So that the engine cooling system does not fail ahead of schedule, it is necessary to carry out preventive work. Such prevention is flushing the system in order to clean it of scale, sand, dirt and other harmful deposits, which accumulate on the radiator grille, inside the tubes, thereby reducing their diameter. If you do not clean the cooling system in a timely manner, you may soon encounter the following: unpleasant consequences:

• , up to complete cessation of work;
• the antifreeze heater may malfunction;
• the water pump may fail;
• The heater inside the car will start to work poorly.

When should the cooling system be flushed?

It is recommended to flush the cooling system at least once a year. This procedure can also be done with your own hands - there is no special science here. Below watch the video “Flushing the cooling system on Renault Logan, Sandero”

What to wash with?

To flush a car's cooling system in a home garage, car owners like to use citric acid and table vinegar (not essence!).

Regular cool water can be washed only with a slight degree of contamination, if there are no traces of scale and rust. You need to understand that clean water, without adding an acidic environment, can only remove ordinary dirt and sand. But if you add acid to water, then such a solution can corrode rust and scale and clean the walls of parts from them.

Thus, how to flush a car’s cooling system will depend on how dirty the system is.

Determining the degree of contamination of the cooling system

You need to drain the coolant and see what color it is and whether it contains rust particles. If the liquid is dark, it means that the contamination is significant, and for washing you need to use acid - citric or acetic. You can buy a special cleaning agent.

If the drained antifreeze or antifreeze is light, without sediment, then you can rinse it with pre-boiled and cooled water.

Flushing the car's cooling system with water

Prepare water for flushing the system: bring it to a boil and let cool to room temperature. You can use distilled water instead of boiled water. First put on rubber gloves to protect the skin of your hands from contact with the toxic liquid.

1. Drain the antifreeze, how to do it in detail.
2. Pour water into the expansion tank in accordance with the usual norm.
3. Start the engine and let it run for 20 minutes at idle speed.
4. Drain the water and look at its color. If the water is cloudy and dirty, then re-rinsing is required. The system must be flushed until the water becomes clear.
5. Fill with new coolant.

Flushing the cooling system with acid

As already mentioned, if there is sediment in the drained antifreeze (antifreeze), the system should be flushed with water with the addition of vinegar or citric acid.

LEMON ACID

1. Prepare a solution at the rate of 100 g of acid per 5 liters of water, this is the optimal proportion.
2. Drain the antifreeze (how to do this - link above).
3. Pour the citric acid solution into the expansion tank.
4. Let the engine warm up and drive for about 2 km. During this time, the solution will warm up to a temperature of at least 70°C, and a reaction will begin to break down rust and scale. The engine must run for at least half an hour.
5. Drain the solution. If necessary, you can rinse again - with a solution with a lower concentration of citric acid than the first time.
6. After washing with an acidic solution, pour it into the tank plain water and rinse the cooling system parts with it to completely remove traces of acid from them.

TABLE VINEGAR

1. Prepare a solution at the rate of half a liter of table vinegar (9%) per 10 liters of water.
2. Drain the antifreeze and pour the solution into the reservoir.
3. Warm up the engine until operating temperature.
4. Turn off the engine and leave the car, with the solution poured into it, standing for at least 8 hours, or even overnight.
5. Drain the solution. If necessary, you can re-rinse.
6. Finally, after draining the vinegar solution, flush the engine cooling system with cool water.

After washing

After flushing is completed, when you have already filled in new coolant, it may turn out that there is air left in the car's cooling system. Read and watch the video separately. After removing air bubbles, all that remains is to add antifreeze to the desired level.

Video: Flushing the cooling system on Renault Logan, Sandero

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June 10, 2018

Overheat car engine happens for many reasons - various malfunctions, pouring low-quality antifreeze, leaks, and so on. On used cars with decent mileage, it often occurs additional problem– banal clogging of narrow ducts and thin radiator tubes. The solution to the problem is relatively simple and does not require large financial costs - you need to flush the engine cooling system. You can do the work yourself, right in your own garage or on the street.

About the causes and consequences of pollution

Motor and elements cooling system new car absolutely clean. Heat exchange in radiators and the engine water jacket is as efficient as possible. Over time, deposits form on the internal surfaces of the channels, impairing the transfer of heat from the coolant. The reasons for the phenomenon are as follows:

• natural oxidation and decomposition of antifreeze;
• pouring untreated water rich in metal oxides (salts) into the system;
• use of low quality antifreeze;
• a crack in the gasket between the main engine block and the cylinder head (cylinder head), through which engine oil penetrates into the cooling channels.

