"Elle" <elle_navorski@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in
news:seX6e.5012$yq6.374@newsread3.news.pas.earthli nk.net:

> I am draining, refilling and possibly flushing my 164k miles, 1991
> Civic LX's cooling system tomorrow. I've done it myself at least three
> times over the years, but not quite the same way each time. A few
> questions:
>
> 1.
> My Chilton's manual says I can "back flush" the system by removing the
> thermostat and sticking a "high pressure" hose in the housing, until
> clear water runs out the radiator hose (presumably the one
> disconnected at the housing). Is this really a "backflush," or is it
> more correctly a forward flush but with higher pressure than the
> engine normally sees? If it's a forward flush, I'm inclined to skip
> this, unless someone says they feel it's worthwhile for a car this
> age.



All I ever do is remove the block drain, close off the rad petcock and
stick a garden hose into the rad filler neck. Let run till clear. Then I
open the rad petcock and let that drain.

I refill with Honda OEM. If I were to use aftermarket, I'd only ever use
distilled or de-ionized.


>
> 2.
> If I don't do 1. above, then I'm going to do my best to remove the
> engine drain plug. I had it off once before, but as many here know,
> it's badly located and tough to remove.


No kidding.

If you have somebody raise the hood all the way by hand and put a three-
foot cheater bar on your ratchet, it ought to budge. It'll probably let go
with a SNAP and give your hands a good thwack from the vibration.

If you choose not to remove the block drain, disconnect the lower rad hose
at the rad to make a nice big hole, then...


>
> 3.
> If I do neither of the above, I'm going to fill and drain until the
> water is clear. I have the capacity specs. on the engine coolant
> passages, etc. and am confident about the dilution I will achieve.
> I've done this in the past.


....the block holds about a quart. I suppose what you could do is find out
the total system capacity, then subtract a quart of water from your
dilution formula. That way you'd compensate for the water left in the block
from the garden hose.



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TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
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