... radiator flush-outs for less?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

....ok, here goes, and someone correct me if I am wrong on this:

If you have a Japanese car, you want to go to a store like O'Reilly's or Napa or Bond's and get the Zerex pre-mixed, red colored antifreeze for Japanese cars....about $15/gal-premixed with water. Wal-mart does not have it.

Start by removing the cap from the see through plastic antifreeze reservoir in the engine compartment, and test the old antifreeze strength with a Wal-mart Prestone 88-cent tester with the five little balls.

A flush out is not called for on a Japanese car. You open the hand operated drain valve located on the lower left hand, inside corner of the radiator and let the old antifreeze drain down into a wide container like an oil change pan. You need to snake your right arm up and into the radiator area, in front of the left front wheel, while laying on the ground to locate the hand turned drain valve. When you feel the little drain valve, turn knob between your fingers, you will know it ...... and think to yourself ..... oh, this must be it.

Keep track of how much old antifreeze drains out by measuring it with a gallon bottle and a funnel. Looking up your vehicle's antifreeze capacity of say 1-gal, 1 1/2-gal, or 2-gal etc is definitely a smart move.

Then, replace the same amount of old with new antifreeze, pouring it very slowly with a funnel into the see through reservoir until the new antifreeze is even with the "full" line on the reservoir.

Start up the engine, let it run for three minutes and watch for any warning lights to come on. If you screw it up.....it's your own danged fault......and rots - o - ruck to u. Honestly, nothing fake here ....... even the fake president could do it.

You are better off buying a gal of straight antifreeze for $20 and just add water to make it a 50/50 mix. You're paying an extra $10 for 2 gallons. We use Dex-cool in Toyota's. It's orange in color but it's not much different than the red used in Toyota's. Most of the coolants today are all made for Aluminum engines. Each manufacturer likes to differentiate their coolant by color. Gm-orange, Toyota-red, Honda-blue, Chrysler-yellow, and so on. Of course if it's under warrantee you want to use the right color.

[Woody38]

Having driven Mopars, then Jaguars and presently Mercedes and growing up with International trucks, I was always told not to touch the tranny. You will find a lot wrong.
Now, drove Mopars over 100,000 miles, Jag also. We put 330,000 miles on one Mercedes and never touched tranny. Dealer says leave it alone. Did replace exhaust around 2000,000 miles. Present Mercedes have few miles, one with 62,000 and the other, SL summer auto with 28,000 miles so no trouble there.
Just change the antifreeze every 2-3 years and you will have no worries.

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

Taking the granddaughters for a ride in an antique Chris Craft: Priceless

Wishing all a merry X-Mas and fun in the snow. From sunny Southern California.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Woody38

Having driven Mopars, then Jaguars and presently Mercedes and growing up with International trucks, I was always told not to touch the tranny. You will find a lot wrong.
Now, drove Mopars over 100,000 miles, Jag also. We put 330,000 miles on one Mercedes and never touched tranny. Dealer says leave it alone. Did replace exhaust around 2000,000 miles. Present Mercedes have few miles, one with 62,000 and the other, SL summer auto with 28,000 miles so no trouble there.
Just change the antifreeze every 2-3 years and you will have no worries.

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

Taking the granddaughters for a ride in an antique Chris Craft: Priceless

Wishing all a merry X-Mas and fun in the snow. From sunny Southern California.

I have an Acura MDX 2005, those transmissions need oil to be changed per the manual. On the other hand my 2015 Grand Cherokee is filled for life. Best to go by the owners manual.

[songkrai]

Originally Posted by ITD

On the other hand my 2015 Grand Cherokee is filled for life. Best to go by the owners manual.

Yes READ the manual.

Lifetime? Whose lifetime?

Your lifetime. The cars lifetime. The transmissions lifetime? The manufacturers warranty lifetime?

Is the word "never" in the manual for changing the transmission fluid?

[BroadHopper]

I have a 2001 Jeep Cherokee with 176K, my 'winter beater'. At 60K miles I had radiator flushed and replace fluid with 'life time' antifreeze. A also 'flushed out' transmission and differentials and replace fluids with synthetics. All bearings repacked with synthetics. I replace the motor oil every 15,000 miles with AMSOIL. Still running like new!

If I can only prevent the body from rusting out, I could see another 15 years!

[songkrai]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

If I can only prevent the body from rusting out, I could see another 15 years!