Note. The circulating hot liquid also interacts with gaskets and various sealants, gradually washing away particles of materials. The latter travel through the system and clog the bottlenecks - the radiator honeycombs.

The decomposition process of antifreeze is considered natural and is observed on all cars. The result is sediment in the form of a slippery coating on the inner walls of the pipes and ducts. The phenomenon has virtually no effect on heat transfer until the insulating layer becomes too thick (10–15 years of car operation).

Other reasons arise from improper maintenance vehicle or engine breakdowns. Separately, it is worth mentioning about pouring ordinary water - scale forms when it comes into contact with the cold surface of the heat exchanger tubes. This is a durable heat-insulating coating that often blocks the flow of fluid through the engine cooling radiator.

Clogged coolant pipes cause overheating power unit. Then it’s clear - the wear of the cylinder-piston group accelerates sharply, and the car owner has to repair the engine ahead of schedule.

When to wash?

Removal of contaminants from the engine cooling system is carried out as needed; there is no clearly established regulation. If the machine is properly maintained during operation, and the water jacket and heat exchangers are filled with high-quality antifreeze, then sedimentation and deposit accumulation remains minimal. It will take 8–10 years before such a need arises.

A number of signs indicate that a car's cooling elements are clogged:

• the motor constantly operates at a temperature close to the maximum temperature, the electric fan often turns on;
• after pouring fresh antifreeze, the liquid turns dark brown in just a few hours;
• on inner surface deposits are observed on the filler caps;
• The heat exchanger of the cabin heater warms up the air poorly;
• Antifreeze boils away quickly and has to be topped up frequently.

Note. Symptoms correctly reflect the picture only when the pump and thermostat are in good condition and there are no leaks at the connections.

As a rule, the listed symptoms appear simultaneously, since clogging particles and salts are distributed evenly throughout the system. But first of all, it is the cabin heat exchanger that “overgrows” - its tubes are the thinnest. Simply flushing the radiator is not enough - you need to remove deposits from all channels and components.

Tools used

The simplest and cheapest product - distilled water - is used for the purpose of preventive rinsing during the process of replacing antifreeze. The procedure is extremely simple - the exhausted antifreeze is drained, the cooling network is filled with distillate, after which the engine warms up to operating temperature. The system is then emptied again and filled with new antifreeze fluid.

Prevention gives results in case permanent use– every time you change the coolant. It is impossible to wash off scale that has been deposited for several years with water. For major cleaning experienced drivers use the following means:

• distilled water with the addition of weak acids (citric, acetic);
• the same with the addition of caustic soda or sodium hypochlorite, better known as “Whiteness”;
• factory chemicals for flushing the cooling system, sold in automotive stores.

Factory chemicals are divided into 2 groups - strong and mild cleaning fluids. The choice and application depends on the degree of blockage. The question is - how to determine it? After all, you can’t see the pollution from the outside. Here you should be guided by two signs: deposits on the plug of the main radiator and the efficiency of the stove.

If cabin heater it practically does not heat up or the lower part of the radiator cap is covered with a dirty coating, it is better to flush the system with a strong two-component composition in two stages. The first is made on an acid basis, the second is on an alkaline basis; during cleaning, chemicals are poured in alternately. Otherwise, you can limit yourself to soft washing liquid.

The use of a folk remedy - acidified distillate - saves money and also gives an effect, but takes much longer. It is necessary to allocate from 4 to 7 hours to remove long-term dirt.

Soft cleaning method

To do the work yourself you will need minimum set tools:

• keys for unscrewing drain plugs;
• syringe itself big size which one you can buy;
• container for emptying the motor water jacket;
• protective rubber gloves.

Factory products designed for soft cleaning do not corrode gaskets, sealants and rubber products. In addition, the chemical allows you to save up to 90% of the antifreeze poured in; you will not have to change it after the operation.

An example of a popular chemical of this type is a liquid Russian production“Motoresours”, tested by many car enthusiasts in their own cars.

