The importance of flushing the engine cooling system is obvious. If one of the drivers still does not understand this, then immediately change to a horse-drawn transport, it will definitely not overheat and will not let you down.
From the article you will learn how to flush the cooling system with water, citric acid, vinegar, caustic soda, lactic acid, whey, Coca-Cola, special auto chemicals, let's talk about mistakes that should not be made.
Consequences of improper maintenance of the cooling system
The cooling system (CO) is an important element of any car, especially if the cooling of its engine is liquid.
Improper functioning of it can lead to irreparable consequences, and this:
- , and as a result, its complete failure;
- Breakdown or other similar device;
- Pump failure;
- Inefficient work.
As a rule, the reason for the inefficient operation of the liquid cooling system of any car lies in the contamination of the radiator, pipes, and cavities of the cylinder block cooling jacket.
If we could get inside this system, we would see an interesting picture.
Rust, scale deposits on the walls, remnants of decomposed coolant, greasy oil stains and other troubles.
It should be noted that we are talking about engines that have been in operation for 2 years or more. We are not talking about new cars here.
When should the engine cooling system be flushed?
It must be understood that any coolant (coolant), be it antifreeze or antifreeze, loses its performance over time.
The liquid decomposes into separate chemical elements, some of which precipitate and partially block the channels through which it circulates, others settle on the walls in the form of scale.
As a result, after one or two years of operation, antifreeze or antifreeze, per unit of time, begin to take less heat from the engine.
The circulation period of the fluid in a circle increases and work efficiency the entire system decreases.
Therefore, so that you do not have problems with engine overheating on the road, flushing the entire system should be done with each new coolant change.
Which washing method to choose
You need to understand that there are several ways to flush the engine cooling system:
- Distilled, boiled or acidified water;
- Washing with special means.
Depending on the degree of contamination, apply various ways flushing.
Determine the degree of pollution.
In this case, to obtain the maximum result, you will have to use acidified water or special products.
If the used coolant has more of a light shade than a dark one, without a clear observation of precipitation, then distilled or boiled water can be safely used.
Flushing the cooling system with water
Wear rubber gloves so that the skin of your hands does not come into contact with the harmful liquid. Raise the hood and open expansion tank.
Drain the old coolant from the system. To do this, unscrew the plug (bolt) on the cylinder block and open the tap on the radiator.
Return the plug (bolt) and the faucet to their original position. Don't squeeze them hard.
Pour distilled or boiled water through the expansion tank according to the norm.
Start the engine. 15 - 20 minutes of his work at low speeds will be sufficient.
Drain the water paying attention to its condition. If the water is dirty, then repeat the procedure. Ensure that the drained water is clean.
Only then fill in fresh antifreeze or antifreeze.
Use of acidified water
If particles of scale, rust, etc. are observed in the old coolant, then we can conclude that ordinary water cannot cope with cleaning the cooling system.
You need to use more aggressive means and acidified water is suitable here.
Vinegar, citric acid, caustic soda or lactic acid can be used as an oxidizing agent.
The fact is that citric acid reacts only at high temperatures, 70 - 90 degrees.
It is also very important to properly prepare the solution so as not to harm rubber products and metal.
Usually 100 - 120 grams of citric acid are poured into 5 liters of water, respectively, for 4 liters - 80 - 100 grams. If you do not want to take risks, the proportion can be reduced.
Other drivers, on the contrary, increase the proportion. But these figures are the most optimal.
The algorithm of actions is the same. Drain the old coolant and fill in the prepared solution. Next, start the engine and warm it up. Drive a car for a couple of kilometers.
This is done so that the temperature of the solution rises to the desired temperature of 70 - 90 degrees and the necessary reaction occurs. The engine should run for 30-40 minutes.
At the final stage, flush the cooling system with distilled or boiled water to remove any remaining citric acid.
If you decide to use table vinegar, then here you also need to know the correct proportion of the solution.
For example, 500 ml of table vinegar is poured into 10 liters of water. The resulting solution is poured into the cooling system. Start the car and warm up the engine to operating temperature.
After that, turn off the ignition and leave the heated solution in the engine overnight or 8 hours.
Merge, look at the result. Repeat if necessary. At the end, be sure to rinse with distilled water.