YES you can.
As mentioned in another post.

Get the vehicle oil undercoated every year.

My daily driver is a 1997. Zero rust. And not just viewing from standing and looking. But underneath. Zero rust top to bottom.

The proof is in the pudding.

And even if there is some rust now. The treatment STOPS the rust from getting any worse.

The debate about oil undercoating is in another thread on this forum. So don't have to start all over again here in this post.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by songkrai

YES you can.
As mentioned in another post.

Get the vehicle oil undercoated every year.

My daily driver is a 1997. Zero rust. And not just viewing from standing and looking. But underneath. Zero rust top to bottom.

The proof is in the pudding.

And even if there is some rust now. The treatment STOPS the rust from getting any worse.

The debate about oil undercoating is in another thread on this forum. So don't have to start all over again here in this post.

Automotive technology has come a long way since 1997.

[songkrai]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Automotive technology has come a long way since 1997.

Huh?

Don't even understand the response.

If you are stating that cars don't rust anymore. Well, good luck.

Most cars are made out of rolled steel. Whether today or 1997. That hasn't changed.
Most cars are painted. That hasn't changed since 1997.

But if you think that your car has miracle steel and miracle paint, well, God Bless.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by songkrai

Huh?

Don't even understand the response.

If you are stating that cars don't rust anymore. Well, good luck.

Most cars are made out of rolled steel. Whether today or 1997. That hasn't changed.
Most cars are painted. That hasn't changed since 1997.

But if you think that your car has miracle steel and miracle paint, well, God Bless.

I was referring to fluid changes. I just happened to quote your post that mentions you have a 1997 vehicle. The thread started as a coolant changing thread and somehow went off in different directions. I'm trying to help people on here with my 45 years of automotive experience. The only thing they are getting from you is attitude!

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Automotive technology has come a long way since 1997.

The original CJ (1982-2001) is the best Jeep made ever. Hands down! The new craps are cheap tin cans compared to the old AMC bodies. Just google or ask any Jeep enthusiast. Sure the electronics makes them so much better. I'd rather be safe in a tank!

Before the Jeep was the Scout, the best of the best! Rotted out before its time. Then the Bronco II, great off road performance! Rotted out in just 4 years. The factory looked the other way. I would not buy another Ford product.

Technology has come a long way, but the bodies became thinner than ever to save weight.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

The original CJ (1982-2001) is the best Jeep made ever. Hands down! The new craps are cheap tin cans compared to the old AMC bodies. Just google or ask any Jeep enthusiast. Sure the electronics makes them so much better. I'd rather be safe in a tank!

Before the Jeep was the Scout, the best of the best! Rotted out before its time. Then the Bronco II, great off road performance! Rotted out in just 4 years. The factory looked the other way. I would not buy another Ford product.

Technology has come a long way, but the bodies became thinner than ever to save weight.

Ah, the good old days. I just retired a 1997 Chevy K1500 pick up for a 2011 Chevy K1500 pick up. The 1997 was a great truck and served me well for 20 years but to say it was better than my 2011 is a stretch. Let's just say they are different. The newer models are built for a different buyer. If you want to match the workload of the 1997 K1500 today you have to step up to the K2500. It all depends on your needs. Personally I've never been a Jeep fan. I think they all are a POS, all the way back since AMC owned them. But that's just my opinion, I never liked Chrysler products.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

The original CJ (1982-2001) is the best Jeep made ever. Hands down! The new craps are cheap tin cans compared to the old AMC bodies. Just google or ask any Jeep enthusiast. Sure the electronics makes them so much better. I'd rather be safe in a tank!

Before the Jeep was the Scout, the best of the best! Rotted out before its time. Then the Bronco II, great off road performance! Rotted out in just 4 years. The factory looked the other way. I would not buy another Ford product.

Technology has come a long way, but the bodies became thinner than ever to save weight.

Actually, ask any HONEST Jeep enthusiast, and they'll GRUDGINGLY admit that the JK is superior to the CJ in every way but nostalgia. It's quieter, safer, more fuel efficient, powerful, and---for those REAL Jeepers--more capable. It's probably the only vehicle that has remained true to its heritage.

The JL? Now that might be another story, but if so I believe it'll be because of auto regulations rather than FCA's doing.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[songkrai]

But back to the radiators.

In the olden days - there was a radiator repair shop in every city. Laconia had one. On South Main Street just before the Belmont Road split.
Radiators were steel and would rust. Engines were mostly cast iron and did rust.