Flushing is done without removing radiators and other parts of the cooling circuit according to the instructions:

1. On a cold engine, unscrew the main radiator cap or expansion tank. From there, use a syringe to take 200 cm3 of antifreeze.
2. Shake the mixture thoroughly in the bottle and pour it into the open neck. Reinstall the plug.
3. Continue operating the car until you drive 2000 km or see a decrease in the operating temperature of the engine - whichever comes first.
4. Drain all the antifreeze from the warm engine, including from the heater radiator. Let the liquid sit for 2 hours - during this time, sediment will fall to the bottom of the container.
5. Carefully pour 80–90% of the antifreeze back into the cooling system; do not discard the settled sediment. Fill the cooling circuit with fluid to the required level and operate the machine safely.

Reagents from other manufacturers act in a similar way, only some are poured 1–2 thousand km before replacing the coolant. Additional rinsing with distilled water is not required.

How to do a major cleaning?

If the channels are covered from the inside with a thick layer of plaque, soft rinsing the engine cooling system will not give a noticeable result. In such cases, a two-component potent agent and water are used for intermediate cleaning. The application technology is as follows:

1. Empty the cooling circuit. The remaining antifreeze is removed from the stove by blowing it out through one of the pipes.
2. Heat the required volume of distillate, pour it into the motor and add component No. 1. Start the engine and warm it up to operating temperature, let it run for several minutes (the flushing period is indicated on the packaging).
3. Drain the contaminated solution, refill the system with water and warm up the power unit.
4. Remove the water again and fill bottle No. 2 plus distillate. Repeat the flushing operation and empty the system.
5. Do another flush with distilled water to remove any remaining scale from the radiators and engine. Fill the circuit with fresh antifreeze.

Warning! When cleaning the channels of units with strong chemicals, be prepared for leakage of heat exchangers. The reagent will open microcracks covered with dirt, through which antifreeze will leak.

You can wash the radiator, engine and pipes with citric acid or vinegar essence. To a volume of 10 liters, add no more than 100 grams of food “lemon” or a liter bottle of “Whiteness”. You need to understand that such solutions are quite aggressive and can also cause heat exchanger leaks.

The cleaning technology is similar - the old antifreeze is drained and washed with acid and distillate. The difference compared to the factory chemical is poor efficiency. To remove a severe clog, several flushes will be required, so using distilled water in between becomes pointless.

Experienced drivers recommend leaving citric acid in the engine for 1–2 hours after warming up the engine. The goal is to allow the chemical to interact with the scale while the liquid is still warm. If you decide to clean the system with “Beliz” or another strong product, then drain it immediately after treatment and quickly fill the units with water. Be sure to wear a respirator - chlorine vapors are very caustic and harmful to health.

Most manufacturers recommend replacing the coolant and flushing the system at least every two years. If this is not done in time, the engine begins to overheat, which leads to malfunctions, and in some cases even to failure of the power unit.

To prevent such problems from arising, it is necessary to promptly identify the occurrence of contamination of the cooling system.

When is it necessary to flush components?

Before choosing a means for flushing the radiator of the engine cooling system, you need to decide whether the procedure is necessary at all. As mentioned above, cleaning is carried out at least once every two years. But sometimes the need for flushing arises a little more often. Signs of this will include the following symptoms:

1. The engine constantly overheats;
2. The pump does not work well;
3. The engine cooling fan operates at high speed;
4. There are problems with the operation of the stove.
5. If the contamination is severe, the coolant may boil.

If these symptoms appear, the coolant must be drained. Traces of rust, dark color, grease stains are signs that the engine cooling system needs to be flushed urgently.

In this situation, the use of acidic (alkaline) solutions or specialized products will be required.

If the liquid is light in color without signs of serious contamination, you may not need to wash it, or you may limit yourself to using boiled or distilled water.

The engine cooling radiator is clogged: how to clean it

When the need for cleaning has been established, you need to select a product that will be used to flush the system. Here are some of the most popular options.

Flushing the cooling system with water Perhaps the most accessible and inexpensive liquid

For flushing the engine cooling system, use plain water. Of course, it must be purified (it is better to use distilled water, or, if it is not available, boil regular water for 20 minutes).

1. Before washing, you need to prepare the car. This is done like this:
2. The car is placed on a flat surface and left for a while (the engine must be allowed to cool);
3. The hood opens and locks;
4. A container is placed under the radiator to drain the liquid;

Cleaning the units itself is quite simple. First, flushing fluid for the engine cooling system is poured into the radiator. Next, the engine starts (it should run for 15-20 minutes). Now you can drain the water. If it turns out to be cloudy and dirty, you need to repeat the washing (you may need to do this several times).

