Best way to drain/change the coolant?

[wu11ie]

As above, I've tried searching but I can't find anything.

The coolant, if you can call it that, is the most horrible gunky colour you've ever seen and it REALLY needs changed.

What's the best way to drain it?,

My plan was to run it up to temp and take the return pipe off and feed it into a bucket whilst having a hose in the tank with a constant flow until the return pipe water runs clear, BUT........


would this work, and which pipe is the return pipe?

Thanks in advance :)

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[MG ZS STE]

do the same thing but with the bleed screw removed. are you bothered about catching it?

[wu11ie]

do the same thing but with the bleed screw removed. are you bothered about catching it?
If I could it would be ideal but I'm on the driveway so I can hose it away if I can't.

Where is the bleed screw?

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[MG ZS STE]

Is it a 180? if so bleed screw on the right hand side of the engine on the big hose coming off the thermostat.

I have flushed through using a hose before but i have heard others prefer to use distilled water.

[wu11ie]

Is it a 180? if so bleed screw on the right hand side of the engine on the big hose coming off the thermostat.

I have flushed through using a hose before but i have heard others prefer to use distilled water.
I wish! Lol, mines a baby 1.6 (110 I think).

I won't be leaving the water in I'll be draining the clean water out and replacing it with fresh coolant, I just want to try and clear out as much of the horrible stuff as possible.

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[MG ZS STE]

Not 100% when it comes to k series but found this

http://forums.mg-rover.org/mg-zr-rover-25-200-streetwise-101/correct-k-series-coolant-bleeding-procedure-486931/

[JOHNDQ]

If you coolant is in that condition to do it properly you will need to remove the thermostat. When you drain the coolant by removing the bottom hose it doesn't drain the coolant out of the engine block or heater so when u refill and run the car up it will all just mix again

[wu11ie]

If you coolant is in that condition to do it properly you will need to remove the thermostat. When you drain the coolant by removing the bottom hose it doesn't drain the coolant out of the engine block or heater so when u refill and run the car up it will all just mix again
That's what I mean, I want to remove the return hose and just run the car till the water is clear or mostly clear to make sure all the rubbish is out before I put in new coolant. If the car is running from cold the thermostat should open as the clean water is running through so it should clean some of it out.

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[JOHNDQ]

Trouble is the thermostat wont open till 88 degrees, I your putting cold water back in then it wont ever open. Maybe try flushing though the system with a hose, run it up, drain it and do that again when drain it again should get more less all of it I guess. Obviously don't put cold water into a hot engine

[wu11ie]

Trouble is the thermostat wont open till 88 degrees, I your putting cold water back in then it wont ever open. Maybe try flushing though the system with a hose, run it up, drain it and do that again when drain it again should get more less all of it I guess. Obviously don't put cold water into a hot engine
Yeah that makes sense, I could just do it over the course of a few days, fill it and empty it till it runs clear.

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[talkingcars]

Take the thermostat out?

[JOHNDQ]

Take the thermostat out?

Want to flush though the block or not :p to be fair I may have mis-read the original message as was having a cheeky look at work (phones are banned in workshop) I thought he meant the HG had gone and got oil/water mix. Either way if you wanted to flush though the engine correctly is easier to remove the stat or housing which is easy on the ZS than it is to remove the water pump :thumbsup:

[Rockey5uk2001]

Its worth noting catch the coolant and dispose of it properly.

Its toxic to cats and dogs and cats will lick it beacuse to them it smells and tastes sweet

[talkingcars]

Take the thermostat out?Want to flush though the block or not :p to be fair I may have mis-read the original message as was having a cheeky look at work (phones are banned in workshop) I thought he meant the HG had gone and got oil/water mix. Either way if you wanted to flush though the engine correctly is easier to remove the stat or housing which is easy on the ZS than it is to remove the water pump :thumbsup:

The conversation has lead to a suggestion to empty the system and refill with clean water, and drive the car to run it through to get the thermostat to open and fully flush the system and then do this several times.

Popping the thermostat out on the K4 is reasonably straight forward and the option I would take.

[JOHNDQ]

The conversation has lead to a suggestion to empty the system and refill with clean water, and drive the car to run it through to get the thermostat to open and fully flush the system and then do this several times.

Popping the thermostat out on the K4 is reasonably straight forward and the option I would take.

I agree this is the best option but if you are not to good with cars it is a bit tricky to do the stat with the intake on. Plus bear in mind you might find any of the o rings split or expand with you remove it all if you don't have spares might run into trouble

[mattyprice4004]

Personally, I go for the 'drain it and fill with water' approach - and add some rad flush too.
Run it for 10-15 miles, then drop it all back out and fill with proper coolant. :)