Coolant / Radiator question
 

I just did a coolant flush about a month ago and the coolant in the overflow tank already looks and smells quite nasty. I flushed everything out with a garden hose several times, and used one of those coolant flush solutions as well so I'm pretty sure I did that part right.

Now I'm just kind of confused how and why the coolant already got so nasty. It's really foul smelling (kinda like rotten egs), and looks almost brown instead of green like it did when I filled it up. Anyone have any clues or suggestions to this problem? It's only been maybe 3 weeks or so.

did you back flush it ???

or just run the hose though the rad ???

I believe I just flushed through, not quite sure what you mean by back-flushing. I emptied the rad and coolant tank, flushed through with water until it was all clean, poured in the flushing solution against corrosion and stuff then topped it off with water. Ran the engine for about 10 mins, flushed through with water again and filled it with coolant/water mix.

I'm guessing there's another way to do this then? It's the only way I knew of, and the only steps I found online.

never ever use tap water in your cooling system. Use only distilled water. Here in Alabama we have a super high concentration of lime in the water. In West Virginia it's Iron. As the water evaporates it leaves behind these dposits and errodes your cooling system from the inside out.

bad news

Yea, I kept that in mind but I only used tap water for flushing. I distilled the one I put in with the coolant mix -- figured the water wouldn't leave much mineral residue when just flushing would it?

you buy a back flush kit and t into the heater hose....otherwise you are leaving dirty coolan in the system

Got it, I'll do it the right way next month before winter starts. Thanks for the help guys.

...and clean your over-flow/reservoir. The gunk in the bottom gets stirred up also back into the mix.. ;) The reservoir is easy to remove and just hose out.

Yep yep, did that too. The only thing I didn't know about was the back flush kit. Where do you get them? I checked my local Advance Auto and I don't think they had it.

Hell, any auto parts store should have them. I've even seen them at Wal-Mart. Just ask one of the sales people if you can't find it on your own.

It is a tee that splices into your heater hoses...

Picture? .. I've never heard of this thing and when I went back to Advance to look for it I only found the fluid stuff. Appreciate the help .. thanks.

It is a Prestone[tm] 'kit' that includes a yellow plastic 'Tee' with a cap, a funnel, and hose clamps....

(sorry - no pix of a kit).

OR just remove the bottom radiator hose and thoroughly drain the engine...

I would not worry - do it in a year or so - you have already 'diluted' the issue quite a bit already.... (IMHO)