Acids for flushing the cooling system

When talking about means for flushing the engine cooling system, one cannot fail to mention various acid compounds. Perhaps this is one of the best options cleaning. Exists whole line acids that can be used in a car:

Lemon acid

As you know, citric acid is an excellent solvent. If you need to clean the cooling system, just dilute the substance with water and pour the mixture into the car.

Important! The washing solution should be slightly acidic. Most motorists dissolve citric acid in water at a ratio of 1:50.

This solution works most effectively at a temperature of 60-90°C. Therefore, after filling, the engine is started and warmed up. After some time of operation, the liquid is drained. After this, rinsing with water is carried out (similar to that described above).

By mixing 5 liters of water and 1 kilogram of 36% lactic acid, you can get another effective cleaner engine cooling systems. Before pouring into the machine, the solution is heated to 30-40°C. After the engine has warmed up to operating temperature, the mixture is drained and the cooling system is washed with water.

Whey can be used as lactic acid. Great for cleaning systems domestic cars(for better cleaning, you can drive the car for several hours), but with foreign cars you should be more careful, although many owners have already tried this method and it has not caused any complaints.

Hydrochloric acid

If the question arises about how to effectively flush the engine cooling system, nothing compares to hydrochloric acid. At the same time, for all its effectiveness, it can be extremely dangerous for the performance of the engine. The solution used should contain no more than 2% of this substance.

After cleaning, the washing mixture is drained. Next, as in previous cases, water is poured. During the final rinse, an additive can be added to the water to create a protective film.

Coca Cola

Perhaps one of the most unusual solvents that can be used to flush out scale from an engine cooling system quite effectively is Coca-Cola. This is because the drink contains orthophosphoric acid.

Important! The concentration of carbon dioxide in Coca-Cola is very high, so gases must be removed from the liquid before use. Also, it contains a lot of sugar, which itself can clog the system. To avoid this, you can re-clean with soda.

Alkaline solutions

What better way to flush the engine cooling system than with an alkaline solution? As such a cleaner, you can use soda (baking or caustic).

If after draining the antifreeze there are oily or greasy stains, soda is best suited for cleaning the cooling system. Flushing is carried out in the same way as in previous cases: the solution is poured in instead of coolant, and the car is started for a few minutes. Next, rinsing with distilled water is carried out.

If the choice fell on caustic soda, you need to pay attention to several important points. The mixture is made at a rate of 1:20 (soda is dissolved in distilled water). However, the product is not recommended for cleaning aluminum parts. Ideally, the radiator should be removed before using a cooling system cleaner.

Specialized cleaning composition

Many motorists believe that the best way to flush the engine cooling system is to specialized means. We can really agree with this. If the cooling system is heavily contaminated, many substitute solutions are unlikely to be able to fully clean all components (especially if cleaning a used car is required). In such a situation, it is better to use factory flushing fluids.

The cost of the solution usually does not exceed 100 rubles. The liquid is sold in concentrated form, so it must be diluted with water (the proportions are indicated by the manufacturer). Thus, one package is enough for several procedures at once. The cleaning process is not particularly complicated, so you can do the washing yourself.

Specialized products do not contain aggressive substances that can adversely affect the performance of car parts.

In addition, after using the solution, re-flushing the cooling system is not required.

1. All purchased flushing fluids can be divided into several types:
2. Acidic;
3. Neutral (negative impact on vehicle systems is minimal);
4. Two-component (washing is carried out in two stages).

As with DIY solutions, each type of liquid is better suited to removing a specific type of stain. Many mixtures are simply poured into the tank, after which the motorist does not need to think about cleaning for 1000-2000 kilometers.

The invention and use of antifreeze as a liquid for the car cooling system saved car owners from a number of serious problems. Firstly, when exposed to freezing temperatures, so it is safe to use in winter period, without worrying that not drained liquid will cause damage after freezing serious damage power plant. Secondly, the water contained a large amount of salts, which, after heating, settled as scale in the channels of the system, significantly reducing its performance.

Causes and consequences of cooling system contamination

But still, the use of antifreeze did not completely solve the pollution problem, but only reduced it. Yes, it contains no impurities that can be deposited in the form of scale. But it contains additives that precipitate after the service life has expired, which is why it is recommended to periodically replace the coolant.

