The waterpump is at the bottom of the serpentine belt. It is spinning anytime the engine is on. You're waiting for the thermostat to open, sending coolant through the block.
If you drain and refill with water 3 times then add 50/50 you'll end up with a less than 50/50 mixture. When you drain the radiator, you don't get ALL the coolant out of the system. You only get what's in the radiator.There's still coolant, or water after flushing 3 times, in the heater hoses, the engine block, rear heater core, etc. After draining and refilling with water 3 or 4 times, refill with FULL STRENGTH antifreeze. It will mix with the water that was left in the block and hoses to give you roughly a 50/50 mixture. Use 50/50 when adding to it if low or you were to have a hose blow out and need to refill.
Here's what we used to do back in the old days, first you put in a brand new thermostat, remove the bottom radiator hose from the radiator and let it drain then reconnect the bottom radiator hose to the radiator, fill the radiator with a 50/50 coolant mixture, start the car and put the heat on full blast let it run until the thermostat opens up you'll know the thermostat is open when you see the coolant circulating through the radiator, keep adding coolant until you stop seeing air bubbles and keep filling it until the radiator is completely filled and then put the radiator cap back on, it's called a partial flush and you do it every 6 months it's the same as doing a full flush once a year and a lot easier.
Your vid helped a lot. As a flushing solution I used 1 galon of vinegar plus distilled water. Ran the engine for about an hour and drained again. Nasty stuff came out. Then filled out with 100% coolant 4L and the balance with distilled water, about 3L. Running good!
Note to viewers: If you know exactly how to flush a radiator, skip this video. If you know all about radiators and the flushing process, skip to 4:08. If you're completely new to the process and unfamiliar with a radiator, watch the whole thing because I made this for you.
If someone knows how to flush a radiator,,, then they are not seeing this video... which means they won't see your comment to skip this video. Lol some people!
@@OliveSawyer2869 I get comments from people that tell me I'm doing things all wrong, and I my question is always "why are you watching this?" So my comment is for them.
Awesome video sir! When I did this I got about 6.6 liters of fluid from each drain and my system holds 12.6 total. So I figure each drain and refill only replaces about 52% of the original volume. The first change removes 6.6 liters of the original 50/50 antifreeze. The second change removes another half and leaves about 3.3 liters of the original antifreeze mix. The third change takes it down to 1.65 liters of original old antifreeze. And if you do a fourth change you're still left with 0.825 liters of the original dirty antifreeze (but it's a diminishing return on investment and must be why you only do 3 changes). I tried to open the cylinder drain plug to be able to get more out (located close to oil filter on engine block) but it was too hard to crack open and not a lot of room to work with the hex key it requires. I also thought about taking off the lower hose from engine and trying to vacuum it out with a shop vac, but, I too lazy.
I have a 2008 and can't you use a garden hose/tap water to flush the radiator out with the prestone cleaner then use distilled water at the end wit the antifreeze unless it's diluted antifreeze?
...except the engine block holds about half of all the coolant so you did a "half flush" since you din't drain the block. Even more you left at least 25% of the "flushing chemicals" in there since you didn't drain the block. The coolant system holds 16 quarts. (The waterpump is always on, it "activates" when you start the vehicle and de-activates when you turn it off....)
So I got a new radiator last year. Before that my old radiator leaked and I used stop leak on that. But just now my 05 dodge caravan was spewing out coolant.. I waited until the next day to open the silver cap. And a lot of gunk was around the cap? I'm guessing it's that damn stop leak stayed inside when I got the new radiator. I guess the safest thing to do is flush the coolant?
Yes. But like I said, you should look at the fill levels a couple of times in the days after you're through so that the levels all stabilize and then you can top up.
I have a 94 plymouth grand voyager I put new radatior fan and thermostat init and it still loses water out the reservoir it boiling hot can u tell me what going on with it..THANK you
What year is your caravan. Mine is 2011+. Engine layout seems very similar. Is the drain plug at the same place? At the bottom in front of the battery and tipm on the driver side?
You just have a measure of old coolant in the system that gets mixed with the new coolant. I'm sure there is also some chemical deposits in the system that the flush goes after. It's not like your new coolant is wrecked, just not 100%.
did my '05 Grand Caravan with the 3.3 V6 yesterday (identical to your '06) and the radiator drained just under 6 qts. and the recovery tank or what some old schoolers call the "puke jug" holds 2 qts if filled to the max line. The whole system holds 16.3 qts if it has rear heat, so the radiator and recovery tank is right at half the total capacity. Is that way on most vehicles I think, or at least the ones I have done previously. My '99 Accord is the same way. Total capacity is just under 6 qts, radiator drained just under 3 quarts.
Thanks. I don't have rear heat so it's 13.4 quarts or 12.6L in mine.I added another gallon of full strength coolant this morning actually because as you said, the 50/50 I put in was evaporating quickly. Nice tip and I annotated the video with this info.