In very severe cases, some drivers immediately pour 9% table vinegar without diluting. For several times you will have to buy 20 bottles of 0.5 liters.
If you use acetic acid, then it has a 70% concentration, keep this in mind.
Caustic soda is used only for washing the removed copper radiators of the engine cooling system and radiators for the passenger compartment stove.
If you have aluminum devices, which is typical for many modern cars then forget about this option.
The engine is not washed with caustic soda, since many people know that the cylinder head is made of aluminum, and the gaskets under the head will be corroded.
If your radiator does not fall under the aluminum category, then you can use a caustic soda solution per 1 liter of distilled water, 50 - 60 g, to flush it. substances. But before washing it is desirable to remove it.
This method gives a good result, but here you also need to be able to properly prepare the solution.
But the problem is not even in this, but in where to get lactic acid, because it is difficult to find it in free sale.
If your city has the opportunity to get it, then great.
Also on specialized auto forums, especially on used cars, you can find people who sell lactic acid. In general, as they say, there would be a desire.
To clean the cooling system, you need a 6% solution of lactic acid. As a rule, the concentrate has 36%.
But the calculation here is simple, we make the ratio 1:5, i.e. pour 1 kg of concentrate into 5 liters of distilled water, thus obtaining the desired percentage.
- Pour in a solution of lactic acid and wait until the release of carbon dioxide stops, then drain the exhaust mixture;
- Drive the car for several kilometers, then drain the dirty mixture.
Many drivers drive with lactic acid filled in for a day, drain, fill again and drive again.
This can also be done, because lactic acid does not act so aggressively on aluminum and rubber products.
However, at the same time, it was noticed that the engine starts to get very hot, more than usual.
This is because, when released, carbon dioxide creates so-called air locks in the pipes and cylinder block.
Therefore, you need to be careful and more closely monitor the readings of the instrument panel.
Finally, don't forget to neutralize the acidity. To do this, it is better to use a 0.5% chrompic solution or distilled water. The engine should run for 10-20 minutes.
Only then fill in new coolant.
Serum.
Good alternative to lactic acid. First, the whey is filtered into a container of at least 5 liters.
Then it is poured through the expansion tank into the cooling system.
They drive with serum 1000-1500 km, then it is drained. If necessary, the cycle is repeated. However, every 100-200 km it is recommended to check the degree of contamination of the whey.
You need to constantly monitor the temperature of the engine.
Sosa cola.
Strange as it may sound, but before flushing the cooling system with Coca-Cola gave a good result.
The effect was achieved due to the phosphoric acid included in the drink.
But according to rumors, now this acid is not added to Coca-cola, so the past effect can no longer be expected.
But no one canceled the rechecking of rumors; Sosa-sol will definitely not cause harm to the engine.
Used means - auto chemistry
The advantage of flushing the cooling system is that they keep up with the times.
Their composition is designed in such a way as not to harm the engine. For example, some products were used for copper radiators, now for aluminum ones, others. Or combined for all types of engines.
They are inexpensive, so almost every car owner can afford to buy such a tool.
Not bad removes the most complex contamination of the cooling system. A bottle of 250 ml is enough to wash a small car with CO three times or a car with a large engine capacity twice.
Application.
Another good tool for cleaning the cooling system. Popular for its good value for money.
This is a washing complex, which includes two compositions.
First squad. Fights rust and scale. Well removes them and removes them from the system.
Second cast. Eliminates oil deposits and dissolves fats.
The complex is neutral to rubber products, plastics and all types of metals.
Do not forget, at the final stage, rinse with distilled or boiled water.
There are many other similar flushing products, but before using them, read the reviews on the forms.
The main mistakes when flushing the CO engine
- Work is carried out in cold weather, when frost is possible at night;
- Do not wear gloves as a result, you can get a thermal or chemical burn;
- Incorrect analysis of used coolant, which leads to overspending on flushing or to incorrect selection of funds. For example, caustic soda is not used for washing aluminum radiators;
- Incorrectly selected concentration of the washing solution, which can lead to corrosion of rubber products and the appearance of additional rust;
- Forgetfulness. At the final stage, do not forget to flush the cooling system with neutral liquids, for example, distilled or boiled water;
- Fill in only high-quality coolant, exclude fakes. Read here how.
