Time for a coolant flush....DIY???

[philndz]

Well im past 30k so its time for a coolant flush and some new coolant. Should I do this myself? Local Walmart has a kit to hook your hose pipe up to the radiator and flush it all out. If i have it done elsewhere then what should i expect to pay?....Dealer wants $130!!!I wont use DEX-COOL, thats for sure!Is the Coolant drain plug easy to get to?

[philndz]

Just found a toyota dealer that will do it for $29.95 on a coupon but the service guy said he would give me the coupon if i didnt have one.Tempting!It's obviously a radiator flush only and not a full engine backwash.....do i need a full engine backwash??

[philndz]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »Just get the radiator flush for now. i think thats what im gonna go with but the dealer would not let me make an appointment....he said that i will have to talk to his manager tomorrow b/c my car is a pontiac.....why do they have to be so picky!?? Its a friggin toyota!!

[engine1]

You should do the whole flush, always better to do the job right the first time. Plus if the fluid in the rad needs to be replaced then it only makes sense that the rest of the fluid needs to filtered, have the pH level checked, and to check the cooling/heating capability of the fluid. To do just a rad flush would be like only changing half the oil in your car! P.S. Go and get it done by a shop, you do not have the capabilty(toolwise) no matter what over the counter 'kit' you find to do it properly. Any shop that does this regularily will have a Recover/Recycle/Recharge machine, if they don't go somewhere else.

[philndz]

well i got the radiator flush done....toyota dealer did it for me for $30.I had to talk to the service manager over the phone first though....he had no idea about the matrix/vibe collaboration. When i told him my engine code was a 1ZZ-FE he just about crapped his pants....hehe!-phil

[joatmon]

$30? That's a great price! I need to get mine done, but won't do it myself because I don't have the set up to catch and recycle all that poison antifreeze mix.