Coolant Flush question
 

Did my version of a coolant flush today. Drained engine block and radiator, put in "gunk" 10 min. flush with distilled water, drained that, hosed it out as best I could, filled with zerex/distilled mix.

Question: I was told it would take almost 4 gallons total to fill up the car, and I poured about 1.5 gallons in the filler neck, and another gallon through the overfill tank. 2.5 gallons total?? What did I miss? I even went to a hill, turned on the heater, trying to get the coolant through the path. Not much displaced, maybe another .25 gallon.

Any thoughts or will I just be slowly refilling over the next week?

Thanks!!!

ps it's 19mm on the engine block drain plug. And get ready for a waterfall once it comes out.....each and every time.

You missed the point that somebody told you a factually incorrect statement.

The engine holds 11 quarts. You'd like to have about 5.5 quarts of anti-freeze in the system. It usually takes about 8 quarts on an intitial fill............and then you've got to gradually top it off over the next few days.

I forgot to mention I run a stock greasecar system in my wagon. HIH coolant path. Someone who has a similar setup told me it was 3.75 to 4 gallons capacity, total.

I Just hope I don't have any green s**t circulating in there, and that I fully flushed the "gunk" 10 min flush additive. Guess I'll find out.

Anyone else with a stock greasecar system who has done a coolant flush care to chime in? How much coolant/water mix did you fill with, ultimately?

did you run the engine with the rad cap off. This will allow the air to get purged out of the system

50/50, distilled water and Mercedes coolant.

Actually its a 60/40 ratio of water/coolant that should be used.

Actually.......it depends on the coldest ambient temperature that one would expect. Over in your neck of the woods, 60/40 could be a bit marginal.

For most folks, 50/50 is the best choice.

60/40 protects down to -22*F. Thats freakin' cold, even here, and very few places see that more than once or twice a year. 50/50 works down to -34*F, and I doubt most people live near the arctic circle.

The less coolant is mixed with the water the better it will cool. The whole 50/50 thing is a myth to both simplify mixing coolant and to sell more.

If it will do -22F. with 60/40 then I agree.........it's satisfactory for just about everybody.

I cheat and only get about 8 quarts out of mine. Actualy right now I have about 4 quarts of coolant and 3.5-.75 of water.:D Not quite 50/50.

Hunt ebay for an owners manual, they have all the fluid capacities listed.

Thank you, BITT. I might have forgotten this step after a long day of maintenance. I will run the car with the cap off and see if I can't get any more coolant in there.

The rest: your debates are fascinating. FASCINATING. Keep up the good work :)O:):):)):):):)