engine flush

[kevgraysubaru]

Hey all,

I just had my oil changed and the mechanic recommended I get my radiator and engine flushed.

I have 70 k on my car and was wondering when both these should be done. I've put about 46 k on the car since I bought it and have only done oil changes and tire rotations so i think i'm over due for the other things. Does anyone know how to do both a radiator flush and an engine flush? Or can you please point me to some threads that already have that info?

Thanks

[nipper]

Back away from any chemicals.


Radiator coolant/engine should be flushed 3/36000 miles. There are lubricants in there that break down over 3 years. These lubricants keep the water pump happy, and also anti corrosive properties.

Also the transmission fluid should be flushed (if an auto) every 3/36000 miles to keep your AWD happy. I dont know the maint interval for manual trany lube.

nipper

[porcupine73]

n/a soobs run pretty easy on the engine oil, so a flush there isn't really necessary unless the engine was neglected.

Do not allow any shop to flush your cooling system. There are some issues this can cause and subaru recommends against cooling system flushing machines for this reason. Changing the coolant is a good idea of coruse; if you want to flush just use some distilled or deionzed water. And the right coolant is important too; don't use OAT such as gm dexcoool or all makes all models.

[nipper]

Originally posted by porcupine73
n/a soobs run pretty easy on the engine oil, so a flush there isn't really necessary unless the engine was neglected.

Do not allow any shop to flush your cooling system. There are some issues this can cause and subaru recommends against cooling system flushing machines for this reason. Changing the coolant is a good idea of coruse; if you want to flush just use some distilled or deionzed water. And the right coolant is important too; don't use OAT such as gm dexcoool or all makes all models.

Flushes are easily done at home . I am so used to my mechanisc doing the flush, i forget there is a stupid machine for everything now.

My mechanic doesnt have the machine. Last time Blu got a "flush" was when he hit a deer (they replaced the radiator).

nipper

[kevgraysubaru]

Thanks for the reply guys.

I've never done the radiator before, can you tell me how it's done?

Thanks

[bheinz57]

We definitely suggest the coolant flush and/or change for your car since it seems to have never been done. That is actually one thing I had the dealer do, just in case the old HG issue came up. And definitely use Subaru coolant if possible.

The engine flush can be done right before an oil change if you feel it is necessary. Get a good solvent like B-12 Chemtool and pour 12 fluid ounces in the crankcase, run the engine for ten minutes or so, then flush the oil and do an oil change.

Brian

[Button]

To All:

Just my opinion . . . but any decent synthetic has enough detergents to clean and keep clean the engine.

Regards,
~Steven

[porcupine73]

This is what Subaru says about coolant flushing via machine:

"Do not use a flushing machine to service Subaru cooling systems. If the machine has been used to service other makes of vehicles that may have copper/brass radiators, a chemical reaction between the copper ions and Genuine Subaru
Long Life Anti-Freeze Coolant may occur, which could cause clogging of the radiator.

If flushing is required, use only pure tap water.Do not use aftermarket flushing agents. Also, avoid “hard” water — water with a high concentration of minerals will cause calcium and other deposits to form in the radiator, thus restricting
its flow patterns."

porc's note: Even if you go to a Subaru dealer for a cooling system flush, you do not know that the flush machine was not used on other makes, and even if used on only soob vehicles, the vehicles being serviced may not have had Subaru coolant in them.