I basically do what you've recommended but slightly different. In the
summer--drain using the radiator drain plug. Measure the amount (volume)
that comes out. Fill with water. Drive for a day and then repeat the
process. Do this until the water that comes out of the radiator is
relatively clear. Remember to open the heater a few times during one of the
daily rides to ensure getting the mixed solution out of the heater too.
Knowing the capacity of your cooling system and the volume that drains out
you can calculate how much anti-freeze to put in to ensure the 50-50 mix.
MLD
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:jyuAb.2893$rP6.835@newsread2.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> If you're at all handy, then a radiator drain, flush, and re-fill is very
> straightforward.
>
> The advantages: Don't have to wait on a shop; you know exactly what was
done;
> you can put in the coolant you think is best; you save money; you'll
probably be
> more careful; you're calling the shots.
>
> Disadvantages: Your hands get dirty. You have to locate someone that will
take
> the old coolant (not a big deal; state laws tend to be supportive). You
have to
> be careful not to leave puddles of coolant (it will kill dogs and cats).
>
> My 1991 Civic's owner's manual has instructions for this. Maybe yours
does, too.
> I would definitely not do this without the manufacturer's instructions.
>
> I think the most common hang-up comes at the step for taking off the
engine
> block drain bolt. A lot of people here, including myself, skip it, because
the
> engine block drain bolt is very tight, it's hard to get to, and the bolt
head
> isn't optimal. (I did get if off once, however. So it's worth a try.) I
just
> drain as much as possible through the radiator drain plug orifice,
instead, then
> fill, idle the car, drain, and refill repeatedly until the drainage runs
clear.
> I calculate how much water remains in the engine block after the last
flush and
> then add undiluted coolant to achieve the right ratio of undiluted coolant
to
> water.
>
> I think the consensus here is to use Honda's own OEM coolant. It costs
more but
> its guaranteed (by folks here, and there's a lot of experience on this) to
> maximize the life of your Civic's water pump. The water pump is
persnickety when
> it comes to coolants.
>
> I myself am experimenting with the Orange Dex stuff, allegedly designed
for
> aluminum engines and imports like Honda, as well as long-life. Thirteen
months
> and all's well. But I have the time, money, and inclination to experiment
a
> little.
>
> I am thinking of replacing the radiator coolant more often than
recommended,
> like 1.5 years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first, instead of 2 years
or
> every 30,000 miles.
>
> "Ben" <NoSpam@NoSpam.com> wrote
> > I was wondering if one can do perform a do-it-yourself radiator flush on
a
> > 95 civic. I like to do it myself, because, everytime a go to a shop on
a
> > saturday they make me wait for at least an hour, often they ask me to
come
> > back at the end of the day. If i have to wait that long just to pay
> > somebody, i might as well do it myself. Can you share some of your
> > thoughts? Thanks.
>
>

 

I basically do what you've recommended but slightly different. In the
summer--drain using the radiator drain plug. Measure the amount (volume)
that comes out. Fill with water. Drive for a day and then repeat the
process. Do this until the water that comes out of the radiator is
relatively clear. Remember to open the heater a few times during one of the
daily rides to ensure getting the mixed solution out of the heater too.
Knowing the capacity of your cooling system and the volume that drains out
you can calculate how much anti-freeze to put in to ensure the 50-50 mix.
MLD
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:jyuAb.2893$rP6.835@newsread2.news.pas.earthli nk.net...
> If you're at all handy, then a radiator drain, flush, and re-fill is very
> straightforward.
>
> The advantages: Don't have to wait on a shop; you know exactly what was
done;
> you can put in the coolant you think is best; you save money; you'll
probably be
> more careful; you're calling the shots.
>
> Disadvantages: Your hands get dirty. You have to locate someone that will
take
> the old coolant (not a big deal; state laws tend to be supportive). You
have to
> be careful not to leave puddles of coolant (it will kill dogs and cats).
>
> My 1991 Civic's owner's manual has instructions for this. Maybe yours
does, too.
> I would definitely not do this without the manufacturer's instructions.
>
> I think the most common hang-up comes at the step for taking off the
engine
> block drain bolt. A lot of people here, including myself, skip it, because
the
> engine block drain bolt is very tight, it's hard to get to, and the bolt
head
> isn't optimal. (I did get if off once, however. So it's worth a try.) I
just
> drain as much as possible through the radiator drain plug orifice,
instead, then
> fill, idle the car, drain, and refill repeatedly until the drainage runs
clear.
> I calculate how much water remains in the engine block after the last
flush and
> then add undiluted coolant to achieve the right ratio of undiluted coolant
to
> water.
>
> I think the consensus here is to use Honda's own OEM coolant. It costs
more but
> its guaranteed (by folks here, and there's a lot of experience on this) to
> maximize the life of your Civic's water pump. The water pump is
persnickety when
> it comes to coolants.
>
> I myself am experimenting with the Orange Dex stuff, allegedly designed
for
> aluminum engines and imports like Honda, as well as long-life. Thirteen
months
> and all's well. But I have the time, money, and inclination to experiment
a
> little.
>
> I am thinking of replacing the radiator coolant more often than
recommended,
> like 1.5 years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first, instead of 2 years
or
> every 30,000 miles.
>
> "Ben" <NoSpam@NoSpam.com> wrote
> > I was wondering if one can do perform a do-it-yourself radiator flush on
a
> > 95 civic. I like to do it myself, because, everytime a go to a shop on
a
> > saturday they make me wait for at least an hour, often they ask me to
come
> > back at the end of the day. If i have to wait that long just to pay
> > somebody, i might as well do it myself. Can you share some of your
> > thoughts? Thanks.
>
>