How and with what to flush the engine cooling system?

The primary function of automobile engine cooling system is to keep the operating temperature within the normal range. But nowadays engine cooling systems have more functions, like cooling of crankcase oil, ASG (automated shift gearbox) and turbocharger system.

In most cars it is anti-freezing liquid or sometimes tosol cooling agent which is used for liquid cooling. Yet some owners of cars manufactured long ago use usual distilled water to flush the system.

How to maintain the cooling system in good operating condition? 

Automobile manufacturers identified a number of measures necessary to maintain the engine cooling system, of which a regular check of anti-freezing liquid level in a tank is of main importance. The liquid should be refilled when needed. 

The following steps should be taken to maintain the engine cooling system in good operating condition:

• regular check of pipelines and sealing gaskets:
• regular check of bearings moving parts
• timely lubrication of bearings and their replacement when necessary
• regular check of thermostat condition

According to the instruction, the anti-freezing liquid is to be changed every other 50-90 thousand kilometers of drive. It is important to remember to clean the whole system from contamination and scale crust piled up inside.

How can we know the system must be flushed? 

All modern cars are equipped with pressure tight systems, yet despite of it, dirt and dust can penetrate. Engine units wear out along with fluid combustion cause specific sludge formation. Oil and cooling pipes get clogged with dirt. As a result, the engine overheats, contaminating particles are propelled further into the other car units, and the whole system deteriorates or fails to function.

When dashboard cooling liquid indication is on, it can signal any of those: refill of tosol cooling agent is required, the pipelines are clogged, the engine overheat problem takes place. To prevent the above problems, don’t forget to clean the cooling system when changing the anti-freezing liquid.

How to clean the cooling system?

Cleaning procedure includes flushing of the system’s interior, radiator surface, and fan cleaning.

In case you have Kärcher washer at hand, radiator cores can be successfully cleaned with the device under a thin stream of water. A fan should be by-hand cleaned with tissues or a piece of cloth. Car radiator should be previously dismounted from the car.

Interior cleaning is required prior to anti-freezing liquid refill. The procedure is as follows:

• Stop the engine and wait until it cools off. Drain the liquid off the radiator and engine unit;
• Close liquid drain ports and fill the tank with a flushing fluid;
• Start the engine and let it operate for a while:
• Drain the flushing fluid off;
• Clean the system with a distilled water;
• Refill the new anti-freezing liquid.

This is a common description of the procedure. The techniques can vary when different fluids are used. Always follow manufacturer’s advice as fluids functions can vary. Read carefully manufacturer’s recommendations and follow them.

How to choose the fluid for engine cooling system flushing? 

Today market is overcrowded with different, in terms of cost and quality, flushing fluids. How to choose the best one?

Below is the list of the approved flushing fluids:

• LIQUI MOLY KÜHLER-REINIGER - high concentrated flushing liquid. The cost is rather high, but it doesn’t contain any aggressive chemical substances. The fluid is effective against chalk-stone and oily residue.
• LIQUI MOLY KUHLER-AUSSENREINIGER – cleaning agent for radiator surface cleaning.
• Hi-Gear – a popular fast flush.
• Abro Radiator Flush – flushing fluid for cleaning of the system interior;
• Bizol R70 – an agent proved itself as a quality and effective flush.

Shops specialized in auto products offer a wide range of flushing fluids. When buying such a fluid, pay attention to its composition and brand name. Products of recognized manufacturers are always laboratory tested, which insures against the damage of rubber parts. While the risk of bad consequences is quite high with cheap fakes.

We highly recommend to use certified products for system flushing. If your car is under warranty, contact the dealer service center, where the high quality and accuracy of all the manipulations will be guaranteed.