Summing up
It is not difficult to flush the engine cooling system, the main thing is to do it at regular intervals.
You also need to correctly use flushing agents, including the correct formulation of solutions.
Purchased auto chemicals are easier to use, the main thing is to act according to the instructions and the result will be no worse. Which is what we recommend doing.
Leave your ideas and comments in the comments.
Required by the car quite regularly. This is due to the fact that this structural element vehicle needed to maintain the operating temperature of the motor, to protect it from overheating, and so on.
In the process of active use, the radiator begins to clog with debris and dirt. In this case, the heat coming from the radiator is not completely transferred to the environment, but is returned back to the engine.
As a result, overheating may occur. power unit. It is necessary to clean the car radiator depending on how badly it is clogged. If this is not done, then sooner or later the vehicle will fail.
It must be said that the heater cooling radiator can also become clogged, automatic transmission car transmission, air conditioning evaporator and so on.
The radiator becomes clogged during the use of the car due to the fact that dust and debris fly into the car one way or another from the road. This part gets dirty much faster if the vehicle is driven on country roads or in areas where there is serious dust.
Insects can also get into the radiator, which later, together with dust, turn into a fairly solid mass.
To clean the radiator without removing it, you can use ordinary water, which will clean its outer surface, but it is often not very easy to get to this part of the car.
To produce high-quality cleaning, the radiator is often removed.
It even happens that ordinary cleaning with water from the outside is not enough, since the dirt has settled so firmly that it cannot be removed from the surface by traditional methods.
To get rid of pollution, use a special tool to clean the radiator of the vehicle from the outside.
As a rule, a heating radiator or an air conditioner radiator is washed with running water, but in car washes this is done under quite a lot of pressure. In this case, the operation must be carried out as carefully as possible, since here damage to the cells can be caused, which will simply cause the radiator to leak. It will eventually lose its tightness.
In the event that salt sits on the radiator simultaneously with dirt, then it should be removed from the surface of the part as quickly as possible. The fact is that the part is made of aluminum, and the saline solution can corrode it in just a few minutes. As a result, it will end with the same leakage of the car radiator.
It is also worth noting that water is unlikely to be able to remove persistent deposits, which means that you will have to use a special tool in order to rid it of dirt.
There are quite a lot of chemicals developed directly so that the chemical cleaning of the radiator can be done without removing this part.
Among drivers, chemicals produced by by the following manufacturers:
- hado;
- VERYLUBE;
- Liqui Moly.
Universal cleaning agents are also commercially available, with which you can clean not only the dirt from the radiator of the car's engine cooling system, but also from the entire engine.
The cost of such a substance can be very different - it depends on which company released this tool. In particular, the cost of one bottle, the volume of which will be about 250 ml, can reach a thousand rubles.
It is undesirable to purchase products that are too cheap, since inexpensive drugs can use too active substances that can be as harmful as the pollution itself.
Wash the cooling radiator of the air conditioner or engine internal combustion possible by removing the heat exchanger. If the pollution is not too significant, then you can use the most in a simple way- blow it out with compressed air, and do it outside the car, without removing or turning off the radiator itself.
The sequence of actions here will be as follows.
- First you need to remove the upper front trim.
- They remove the radiator grill, which is fixed in the car with four screws, besides, it is additionally supported by three clips from below. The hood latch drive is also removed here.
- Now, with a special key, they remove the fastenings of the air intakes, which are located in front of the car, and also remove all the plastic elements outside.
- They take a hose, at the end of which a tube should be located, and all the cells of the radiator are blown out of it, after which they are washed with running water.
A car wash will be needed if there is no compressed air compressor and a device necessary to flush the element at hand. Workers will carefully remove the radiator and thoroughly clean it of all contaminants.
It is worth noting that it is highly undesirable to remove the radiator yourself, since it is not very conveniently located on many car models. Removing it will be very problematic, and it will be even more difficult to return it to its place.
The heating radiator is not always clogged with dirt from the outside, it happens that dust breaks inward. This, in turn, also leads to overheating of the motor.
In order for the heat exchanger to become clogged with dirt as rarely as possible, experts advise changing the coolant at least once a year.