Doug Brown if you ever have to change the water pump, be sure and watch my video on having to lower the engine just a little to get the water pump pulley off. I struggled and struggled then I finally googled it and learned you have to lower the engine to get the pulley off. It sits so close to the frame there's no way get it off without doing that.
Jim Jordan OATS radiator fluid purple. Do not add to the existing fluid which is pinkish. You need to flush your system and then add the purple oats fluid
It's okay to "sweater" the hose, it doesn't actually break loose any dirt. I do this all the time when I flush any car's coolant system at my shop. But sweaters do make the hoses look more stylish :)
cubs,champions,2016,same,as this,man,that,show,me on,this video,yo do my flush,and.refill,on my 2008 caravan,i save.my self,$89,with,taxes,,thanks,,amigo,jesus cristo,give you more,years,life,😉
Doug Brown supposedly Chrysler engines are prone to rust and the HOAT or G5 coolant have neutralized organic acids that protect internal components from rusting....but you must flush all incompatible antifreeze out first or they will react to each other and gel.
I've learned that most people who seek help prefer details and appreciate the explanation. My audience tends to lack confidence which I try to give them by being thorough. You're not one one of those people and I hope you acquire the gift of tolerance.
I'm getting a Jeff Goldblum vibe off of this guy. Little too much information up front. Let's get to the meat and potatoes Jeff. I don't need the complete breakdown on how the radiator works for some future civilization if they ever find an intact Grand Caravan.
The waterpump is at the bottom of the serpentine belt. It is spinning anytime the engine is on. You're waiting for the thermostat to open, sending coolant through the block.
If you drain and refill with water 3 times then add 50/50 you'll end up with a less than 50/50 mixture. When you drain the radiator, you don't get ALL the coolant out of the system. You only get what's in the radiator.There's still coolant, or water after flushing 3 times, in the heater hoses, the engine block, rear heater core, etc. After draining and refilling with water 3 or 4 times, refill with FULL STRENGTH antifreeze. It will mix with the water that was left in the block and hoses to give you roughly a 50/50 mixture. Use 50/50 when adding to it if low or you were to have a hose blow out and need to refill.
Okay, thanks for that and I hope viewers take note.
Here's what we used to do back in the old days, first you put in a brand new thermostat, remove the bottom radiator hose from the radiator and let it drain then reconnect the bottom radiator hose to the radiator, fill the radiator with a 50/50 coolant mixture, start the car and put the heat on full blast let it run until the thermostat opens up you'll know the thermostat is open when you see the coolant circulating through the radiator, keep adding coolant until you stop seeing air bubbles and keep filling it until the radiator is completely filled and then put the radiator cap back on, it's called a partial flush and you do it every 6 months it's the same as doing a full flush once a year and a lot easier.
Would you please do a video, it would be very helpful to everyone.
Your vid helped a lot. As a flushing solution I used 1 galon of vinegar plus distilled water. Ran the engine for about an hour and drained again. Nasty stuff came out. Then filled out with 100% coolant 4L and the balance with distilled water, about 3L. Running good!
Thanks for posting this video. I flushed my radiator just like you instructed and everything seems fine with my Dodge Caravan now. Thanks again!!
Glad to have helped you out.
Note to viewers: If you know exactly how to flush a radiator, skip this video. If you know all about radiators and the flushing process, skip to 4:08. If you're completely new to the process and unfamiliar with a radiator, watch the whole thing because I made this for you.
If someone knows how to flush a radiator,,, then they are not seeing this video... which means they won't see your comment to skip this video. Lol some people!
@@OliveSawyer2869 I get comments from people that tell me I'm doing things all wrong, and I my question is always "why are you watching this?" So my comment is for them.
Awesome video sir! When I did this I got about 6.6 liters of fluid from each drain and my system holds 12.6 total. So I figure each drain and refill only replaces about 52% of the original volume. The first change removes 6.6 liters of the original 50/50 antifreeze. The second change removes another half and leaves about 3.3 liters of the original antifreeze mix. The third change takes it down to 1.65 liters of original old antifreeze. And if you do a fourth change you're still left with 0.825 liters of the original dirty antifreeze (but it's a diminishing return on investment and must be why you only do 3 changes). I tried to open the cylinder drain plug to be able to get more out (located close to oil filter on engine block) but it was too hard to crack open and not a lot of room to work with the hex key it requires. I also thought about taking off the lower hose from engine and trying to vacuum it out with a shop vac, but, I too lazy.
I have a 2008 and can't you use a garden hose/tap water to flush the radiator out with the prestone cleaner then use distilled water at the end wit the antifreeze unless it's diluted antifreeze?
...except the engine block holds about half of all the coolant so you did a "half flush" since you din't drain the block. Even more you left at least 25% of the "flushing chemicals" in there since you didn't drain the block. The coolant system holds 16 quarts. (The waterpump is always on, it "activates" when you start the vehicle and de-activates when you turn it off....)