In addition, it often happens that a different brand of antifreeze is used as a top-up. Because of this, a conflict between the additives of the two liquids is possible, which also results in the appearance of sediment.

It also happens that there is no antifreeze on hand, and ordinary water is added to the system. And this is a guarantee of scale formation.

And the liquid itself will in any case react with environment, despite additives that prevent this. This will ensure the formation of compounds that usually become precipitates. Do not forget that other substances can get into the antifreeze through leaks. technical fluids, for example, oil.

All this leads to the formation of a significant amount of all kinds of dirt in the channels, which settles on the walls of these channels, and if their cross-section is small, then blockage is possible.

As a result, the thermal operating conditions of the engine are disrupted, since the existing layers of deposits impede heat transfer. Because of this, components and mechanisms operate under conditions of increased temperature stress, which affects their service life.

In addition, the coolant is not able to quickly remove heat, because throughput channels fall due to dirt. And since the pump performance remains the same, the pressure in the system increases, and in some cases it can increase so much that it ruptures the system pipe.

Video: How to CHEAPLY flush the cooling system (using the example of a VAZ 2101)

The problem with channel blockage is also not encouraging. Small-section tubes are available in only two elements of the system - radiators (mainly and the interior heating system). At the same time, their throughput is reduced, which leads to a drop in the efficiency of their work. Due to blockage of some of the channels of the main radiator, the general temperature regime engine temperature increases, and the likelihood of engine overheating increases.

If the radiator of the interior heating system gets clogged, then the stove does not heat well, and traveling in winter without a stove is still a pleasure.

In general, the problem of contamination of the cooling system remains relevant for car owners and they have to deal with it.

Signs of a dirty cooling system

To reduce the likelihood of large amounts of contaminants forming, only fill high-quality antifreeze, use it for topping up, and also replace it in a timely manner. But even this is not able to fully protect against the appearance of dirt in the channels. Therefore, it is also recommended to flush the system using various means.

The main signs that the cooling system is very dirty and requires flushing are:

• after replacement, antifreeze changes color very quickly (it becomes a brown opaque liquid);
• third-party elements are clearly visible in it;
• the temperature of the power plant in a warm state is higher than normal;
• The interior heating system does not heat up.

It is worth noting here that the degree of contamination of the cooling system may vary. These signs appear only when there is severe contamination.

Depending on the degree of contamination, the washing method is selected. For example, if the car is new and you simply decide to flush the system for the sake of prevention during replacement, then it is enough to fill in ordinary distilled water and run it through the system, and then fill in “fresh” antifreeze. This will be quite enough.

Video: Flushing the cooling system.

Conventionally, flushing the cooling system can be divided into incomplete and complete. The first case is applicable for prevention or for moderate pollution. But the full test will have to be carried out if all the indicated signs appear. It should also be carried out if you buy a car at secondary market(after all, it is unknown how the car was previously operated and maintained, so it’s better to be on the safe side).

Engine cooling system flushing products?

Since flushing will be carried out not for prevention, but to remove deposits, you will have to use flushing products.

You can buy them at the car market (for example, “Hi-Gear” cooling system cleaner or others). But you can also use folk remedies. The first case is more preferable, since such a product (if it is not a fake) contains an optimal package of cleaning additives, and if you follow the instructions for use, no troubles will arise. As for folk remedies, then you have to act at your own risk.

The most commonly used folk remedies for flushing the system are:

1. Lemon acid.
2. Whey (product of processing dairy products).
3. Drinks “Coca-Cola”, “Sprite”.

The peculiarity of all these products is that they contain an acid, which, when reacting with deposits, leads to their detachment and removal from the system. With citric acid, everything is clear; the whey contains a weak concentration of lactic acid, and the above drinks contain orthophosphoric acid. As for the latter remedy, it is better to abstain from it, since in addition to acid, drinks also contain other components (the same sugar), and its presence in the system is not desirable.

How to flush the engine cooling system

Flushing the cooling system with moderate contamination is very simple. Let's look at how this is done using the Hi-Gear tool. For washing you will need:

• cleaning agent;
• distilled water (about 20-25 liters for an engine with a 5-liter cooling system);
• new antifreeze.