In addition, it is also desirable to flush the entire system, which is done as the antifreeze becomes cloudy.
There are various folk remedies used to flush the cooling system: some motorists advise flushing it with whey, citric acid or electrolyte solution, Coca-Cola, caustic soda, and so on. However, all of them are untested and can cause the radiator to completely corrode.
The most reliable way to clean the cooling system of all kinds of contaminants is to flush it with clean water.
The technology in this case will be as follows.
- First you need to warm up the engine to operating temperature.
- All contaminated coolant will need to be completely drained, and this is done with both the radiator and the cylinder block.
- You need to wait a little time for all this liquid to come out of the car.
- All drain plugs return to their seats, pour clean water into the system from the outside and let the motor run for about 15 minutes.
- The motor is stopped and water is removed from the system. If it flows out dirty, then the operation should be repeated until clean water returns.
- Now you can fill in fresh coolant.
Cleaning the radiator from the outside with special chemicals
On sale today you can find automotive chemicals for various purposes, in particular, there are substances that allow you to quite effectively flush the cooling system the first time. However, it should be said that not every tool allows you to do this efficiently. There are substances that seriously disrupt the operation of both the engine and the car as a whole.
In this case, the rule works well - the cheaper the product, the worse it interacts with the radiator. It is best to use for washing products that are offered by world-famous companies engaged in the production of automotive chemicals, which also managed to gain a positive reputation for themselves.
In composition and purpose, these funds are quite different. In particular, some of them are added to the coolant so that they work like an additive and prevent the formation of scale and rust.
In addition, on sale you can find chemicals that allow you to remove the antifreeze from the pipes or from the radiator. However, it should be used as carefully as possible, since it is quite viscous and its inaccurate use leads to clogging of the pipes and thin hoses of the system.
By row external signs you can determine that the radiator begins to clog.
- The fan that cools the engine began to start quite often, and he does this not only on idling but also on the go.
- The motor starts to heat up very quickly. At the same time, when the expansion tank of the heating system is opened, coolant flows out of it.
- The lower part of the radiator, together with the lower branch pipe, has normal temperature environment, and the upper hoses related to the cooling system are very hot.
- The stove heats up the interior very slowly.
Outside, you can clean the structure with a special spray. To do this, this substance is sprayed onto the radiator grille and left for about five minutes.
Take an ordinary garden sprayer and wash off this liquid. This should be done several times until the moment when the dirt is washed off its surface.
A garden sprayer is used in order not to damage the honeycombs of the device. They are quite sensitive to various kinds of loads, so they can burst from strong pressure.
Such a sprayer does not create too much pressure, so it can be safely used.
It is worth noting that self-cleaning of the radiator is unlikely to help completely get rid of contaminants, but it can remove the bulk of the debris.
This will already allow you to drive normally in the future and not be afraid of overheating or even a complete breakdown of the motor.
And I want to propose a new interesting topic for discussion on the pages of my blog. Various hard and soft particles accumulate in pipelines that are designed to transport working fluids in a car engine. Over time, they interfere with normal circulation and even lead to the destruction of parts and loss of operational properties. How to flush the engine cooling system - asks one of the blog's regular readers. I studied the information and decided to offer several solutions on this topic.
Many of the domestic motorists neglect flushing and in vain. The procedure is not laborious and can be done in the garage. on your own. For many years, VAZ car owners have been doing it on their own, as, indeed, other types of repair work. All recommendations are quite fair and feasible for owners of imported vehicles.
The radiator and pipelines become clogged during operation. Decomposition products, all kinds of oil and fat deposits, rust particles and various other scale are deposited in them. As a result, the performance of the radiator and the entire cooling system is reduced. It is better to flush in time, and then I will tell you how to do it.
Radiator failures can lead to costly repairs or even replacements. There are many ways to help get rid of rust and other types of plaque and pollution. The flushing procedure with the simultaneous replacement of antifreeze is recommended to be done at least once every couple of seasons. The final frequency depends on the operating conditions of a particular vehicle.
Traditional improvised means for washing
Citric acid is one of the most popular cleaning agents. It is important to properly prepare its solution, and in this case it will not harm the rubber components of the system and at the same time thoroughly wash it. To do this, take 100 grams of acidic lemon powder and dilute it with a liter of warm water.
