olddog

iTrader: (2)

i just replaced my radiator with a koyo aluminium radiator since mine was busted from the accident.
Followed a DIY i found on here and saved myself $200 or so. Pretty easy and it only took me about an hour from start to end. And that was in the freaking cold....lol
I bought some coolant and after installing the new radiator, i filled it with the coolant till it was full. Turned on the heat to full blast and allowed the car and radiator to get warm/hot to normal temperature(needle sitting at halfway).
i turned off the car and opened the rad cover (carefully cos it was hot) to allow steam/air to gush out. then i topped it up with more coolant.

What i want to know is that was the correct process to "bleed" the radiator?


Also, there is a white "coolant" container attached to/on top of the radiator fans. Am i supposed to fill that with coolant also. It is empty as of now. Am i missing anything?

Also, was i supposed to mix the coolant with distilled water or was the coolant alone ok?

BTW, If anyone has any questions on the DIY, i can definitely assist.



Thanks


olddog

dRo15

iTrader: (10)

Usually I wait until it's cool again and top it off if need be.

yes, fill up the reservoir. There should be a high and low mark. Fill it inbetween.

pingu

Did you purchase the pre-mixed 50/50 bottle or did you purchase the concentrate only? If you purchased the concentrate only you need to mix the coolant. I believe the bottle you are talking about is the over flow. You should fill the over flow up to the marked line for cold or hot depending on if the fluid is hot or cold.

olddog

iTrader: (2)

thanks alot.
so there is no necessary need for a 50/50 coolant /water mix?

i already filled it up with coolant anyways...lol

olddog

iTrader: (2)

i boought the coolant from Shell.
i will check if it was mixed already. i think it was.....

UpstateLex

coulda got the premixed right from toyota

dRo15

iTrader: (10)

pre-mixed or not, it's not that hard to mix it. If I remember correctly you get a better value buying the concentrate vs. the 50/50 mix.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

50/50 mix is about $20 from toyota. $5 more and you get a full concentrated bottle. It a no brainer.

JoelGs

iTrader: (1)

X1 . I would put the 50/50 in the radiator and H2O in the reservoir bottle. And let the car run for a min or so, then recheck again. Refill if necessary...
Easy as pie!!!

dRo15

iTrader: (10)

Yup, you get twice as much product buying the concentrate as GSteg priced up for pretty much the same cost of 50/50. I would use coolant instead of water in the reservoir. That's if you have enought coolant. Coolant has a greater freezing and boiling point. That's why it's used.

olddog

iTrader: (2)

but the instruction on the container of the coolant says "do not mix with water".
And i went to other autshops and most of the coolants also say the same thing on them.



olddog

dRo15

iTrader: (10)

You must have the 50/50 mix.

Right on the directions of the concentrate is says to add 50% coolant, then add water. How else are you supposed to dilute the concentrate?

Oh while were on it, you shouldn't open the radiator cap while it's still hot. You can get severly burned. Safty first.

ElitistK

iTrader: (4)

1. connect the rad yo the top and bottom hoses
2. fill rad until full. leave the cap open however
3. start your car and turn your thermostat to full heat.
4. let the car warm-up to where the thermostat opens.
5. add coolant as needed.
6. when coolant rises to all the way to the top of the rad, add the overflow tank to 50%
7. after driving around, if there is any coolant missing in the reservoir, add some more.

*note: make sure you do this on an upward slope so you can get all the air out of the coolant system.

skperformance

iTrader: (6)

Agreed , you need to bleed without the cap on . The slope will not make a difference as the fluid is being circulated and that has more force than gravity.

Someone mentioned about filling the the res with water.
Unfortunately we are in Canada and it is below freezing , so that would crack his tank.

Just keep an eye on it for the next few days and top off as needed.

olddog

iTrader: (2)

cool, thanks guys


olddog