Need Help Flushing Coolant

[Reedtech]

I wanted to know what all could and or needs to be flushed on an 89 jeep comanche thats been sitting for 6 years. What fluids need replacing that sort of thing, I just want to make sure when She's ready to start, everything is good to go.

 

I also need to know how to do it, pictures and video would be a great help, as well as any diagram. Thanks very much, I hope to get some work done on it tomorrow.

[Minuit]

After 6 years of non-use, every single fluid should be replaced. You could get away with oil and coolant as a start, but eventually everything needs to be switched out once you have it running. Oil, trans fluid (what transmission do you have?), coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and differential fluid. If you really want to be technical, windshield washer fluid. Everything that's made of rubber or carries fluids needs to be inspected and checked carefully for leaks, particularly brake lines, fuel lines and radiator hoses. That's just a quick starting point. It's late. If someone hasn't got you what you need tomorrow I'll get you some information.

 

The more information (pics are welcome too) you give us about your truck, the better the help you'll get.

 

Source: my truck sat for roughly 8 years. Getting a vehicle back to running shape after that long is a PITA but it's worth it. :thumbsup:

[Strokermjcomanche]

My advice would be to go get a cheap Haynes / Chilton manual they aren't the greatest manual but they'll give you the info you'll need to get all your fluids changed /flushed . If you wanna go a better route buy a shop manual .

[Jeep Driver]

If it were me............

 

 

I'd consider the overall condition and information from the previous owner.......did the truck run? did it not run when parked? Why? or Why not?

 

 

Secondly, if the truck ran.......

 

I'd pull the fuel tank and clean it, reinstall, disconnect fuel line from injector/carb, fresh fuel (1-2 gallons) and run the line out into a bucket until clear.

Reinstall the fuel line.

 

See if engine fires......if so.......do not run.....just see if it turns over and fires.

If so......change oil and filter.

 

 

Radiator/coolant........

 

Start engine, open petcock and let existing coolant begin to run out. Insert garden hose at radiator neck, turn on water beyond a drip......1-2 gallons per minute.

Let engine run at idle for 20 minutes or so, allow coolant to cycle several times.

 

At this point you can close radiator and run a flush if you like......if water is clear.........I probably would not.

 

 

Begin again with about 6 gallons of distilled water.......allow to cycle several times.......flushing out the city water for distilled water.

 

Drain radiator, add 1 gallon anti-freeze, top off with distilled.

 

Allow cooling system to pressurize, check for leaks. Check to insure that system is functioning and engine stays cool at idle.

[Reedtech]

After 6 years of non-use, every single fluid should be replaced. You could get away with oil and coolant as a start, but eventually everything needs to be switched out once you have it running. Oil, trans fluid (what transmission do you have?), coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and differential fluid. If you really want to be technical, windshield washer fluid. Everything that's made of rubber or carries fluids needs to be inspected and checked carefully for leaks, particularly brake lines, fuel lines and radiator hoses. That's just a quick starting point. It's late. If someone hasn't got you what you need tomorrow I'll get you some information.

 

The more information (pics are welcome too) you give us about your truck, the better the help you'll get.

 

Source: my truck sat for roughly 8 years. Getting a vehicle back to running shape after that long is a PITA but it's worth it. :thumbsup:

Thanks that's a start! here are some pics.

 

My advice would be to go get a cheap Haynes / Chilton manual they aren't the greatest manual but they'll give you the info you'll need to get all your fluids changed /flushed . If you wanna go a better route buy a shop manual .

Oh yeah, couldn't have got this far without one, ill look into a shop manual tho. Thanks!

If it were me............

 

 

I'd consider the overall condition and information from the previous owner.......did the truck run? did it not run when parked? Why? or Why not?

 

 

Secondly, if the truck ran.......

 

I'd pull the fuel tank and clean it, reinstall, disconnect fuel line from injector/carb, fresh fuel (1-2 gallons) and run the line out into a bucket until clear.

Reinstall the fuel line.

 

See if engine fires......if so.......do not run.....just see if it turns over and fires.

If so......change oil and filter.

 

 

Radiator/coolant........

 

Start engine, open petcock and let existing coolant begin to run out. Insert garden hose at radiator neck, turn on water beyond a drip......1-2 gallons per minute.

Let engine run at idle for 20 minutes or so, allow coolant to cycle several times.

 

At this point you can close radiator and run a flush if you like......if water is clear.........I probably would not.

 

 

Begin again with about 6 gallons of distilled water.......allow to cycle several times.......flushing out the city water for distilled water.

 

Drain radiator, add 1 gallon anti-freeze, top off with distilled.

 

Allow cooling system to pressurize, check for leaks. Check to insure that system is functioning and engine stays cool at idle.

The truck was my moms, it ran great until the alternator went out, and no one replaced it until I moved back to FL and started rebuilding the Jeep, inspecting and replacing old stuff, like hoses ect.. I actually have a project thread here. http://comancheclub.com/topic/41707-my-89-comanche-project/ I will have to add that to my sig I guess.  Where is the petcock and where on the radiator neck do I add the hose. Can you MS paint circle the stuff in my pics for me please? Thanks everyone for your input!

[Jeep Driver]

Standing in front of the engine, the white bottle on the firewall to your left is the pressure bottle, where you would fill the radiator with coolant. Your radiator has no fill neck.

 

 

What I would do........

 

Pull the radiator out, flush with water, flush from both ends, turn it upside down......whatever it takes to get the residue out.

 

Stuff a water hose into the lower hose leading to the water pump, use a rag to somewhat seal the hose to the radiator hose. Keep your hands out of the belt, have someone start the engine.......use the water from the garden hose to force flush the engine block.

 

 

That's what I'd do......have done.........somewhat unconventional......but then..........

 

 

Every radiator has a petcock on the bottom........nothing more than a drain valve, you can't miss it.

[Reedtech]

Standing in front of the engine, the white bottle on the firewall to your left is the pressure bottle, where you would fill the radiator with coolant. Your radiator has no fill neck.

 

 

What I would do........

 

Pull the radiator out, flush with water, flush from both ends, turn it upside down......whatever it takes to get the residue out.

 

Stuff a water hose into the lower hose leading to the water pump, use a rag to somewhat seal the hose to the radiator hose. Keep your hands out of the belt, have someone start the engine.......use the water from the garden hose to force flush the engine block.

 

 

That's what I'd do......have done.........somewhat unconventional......but then..........

 

 

Every radiator has a petcock on the bottom........nothing more than a drain valve, you can't miss it.

you have been very helpful, I'll put this advice to the test tomorrow before work, although flushing the engine will have to wait until I get a new alternator and battery.