The washing technology is as follows:

1. Before starting work, you should open the radiator damper of the cooling system (so that the liquid drains completely).
2. Unscrew drain plugs and drain the used antifreeze from the system.
3. Prepare a cleaning solution (add the product to water in the specified proportions).
4. Close the plugs and pour in the prepared solution.
5. We start the engine and let it run at medium speed (2500-3000 rpm) until power point It won't warm up completely.
6. We turn off the engine and drain the solution.
7. We completely fill the system with distillate, start the engine so that the pump drives water through the system. Drain.
8. Repeat rinsing with water 2-3 times. This is necessary in order to wash away the remaining cleaning solution, as well as dirt. Flushing should be done until clean water comes out.
9. Fill in new antifreeze.

All work should be done carefully to avoid burns from the heated drained liquids.

The technology for washing with citric acid and Coca-Cola drinks is no different from that described. But in the first case, it is important to prepare the solution correctly (100 g of acid per 1 liter of water), and ensure that the acid is completely dissolved. When using the drink, no solutions need to be prepared; for flushing, the system is completely filled with Coca-Cola. After this, be sure to flush the cooling system with distilled water several times.

Video: Flushing the cooling system of a VAZ (Maintenance of VAZ 2106)

As for whey, washing with it is carried out somewhat differently. Since the acid concentration in it is small, short-term rinsing with this product will not give any result. Therefore, the system is washed with its help as follows: the system is completely filled with serum and the engine is operated with it as a coolant. After a run of 100-150 km, it is drained, the system is washed with distillate, and then coolant is added.

Flushing the cooling system if it is heavily contaminated

If the contamination is severe, there is a possibility that a large amount of dirt washed away from the walls during flushing can clog the small cross-section channels. And to prevent this from happening, you should do a complete flush.

It boils down to the fact that after using the cleaning agent, it is necessary to remove the radiators from the car and wash them additionally.

That is, we do this:

1. We washed it with the product and ran the distillate through the system.
2. We removed the radiators and washed them inside with a good stream of water (until it comes out clean).
3. Let's put everything in its place.
4. Rinse the system again with distilled water.
5. Fill in new antifreeze.

To avoid severe contamination in the future, preventive flushing should be carried out every time.

The process of periodically cleaning pipes and components of the engine cooling system is called flushing. Essentially, flushing the engine is the same necessary procedure, as well as timely replacement oils and air filters. If you do not flush the cooling system in time, then the next time you replace the coolant, scale and dirt that has accumulated on the tubes will get inside the valves. In this case, during the operation of the car, all the channels in the radiator and pipes will inevitably become clogged. As a result, pump replacement and adjustment may be required. IN worst case you will have to change the entire cooling system.

How does the engine get clogged?

Many car owners are faced with the following situation: coolant that has just been poured into the engine gradually turns black. This is due to the fact that when filling, clean liquid passes through dirty radiator tubes, as a result of which it changes color and simultaneously clogs the remaining clean hoses and pipes of the engine. As a result, engine power drops to 10% and characteristic noise appears in the radiator.

At the same time, you need to understand that the radiator is contaminated not only by dust, but also by specific deposits. The composition and structure of these deposits depends on the coolant used by the driver. In 90% of cases the cooling system is flooded:

• Water. Moreover, some car enthusiasts still pour water directly into the radiator. During the summer months, this leads to the formation of scale on the pipes, which leads to clogging of the entire system. In winter, the water in the radiator turns into ice cubes, which renders the engine unusable.
• Antifreeze. Antifreeze effectively cools the engine (especially in winter time), but after 1-2 months its gradual decomposition begins. Decomposition products enter the inside of the cooling system along with the liquid and clog the pipes.

Causes of insufficient engine cooling

• The appearance of extensive plaque on the inner surface of the walls of the lines and radiator pipes. Plaque on the tubes appears during the oxidation of the coolant under the influence of a constant temperature difference in the engine. Since the deposits that appear in the hoses have low thermal conductivity, the engine does not cool. Heat exchange between the engine and the tubes with liquid is greatly limited, and heat simply does not pass through the resulting layer of scale.
• Contamination of the internal radiator pipes with dust and small metal particles. When dust appears in the cooling system, heat exchange with the engine is completely disrupted. In turn, small metal particles will contribute to rapid overheating of the engine.
• Appearance air lock inside the system. When an air lock forms in the tubes, the coolant cannot fully circulate through all the lines.