In order not to harm the system, it is optimal to flush in several stages. This will avoid chipping massive pieces of scale. In the absence of acid, you can replace it with dairy products - whey. It is believed that such a tool is even more gentle on parts of the cooling system that are not made of metal.
Another type of cleaning products can be found in the refrigerator of almost any family. This is the favorite drink of many, Coca-Cola. Due to the presence of phosphoric acid in it, almost any scale can be removed. However, this acid is known to damage soft rubber components. 
In addition, the composition of the drink contains sugar that clogs the system. This is why, after rinsing with cola, you need to run distilled water through the system to help dissolve and remove the sugar. Another tip - before using cola, you need to release gas from the bottle. The expansion of such gas on a running engine can lead to undesirable consequences.
Caustic soda well softens scale that has settled on the walls of pipelines and inside the radiator. However, it requires careful proportions, and it is undesirable to abuse this powder. We take a 5% solution of such soda and dissolve 50–60 grams in a liter of heated water. It is desirable that the engine run for several hours. After that, the soda solution is removed from the system.
The use of professional car cosmetics and its varieties
In addition to traditional household methods for cleaning the radiator, there are professional cleaners. They differ in different composition and concentration, but they can be found on the shelves of any auto shop. 
Is it possible to get rid of plaque and deposits with their help? Of course yes, but each of them can be based on different active substances:
- acid products are aggressive to rubber and plastic parts. They dissolve inorganic scale well and allow you to quickly get rid of oil if it gets into the system when piercing the cylinder head gasket;
- alkaline type preparations effectively fight organic deposits. They do not need to be bred, because. they are sold in a consistency suitable for use;
- acid-base contains different active substances. They are poured into the system sequentially and after the engine warms up, they will successfully clean the cooling system.
Some motorists prefer to save money and flush the radiator with pipelines with water. Despite the availability, it is better not to do this at home. The fact is that the water contains salts that will settle on the walls. Due to the scale that has appeared, you will have to clean the cooling system again. In extreme cases, you can use water for this procedure, but only distilled.
The process of periodic cleaning of pipes and components of the cooling system in the engine is called flushing. In fact, flushing the engine is the same necessary procedure as the timely replacement of oil and air filters. If you do not flush the cooling system in time, then during the next replacement of the coolant, scale and dirt that has accumulated on the tubes will get inside the valves. At the same time, during the operation of the car, all channels in the radiator and pipes will inevitably clog. As a result, the pump may need to be replaced and adjusted. AT worst case you will have to change the entire cooling system.
How is the engine clogged?
Many of the car owners are faced with the following situation - the coolant that has just been poured into the engine gradually turns black. This is due to the fact that when filling pure liquid passes through dirty radiator tubes, as a result of which it changes color and simultaneously clogs the remaining clean hoses and engine pipes. As a result, engine power drops to 10% and characteristic noise appears in the radiator.
At the same time, it must be understood that the radiator is contaminated not only with dust, but also with specific deposits. The composition and structure of these deposits depends on the coolant used by the driver. In 90% of cases, the cooling system is filled with:
- Water. And until now, individual motorists pour water directly into the radiator. During the summer months, this leads to the formation of scale on the pipes, which leads to clogging of the entire system. In winter, the water in the radiator turns into ice cubes, which makes the engine unusable.
- Antifreeze. Antifreeze effectively cools the engine (especially in winter), but at the same time, after 1-2 months, its gradual decomposition begins. The decomposition products enter the inside of the cooling system with the liquid and clog the pipes.
Reasons for insufficient engine cooling
- The appearance of extensive plaque on the inner surface of the walls of the highways and radiator pipes. Plaque on the tubes appears in the process of oxidation of the coolant under the influence of constant drop temperatures in the engine. Since the plaque that has appeared in the hoses has low thermal conductivity, the engine does not cool. The heat transfer between the engine and the fluid tubes is severely limited, and the heat simply does not pass through the resulting scale layer.
- Contamination of the internal pipes of the radiator with dust and small metal particles. When dust appears in the cooling system, heat exchange with the engine is completely disrupted. In turn, small metal particles will contribute to the rapid overheating of the engine.
- The appearance of an air lock inside the system. With the formation of an air lock in the tubes, the coolant cannot fully circulate through all the lines.