Today we have aluminum radiators and most engines are aluminum alloy.
So the rust issues is minimized.

And with the newer cars there is not even a radiator cap. Just some plastic box.

I have had the fluid/radiator flushed on my car.

At minimum when oil is changed one should at least have the antifreeze checked for temperature.

Has anyone here had the antifreeze changed in vehicles?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by songkrai

But back to the radiators.

In the olden days - there was a radiator repair shop in every city. Laconia had one. On South Main Street just before the Belmont Road split.
Radiators were steel and would rust. Engines were mostly cast iron and did rust.

Today we have aluminum radiators and most engines are aluminum alloy.
So the rust issues is minimized.

And with the newer cars there is not even a radiator cap. Just some plastic box.

I have had the fluid/radiator flushed on my car.

At minimum when oil is changed one should at least have the antifreeze checked for temperature.

Has anyone here had the antifreeze changed in vehicles?

I'm 63 years old and as far back as I can remember radiators were never steel,
They were copper or brass or both and they did not rust. They were repaired with solder just as in soldering a copper or brass plumbing fitting. The rust came from the cast iron blocks rusting not the radiators. I thought you have 45 years in the automotive trade? If that's true you should known that. Radiators are now made of aluminum and plastic for less cost and less weight. They are so cheap to buy new that they aren't worth repairing. If you have ever taken an old copper and brass radiator to the scrap yard you know costs of those materials are out of sight. An old copper or brass radiator will bring almost as much money in scrap as the wholesale cost of a new aluminum and plastic radiator.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by songkrai

But back to the radiators.

In the olden days - there was a radiator repair shop in every city. Laconia had one. On South Main Street just before the Belmont Road split.
Radiators were steel and would rust.

I've worked on many vehicles since the 1950's and have never seen a steel radiator.

There could have been some but I never ran into any.

[BroadHopper]

Yes and they repaired it with solder. Good to go!

I have on of those on the Jeep. Autoserv insist on replacing the radiator for big bucks! The labor from removing the AC core and removing the fan accessories to remover a radiator? I thought they were out of their tree!

There was a guy at NE Tire who said he can repair the radiator for a lot less so I took the chance to have an unknown repair the vehicle. A year later no sign of a leak. And people says new vehicles are better off technology wise. Disposable yes but not repairable.

I bet if I ask for the old radiator, an sell it at a scrap dealer, it could pay for the repair. Good reason not to trust the dealers.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Yes and they repaired it with solder. Good to go!

I have on of those on the Jeep. Autoserv insist on replacing the radiator for big bucks! The labor from removing the AC core and removing the fan accessories to remover a radiator? I thought they were out of their tree!

There was a guy at NE Tire who said he can repair the radiator for a lot less so I took the chance to have an unknown repair the vehicle. A year later no sign of a leak. And people says new vehicles are better off technology wise. Disposable yes but not repairable.

I bet if I ask for the old radiator, an sell it at a scrap dealer, it could pay for the repair. Good reason not to trust the dealers.

Just like everything else, everything is made today to throw away and replace with new.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Just like everything else, everything is made today to throw away and replace with new.

I'll have to say though, radiators seem much more reliable now then they were in the past. Also, relatively speaking, they are probably cheaper to produce and much lighter weight with the new technologies.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by ITD

I'll have to say though, radiators seem much more reliable now then they were in the past. Also, relatively speaking, they are probably cheaper to produce and much lighter weight with the new technologies.

So aren't automobiles. Anyone that thinks those old cars were better is living in the past. Cars and trucks today are so much better, more reliable, better on fuel, safer, and generally go a lot more miles than older models. Like I said, I've been working on cars and trucks for 45 years. Anything built in America in the 80's was pure junk! I love old cars, I have a 67 Corvette. But I will be the first to admit that the new Corvettes are lights years better. Driving the 67 just takes me back in time to my simpler youth. Sometimes I just need that!

[ITD]

Originally Posted by songkrai

Yes READ the manual.

Lifetime? Whose lifetime?

Your lifetime. The cars lifetime. The transmissions lifetime? The manufacturers warranty lifetime?

Is the word "never" in the manual for changing the transmission fluid?

Well, I'm not smarter about it than the engineers that designed it, are you?

[songkrai]

Originally Posted by ITD

Well, I'm not smarter about it than the engineers that designed it, are you?