Advice: if you notice that the engine is full speed ahead suddenly stalls, the problem probably lies in the engine cooling system.

As a result, if you do not flush the cooling system yourself or at a car service center, in a couple of years you will have to completely replace the engine.

How to properly flush a radiator?

Flushing the engine cooling system is carried out using the following methods:

• Using distilled water;
• Using acidified water;
• By applying special means for flushing cooling systems.

Advice: Choose a specific radiator cleaner depending on the condition of the car. If the tubes are all clogged with scale and it doesn’t even help to get it off, then use special solutions from the store.

When carrying out work with your own hands, a number of requirements must be met:

1. In winter, work should be carried out in a warm garage, and in summer - in the fresh air.
2. Before starting work on cleaning tubes and hoses, you need to drain all antifreeze.
3. If the engine is still hot, it must be allowed to cool completely.
4. The machine must be parked on a level surface.
5. In order to protect your hands from contact with hot engine elements, be sure to wear protective gloves.
6. Before draining old antifreeze, be sure to install a small container under the radiator structure.
7. Remove all drain plugs and begin draining the antifreeze from the engine first, and then drain it from the radiator.

Flushing the engine and radiator with distilled water

The most inexpensive, yet effective method of flushing the system when the tubes are slightly dirty is distilled water. The whole process will consist of 3 stages:

1. It is necessary to pour distilled water directly into the radiator housing.
2. Next, you need to start the car and let it run in idle move within 15-25 minutes.
3. Then be sure to turn off the car and drain all the water from the pipes.

These steps will need to be repeated several times at intervals of 20-30 minutes. Upon completion of work, the water in the cooling system should remain clean. Most often, distilled water is used to flush the engine in a recently purchased car or when there is minimal antifreeze contamination.

Flushing hoses and cooling tubes in the engine with acidified water

If you find traces of scale or decay and corrosion products in the previously drained coolant, then to clean the system the water must be “acidified”. To achieve this task, you will need to prepare a small amount of slightly acidic acid with your own hands. aqueous solution. The liquid contains samples:

• Citric acid;
• Lactic acid;
• Vinegar essence;
• Caustic soda.

The washing procedure consists of the following operations:

• We prepare a slightly acidic solution from the indicated ingredients and pour it into the cooling system.
• We start the engine and leave it running for 15 minutes.
• Next, we turn off the engine and do not drain the fluid from the radiator. In order for all the scale to be removed, the solution must be absorbed into the deposits (this takes several hours).
• Drain the solution acidified water after 2-3 hours and repeat these operations again.

In total, it takes about 5-7 hours to wash the tubes and hoses. Upon completion of work, the remainder of the acidified solution must be removed from the radiator by flushing with distilled water.

Enough to spend on this procedure a day, and you will get rid of scale in the radiator for a long time. However, this method has its drawback - if you add too much acid, it will be absorbed not only into the scale, but also into the hoses themselves. Subsequently, the acid will simply corrode the surface of the rubber and plastic engine components, and they will have to be completely replaced.

Advice: After flushing the cooling system with an acid solution, be sure to check it.

Flushing the radiator and engine using purchased products

Nowadays, modern chemical industry products can effectively remove any scale and dirt that has formed in the engine. As a rule, everything purchased funds conditionally divided into 4 types:

• Acid based products;
• Alkaline and saline solutions;
• Two-component solution;
• Neutral cleaning agents.

Since scale and decomposed antifreeze products appear when the engine cools, the cooling system must be cleaned either only with acid or only with alkalis. Universal remedy does not exist for cleaning, because acidic and alkaline solutions neutralize each other. That is why special purchased solutions are produced either on an acid or alkaline base.

However, there is a so-called two-component flushing solution that acts on the cooling system in 2 stages: first, the engine and radiator are flushed with the first component, then with the help of the second. In turn, neutral solutions are based on the work of catalysts and have a neutral pH. Most neutral radiator cleaning products are produced by the factory as a kind of antifreeze additive or as a special concentrate for coolant.

The peculiarity of using special purchased solutions is the need to pour them into the tank once and not think about the condition of the cooling system for 1000-2000 km. Such products wash out all the above-mentioned contaminants, while dissolving scale and sediment into colloidal states that do not contaminate small radiator tubes and pipes on the engine.

Video: flushing the cooling system