Advice: If you notice that the engine suddenly stalls at full speed, the problem is probably in the engine cooling system.
As a result, if you do not flush the cooling system with your own hands or in a car service, in a couple of years you will have to completely replace the engine.
How to properly flush the radiator?
Flushing the cooling system in the engine is carried out by the following methods:
- With distilled water;
- Using acidified water;
- Using special means for flushing cooling systems.
Advice: choose a specific radiator cleaner depending on the condition of the machine. If the tubes are all clogged with scale, and it doesn’t even help to bring it down, then use special solutions from the store.
When carrying out work with your own hands, a number of requirements must be observed:
- In winter, work should be carried out in a warm garage, and in summer - in the fresh air.
- Before starting work on cleaning pipes and hoses, all antifreeze must be drained.
- If the engine is still hot, it must be allowed to cool completely.
- The machine must be on a level surface.
- In order to protect your hands from contact with hot elements of the engine, be sure to wear protective gloves.
- Before draining the old antifreeze, be sure to install a small container under the radiator structure.
- Remove all drain plugs, and start draining the antifreeze first from the engine, and then drain it from the radiator.
Flushing the engine and radiator with distilled water
The most inexpensive, but at the same time effective method flushing the system with a slight contamination of the tubes is distilled water. The whole process will consist of 3 stages:
- It is necessary to pour distilled water directly into the radiator housing.
- Next, you need to start the car and let it idle for 15-25 minutes.
- Then be sure to turn off the machine and drain all the water from the nozzles.
These steps will need to be repeated several times with an interval of 20-30 minutes. At the end of the work, the water in the cooling system must remain clean. Most often, distilled water is used to flush the engine in a recently purchased car or with minimal antifreeze contamination.
Flushing hoses and cooling pipes in the engine with acidified water
If you find traces of scale or decay and corrosion products in the previously drained coolant, then the water must be “acidified” to clean the system. To achieve this task, you will need to prepare a small amount of a slightly acidic aqueous solution with your own hands. The composition of the liquid includes samples:
- citric acid;
- lactic acid;
- Acetic essence;
- Caustic soda.
The flushing procedure consists of the following operations:
- We prepare a slightly acidic solution from the indicated ingredients and pour it into the cooling system.
- Start the engine and let it run for 15 minutes.
- Next, turn off the engine, and do not drain the fluid from the radiator. In order for all the scale to go away, the solution must be absorbed into the deposits (it takes several hours).
- We drain the solution of acidified water after 2-3 hours and repeat these operations again.
In total, it takes about 5-7 hours to flush the pipes and hoses. Upon completion of work, the rest of the acidified solution must be removed from the radiator by flushing with distilled water.
It is enough to spend a day on this procedure, and you will get rid of scale in the radiator for a long time. However, this method has its drawback - if you add too much acid, it will be absorbed not only into scale, but also into the hoses themselves. Subsequently, the acid will simply corrode the surface of the rubber and plastic components of the engine, and they will have to be completely replaced.
Advice: after flushing the cooling system with an acid solution, be sure to check i.
Flushing the radiator and engine with purchased products
Now modern products of the chemical industry can effectively eliminate any scale and pollution formed in the engine. As a rule, all purchased funds are conditionally divided into 4 types:
- Acid-based products;
- Alkaline and saline solutions;
- Two-component solution;
- Neutral cleaning agents.
Since scale and decomposed antifreeze products appear when the engine cools, the cooling system must be cleaned either only with an acid or only with alkalis. There is no universal cleaning agent, because acidic and alkaline solutions are neutralized with each other. That is why special purchased solutions are produced either on an acid or on an alkaline basis.
However, there is a so-called two-component flushing solution that acts on the cooling system in 2 stages: first, the engine and radiator are flushed with the first component, then with the second. In turn, neutral solutions are based on the work of catalysts and have a neutral pH. Most neutral radiator cleaners are produced by the factory as a kind of antifreeze additive or as a special coolant concentrate.
A feature of the use of special purchased solutions is the need to pour them into the tank once and not think about the state of the cooling system for 1000-2000 km. Such products wash all the above contaminants, while dissolving scale and sediment to colloidal states that do not contaminate the small radiator pipes and pipes on the engine.
