater core might not like it very much.

Thanks,

If I can't get to the drain plug, I might not worry. I didn't think if I run garden hose water into the thermostat housing if that would flush it out or not. I am a newbie, and learning quite a bit from this MB forum.

Thanks all.

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

It is on after about 2hrs...

I had two issues... I couldn't stop it from dripping from the 1 inch recovery hose right next to the lower hose. Finally got it to stop.

My upper hose came dangerously close to one of the belts. It was so close I took a tywrap (that is what I call them) to pull the hose out just slightly to prevent it from rubbing the belt, or vice versa.

Does anyone see anything wrong with that... ???

I took my test drive around the block, and was probably around 90C after about 20 minutes..... The upper hose was extremely hot!!! Is that normal at operating temperature.

Anyone changing a radiator, I would suggest a few things. Replace the Thermostat, upper, lower, and recovery hoses. and you might as well get the two short transmission oil hoses that tie in to the bottom while you are at it. Jack the car up, buy high quality hose clamps, and use the upper hose to fill the radiator, you can hear when it hits the top.....

More than I bargained for, but hopefully it will hold and I have saved myself about $150 in labor.....My total investment is $220 ordered from ********z in Arizona for hoses, thermostat, and Nissen Radiator.

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is