What part of my post is not understood. Written in basic English.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by songkrai

What part of my post is not understood. Written in basic English.

I pretty much don't understand your basic english question. The manual says lifetime. If you are asking me what it means to me, then I will tell you. Since my plan is to sell this car at 100,000 miles I suppose that would be considered lifetime for me. Should I change my mind at 100,000 miles and decide to keep it, then lifetime would be as long as I keep it. Now if I have a problem with it, the transmission, then I suppose, depending on the problem, one of the first things I would do is change the fluid and I suppose if that fixed the problem, I would feel comfortable that I had reached its lifetime. If something else is broken, then I would have to decide if it were worth fixing at that point. If it isn't worth fixing then I suppose it would have reached it's lifetime as far as I was concerned. Now in reality if that happened, I would probably trade it in, so even though it's life is over as far as I am concerned, it would probably be valuable to someone else, who would fix it and it's lifetime would be extended.

So anyway, now that I've cleared that up. I have no problem trusting the owners manual and running this suv as long as I own it without changing the transmission fluid, we'll see what happens. I'm pretty sure this car, a jeep grand cherokee with a hemi and 8 speed transmission, doesn't even have a dipstick for the transmission. I've read that it is very sensitive to having the correct fluid in it so I'd rather not mess with it.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by songkrai

Yes READ the manual.

Lifetime? Whose lifetime?

Your lifetime. The cars lifetime. The transmissions lifetime? The manufacturers warranty lifetime?

Is the word "never" in the manual for changing the transmission fluid?

2015 jeeps are fill with synthetic transmission fluid and do not require changing. Coolant should be changed at 100,000 miles. All newer vehicles are filled with synthetic fluids now and extended life coolant. It's not like and engine where combustion contributes to the shorter life of the oil.

[songkrai]

Originally Posted by ITD

On the other hand my 2015 Grand Cherokee is filled for life. Best to go by the owners manual.

Above is what I read.

And this is incorrect as stated below taken from a Jeep forum.

"lifetime" trans fluid doesn't necessarily mean lifetime, it just means "out of warranty".

Whether a ZF automatic transmission in the Jeep or an Aisin automatic transmission in other cars - that state "lifetime" - it does not mean "forever".
This is where people get confused. "Lifetime" and "forever" are not the same.

The automatic transmission fluid does need to be changed. It is not "forever".
Most Owners Manuals service requirements stop at 100,000 miles which is not "forever" in today's vehicles. The owner needs to change the "lifetime" automatic transmission fluid at 100,000 miles if they want a trouble free automatic transmission for many more miles and many more years.

But as this original poster stated - they will probably trade in before the 100,000 miles - so for them, changing the fluid is a moot point as they no longer will have the vehicle. But then it goes to the next owner who may think that the "lifetime" is the same. Or forever, which it is clearly not.

And as for the 1997 vehicle - someone mentioned "rust". I pointed out that there is another thread on this forum which is geared towards vehicles that rust.

And I do also have 45 years in the automotive trade.

And thanks for your input and perspectives.

[Biggd]

45 years and still counting. I'm still in the business today. I'm at least 3 years from retirement.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by songkrai

Above is what I read.

And this is incorrect as stated below taken from a Jeep forum.

"lifetime" trans fluid doesn't necessarily mean lifetime, it just means "out of warranty".

Whether a ZF automatic transmission in the Jeep or an Aisin automatic transmission in other cars - that state "lifetime" - it does not mean "forever".
This is where people get confused. "Lifetime" and "forever" are not the same.

The automatic transmission fluid does need to be changed. It is not "forever".
Most Owners Manuals service requirements stop at 100,000 miles which is not "forever" in today's vehicles. The owner needs to change the "lifetime" automatic transmission fluid at 100,000 miles if they want a trouble free automatic transmission for many more miles and many more years.

But as this original poster stated - they will probably trade in before the 100,000 miles - so for them, changing the fluid is a moot point as they no longer will have the vehicle. But then it goes to the next owner who may think that the "lifetime" is the same. Or forever, which it is clearly not.

And as for the 1997 vehicle - someone mentioned "rust". I pointed out that there is another thread on this forum which is geared towards vehicles that rust.

And I do also have 45 years in the automotive trade.

And thanks for your input and perspectives.

Interesting, was that a quote from a factory engineer on the forum or an internet expert?