Video: flushing the cooling system
The main task of the system is to supply coolant to units and parts that heat up during operation. While driving engine compartment clogged with pebbles, sand, dust, insects, etc. Pollution accumulates in the cooling system lines, mixing with antifreeze. Due to clogging of pipes, hoses, radiator channels, the overall efficiency of the internal combustion engine is reduced. The article describes how to properly flush the engine cooling system in order to restore the throughput of its elements.
Causes of Clogged Cooling System
It often happens that after filling the cooling system with fresh liquid, it quickly darkens, appear in the radiator characteristic sounds. This indicates pollution of the system's highways, a decrease in its throughput. The quality of heat removal from the working elements of the engine deteriorates, the power characteristics of the vehicle as a whole decrease (by an average of 10%).
Dust accumulates in the radiator tubes, specific deposits form on the walls. The chemical composition of scale is different, depending on the type of coolant poured into the system. As a coolant, water, antifreeze are most often used.
When using water poured directly through the radiator neck, a layer of scale forms on the pipes in the warm season. With the onset of winter frosts, the water freezes, rendering the system unusable.
Antifreeze is a more efficient coolant that is resistant to changes in ambient temperatures. However, over time, its composition begins to gradually disintegrate into separate fractions. Due to the ingress of antifreeze decomposition products into the channels of the system, it becomes clogged.
Consequences of insufficient engine cooling
As a result of the harmful effects of temperature changes in a running engine, a thick deposit in the form of scale appears on the inner surfaces of hoses, pipes, tubes of the cooling system. The resulting layer has a low thermal conductivity, which counteracts the high-quality cooling of rubbing parts and components of an internal combustion engine. If deposits occur in the tubes, the heat exchange process between the coolant and the power unit is disrupted, which leads to its overheating. Heat is not able to penetrate the scale that has accumulated on the walls of the tubes.
Foreign particles also cause significant harm:
- Dirt, dust.
- Metal shavings.
- Accumulations of small insects.
Small fragments, getting into the system along with the coolant, clog the lines. This leads to accelerated overheating of the motor.
Air pockets can also cause engine damage. When they occur, it is difficult to remove heat from the zone of formation of elevated temperatures. As a result of prolonged use of a car with air locks, such expensive elements of the power unit as cylinders, pistons, manifolds overheat and fail.
If the coolant circulation is disturbed, the efficiency of the engine cooling system is reduced:
- uneven heat removal from areas of increased heat generation in idle mode;
- the occurrence of temperature jumps;
- incorrect readings of the temperature gauge sensor (the arrow of the device twitches);
- boiling antifreeze;
- malfunctions of the thermostat;
- insufficient heat supply reduces the comfort of staying in the cabin;
- increased fogging of glasses limits visibility, this leads to an increase in the likelihood of an emergency while driving.
Tip: If the engine suddenly stalls while driving, experienced drivers recommend checking the operation of the cooling system.
It has been noticed that if you do not regularly clean and flush the cooling system, engine parts and components are deformed from overheating, and the motor quickly fails. Therefore, among car owners, the question often arises of how to flush the cooling system.
Means for flushing the cooling system
Among the most accessible means, water ranks first. However, it is known that various chemical compounds are dissolved in it, which form scale on the walls of pipelines, which necessitates repeated cleanings of the system. To avoid complications, experienced car owners recommend using distilled or boiled water.
If the question arises, what is the best way to flush the engine cooling system, it is recommended to study the offers of the car market. The distribution network offers special cleaning products produced by the chemical industry in a large assortment. The proposed preparations qualitatively clean the elements of the car cooling system. Before buying the most suitable product, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the existing types of products, since substances with different chemical composition are used to destroy pollution.
According to the method of exposure, cleansing preparations are divided into several categories:
- Neutral.
- Acid.
- Alkaline.
- Two-component.
Neutral liquids do not contain aggressive substances. In this regard, they are less effective than other analogues. Their use is recommended for prevention purposes.
In the manufacture of acidic substances, manufacturers do not include undiluted acid in their composition, since these compounds have increased aggressiveness. Flushing liquids of an acidic environment neutralize and remove formations in the form of scale and other deposits of inorganic origin.
