How do you flush the radiator for a 2002 Chevy S-10?

Answer

For normal maintenance:

Buy the following:

• 2 gallons of distilled water $1
• 2 gallons of antifreeze $20
• Prestone Flush 'N Fill kit $3
• Prestone Radiator "Flush" $3

Turn your heater on and leave it on for the entire process

Drain the antifreeze from the system.

Install the "T" from the Flush 'N Fill kit and follow the directions that came with it.

Disconnect the water hose, close all the drains, add the Prestone Flush, fill with water, get engine up to operating temperature and run for 20 minutes, allow to cool then, drain the system.

Connect your water hose to the Flush 'N Fill "T" and flush one more time. Drain.

Fill the system with a 50/50 mix* of antifreeze and distilled water. Continue to fill the system over the next few days as the air is worked out of the system.

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For clogged, neglicted, or extremely dirty systems:

Buy the following:

• 2 gallons of distilled water $1
• 2 gallons of antifreeze $20
• Prestone Flush 'N Fill kit $3
• Prestone Radiator "cleaner" not "flush" $4

NOTE - If you can find them, the two part acid flush and neutralizer kits work much better than the Prestone Cleaner. Substitute for the Prestone Cleaner and follow the instructions on the package.*

Turn your heater on and leave it on for the entire process

Drain the antifreeze from the system.

Install the "T" from the Flush 'N Fill kit and follow the directions that came with it.

Disconnect the water hose, close all the drains, add the Prestone Cleaner, fill with water, run the engine 3-6 hours (you can leave it in for a few days if neccessary), drain the system.

Connect your water hose to the Flush 'N Fill "T" and flush one more time. Drain.

Fill the system with a 50/50 mix* of antifreeze and distilled water. Continue to fill the system over the next few days as the air is worked out of the system.

• When you do your final drain and fill....not all the water will come out so to get the proper 50/50 mix you should add the right amount of straight antifreeze then top off with the distilled water.

First answer by Blazee. Last edit by Blazee. Contributor trust: 228 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 87 [recommend question]