Cooling system flush
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 153
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From: San Diego, CA
2013 Altima, 2011 E550
Cooling system flush
Too many rookie mistakes on my part lately. Need to focus.
Filled power steering fluid, overfilled.
Used turkey-baster type tool (designed for battery acid) and extracted some power steering fluid.
Was also low on coolant so I filled that.
Realized I may have overfilled coolant also (don't see any lines on the reservoir).
Used the same fluid extractor to remove some coolant.
Not realizing that would contaminate the coolant.
Now I'm concerned I need to do a full coolant flush.
Could be as little las a few drops of contamination, could be as much as half a teaspoon (I hope not)
Drove the car home (1.5 miles) instead of trying to extract all contamination.
Is this the full procedure?
Filled power steering fluid, overfilled.
Used turkey-baster type tool (designed for battery acid) and extracted some power steering fluid.
Was also low on coolant so I filled that.
Realized I may have overfilled coolant also (don't see any lines on the reservoir).
Used the same fluid extractor to remove some coolant.
Not realizing that would contaminate the coolant.
Now I'm concerned I need to do a full coolant flush.
Could be as little las a few drops of contamination, could be as much as half a teaspoon (I hope not)
Drove the car home (1.5 miles) instead of trying to extract all contamination.
Is this the full procedure?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 153
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, CA
2013 Altima, 2011 E550
Thank you!!
Ok. I might drain and refill the radiator for good measure and leave the heater block and engine block as they are.
Was reading up about this and everybody seems to think that the oil-based power steering fluid will break down the gaskets in the cooling system.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2023
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From: San Diego, CA
2013 Altima, 2011 E550
91,500 ish
Coolant, I have no idea. It's a darker shade of blue but you can still see the blue. I'm not sure what previous maintenance was and was not done by the previous owner (s)
Part of the reason I'm totally down to do a drain and refill, or even a flush if it's not a pain in the butt to drain the heater core and engine block.
Coolant, I have no idea. It's a darker shade of blue but you can still see the blue. I'm not sure what previous maintenance was and was not done by the previous owner (s)
Part of the reason I'm totally down to do a drain and refill, or even a flush if it's not a pain in the butt to drain the heater core and engine block.
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
It sounds like you're already convinced you're going to do it.
Do it. Just make sure to use the correct coolant and put the right amount in the right hole.
It'll be worth the peace of mind if nothing else.
Do it. Just make sure to use the correct coolant and put the right amount in the right hole.
It'll be worth the peace of mind if nothing else.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2023
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From: San Diego, CA
2013 Altima, 2011 E550
I just don't want to cause seals, gaskets, etc. To fail in the long-term.
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From: San Diego, CA
2013 Altima, 2011 E550
If I just hear a few of you old heads say that it's totally fine I'll feel okay about it.
Last edited by mgiara; Dec 28, 2024 at 09:05 PM.
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19 GLA45, 86 560SL, former: 14 E550 4Matic, 09 E350 4Matic, 83 240D manual, 78 450SLC, 81 500SLC
13 years and almost 100k miles, you should purge it and refill it anyway. And while you're at it, replace the coolant reservoir. It has some dissolving anti-corrosion media inside that will break free from it's mesh bag eventually and clog your cooling passages.
Thread Starter
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From: San Diego, CA
2013 Altima, 2011 E550
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 153
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, CA
2013 Altima, 2011 E550
Safe to drive for a week?
Drain engine block and heater core too or just radiator?
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
I'd treat it like a transmission drain/fill. Pull the lower radiator hose and drain what comes out. Make sure you put the same amount back in; ;it can be a PITA to burp the system.
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19 GLA45, 86 560SL, former: 14 E550 4Matic, 09 E350 4Matic, 83 240D manual, 78 450SLC, 81 500SLC