Like acids, alkaline substances also do not occur in a concentrated state. They are used to remove organic contaminants.
The composition of two-component preparations includes compounds of an acidic and alkaline environment. With gradual exposure to these substances, pollution of all kinds is perfectly removed from the cooling system.
Tip: It is not recommended to pour two drugs of different action at the same time. The wrong combination of substances that have an acidic and alkaline environment will not bring the expected result. Liquids mutually neutralize each other, can cause harm, cause additional malfunctions. It happens that when using high concentration cleaners, parts made of plastic and certain types of rubber become unusable.
How to flush the engine cooling system with distilled water with your own hands
This procedure is carried out after cooling the engine in the open air in the summer, or in the garage in the winter. First you need to get rid of the waste fluid. Actions are carried out in the following order:
- park the machine on a level surface;
- open the hood;
- place a container to collect used antifreeze;
- unscrew the drain plugs (in the engine, radiator);
- wait for the liquid to drain completely.
Interesting: Appearance waste material will tell about the general condition of the entire system. Particular attention should be paid to the presence of characteristic streaks in the liquid. engine oil, as well as foreign particles in the form of metal dust, rust, scale fragments, etc.
Cleaning the cooling system using distilled water is considered to be the most affordable and economical method that takes the least amount of time.
Important: Plain tap water is not recommended for flushing the cooling system. In the absence of distilled water in the required amount, you can replace it with boiled water (boiling time should be at least 20 minutes).
Work algorithm:
- Pour prepared water through the radiator neck.
- Start the engine in idle mode.
- Wait 20 minutes.
- Stop the engine.
- Drain the fluid from the system.
- Repeat this procedure several times until a clear liquid begins to come out.
How to flush the engine cooling system with citric acid
If a large number of small scale particles are noticed in the waste material, it is best to acidify the washing water. As an additional agent, it is recommended to use acid (acetic, citric). To increase the effectiveness of this method, you can increase the percentage of acid in the solution and create a temperature in the engine from +60 to 90°C.
The method of using the resulting solution is no different from the method described in the previous section.
What means can flush the engine cooling system from rust
Antifreeze contains special additives that improve specifications coolant. However, after the end of the operational period, this substance gradually decomposes into separate chemical components. Decomposition products accumulate on the pipes and metal parts of the system, in the form of harmful salt deposits, accelerating the oxidation process. Rust spots are the main enemy of the cooling system and the engine as a whole.
Along with scale, organic compounds, rust contributes to a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the tubes. The water pump does not supply enough fluid, for this reason, the likelihood of a thermostat shutdown with subsequent overheating of the engine increases.
Only careful removal of rust, deposits, scale and replacement of antifreeze will save the engine from breakdowns due to overheating.
Before direct flushing of the system from rust, it is recommended to analyze the condition of the coolant and the system as a whole. The degree of antifreeze contamination is assessed by the following factors:
- the content of flakes in the liquid;
- degree of transparency;
- shade change;
- the presence of foreign impurities.
Attention: The liquid in the tank has high temperature and when the system is depressurized, it splashes out. In order to comply with safety precautions, it is recommended to wait until the engine has completely cooled down before unscrewing the reservoir cap.
If it is noticed that the coolant is painted dark brown, this indicates the accumulation of rust in the system. In this case, it is necessary to carry out not the usual simple, but a deep cleansing of the system, affecting such nodes as:
- Cooling jacket.
- heater radiator.
- Detail channels.
If distilled water with the addition of lemon is used to clean rust, the steps described in the previous sections are repeated. To increase the effectiveness of the procedure, the solution is left in the system for 7-10 hours. During all this time, the engine is repeatedly warmed up to operating temperatures. After removing the detergent, the cooling system is thoroughly rinsed with distilled water.
How to flush the engine cooling system from oil
Special chemicals are designed to remove contaminants in a wider range. With the help of such compounds, not only scale and rust are well eliminated, but also deposits in the form of fats and other organic substances.
Drivers often use a special sealant to fix antifreeze leaks. It has been observed that the action this tool is of short duration. In this case, the performance of the entire system deteriorates. When asked how to flush the engine cooling system from the sealant, the answer is simple: you can use the methods described above, but only with the addition of special branded flushes, for example, from LIQUI MOLY.