Blammm! Check out #chrisfixit he's thorough. It's cool tho, always learning! thanx 4 the heads up.
Oh yea, maybe you have the 3.6L ???? LOL
hi, I have oil in my radiator, is flushing going to solve the problem, please?
So I got a new radiator last year. Before that my old radiator leaked and I used stop leak on that. But just now my 05 dodge caravan was spewing out coolant.. I waited until the next day to open the silver cap. And a lot of gunk was around the cap? I'm guessing it's that damn stop leak stayed inside when I got the new radiator. I guess the safest thing to do is flush the coolant?
I have a old 96 caravan I can't get the radiator plug back in?
What about the reservoir tank? Should'nt it get filled to the mark?
Yes. But like I said, you should look at the fill levels a couple of times in the days after you're through so that the levels all stabilize and then you can top up.
Doug Brown I can't seem to get my overflow bottle to empty when draining system
I have a 94 plymouth grand voyager I put new radatior fan and thermostat init and it still loses water out the reservoir it boiling hot can u tell me what going on with it..THANK you
What year is your caravan. Mine is 2011+. Engine layout seems very similar. Is the drain plug at the same place? At the bottom in front of the battery and tipm on the driver side?
Yes, that's correct. I haven't had this van for about 5 years now but it was a 2007.
Like your video and saw its important to run the heater to flush the whole system. 😁
Yes, lots of coolant in there
What’s going to happen if I don’t flush before putting in coolant
You just have a measure of old coolant in the system that gets mixed with the new coolant. I'm sure there is also some chemical deposits in the system that the flush goes after. It's not like your new coolant is wrecked, just not 100%.
If I asked for a step by step process would you? I need my van for work. If I can learn to do this I would be very grateful.
sure
What year is the Dodge Grand Caravan?
2007
did my '05 Grand Caravan with the 3.3 V6 yesterday (identical to your '06) and the radiator drained just under 6 qts. and the recovery tank or what some old schoolers call the "puke jug" holds 2 qts if filled to the max line. The whole system holds 16.3 qts if it has rear heat, so the radiator and recovery tank is right at half the total capacity. Is that way on most vehicles I think, or at least the ones I have done previously. My '99 Accord is the same way. Total capacity is just under 6 qts, radiator drained just under 3 quarts.
Thanks. I don't have rear heat so it's 13.4 quarts or 12.6L in mine.I added another gallon of full strength coolant this morning actually because as you said, the 50/50 I put in was evaporating quickly. Nice tip and I annotated the video with this info.
Doug Brown if you ever have to change the water pump, be sure and watch my video on having to lower the engine just a little to get the water pump pulley off. I struggled and struggled then I finally googled it and learned you have to lower the engine to get the pulley off. It sits so close to the frame there's no way get it off without doing that.
Todd Savage OK, will do. Thanks for letting me know.
I see this is an older model is it the same process in a 2009 dodge caravan se?
Not exactly sure if the engineering is 100% the same, but I'm quite sure the process is fine.
About how much would this cost at the mechanic?
Everything is always a couple hundred dollars
I keep asking for dodge grand caravan 2012 and 2007 keeps showing up. Are they the same or something?
me too. No videos of newer Caravans being flushed. Maybe I should make one.
R Graham what kind of coolant does 2013 take?
Its same process look for the draing plug its right around the radiaotor or its usually under
Jim Jordan OATS radiator fluid purple. Do not add to the existing fluid which is pinkish. You need to flush your system and then add the purple oats fluid
If I am just putting coolant in the caravan, do I put it in the overflow area or the radiator?
Better to put it right into the radiator. That way you know exactly how full the system is, which you can't do by filling the overflow.
Thank you!
From watching other videos after filling through the radiator to the top also fill your over flow container too for extra coolant to the proper level.
Very helpful video. Thx!
The water pump is alway moving. It's the thermostat need Time to open, don't sweater the hose your breaking loose dirt
It's okay to "sweater" the hose, it doesn't actually break loose any dirt. I do this all the time when I flush any car's coolant system at my shop. But sweaters do make the hoses look more stylish :)
Thanks u my friend u explained it well
Thank you.
I'm not looking forward to having to do it on my 2005 but it is what it is. Hhe
cubs,champions,2016,same,as this,man,that,show,me on,this video,yo do my flush,and.refill,on my 2008 caravan,i save.my self,$89,with,taxes,,thanks,,amigo,jesus cristo,give you more,years,life,😉
Going through all that expensive water then you use wrong antifreeze..supposed to be HOAT or G5....
Right on. I wasn't aware, thanks.
Doug Brown supposedly Chrysler engines are prone to rust and the HOAT or G5 coolant have neutralized organic acids that protect internal components from rusting....but you must flush all incompatible antifreeze out first or they will react to each other and gel.
Got no coolant flow or pressure
I think your water pump is broken then
frome,chicago,ill )(gracias,For your,videos
M Bro, yes and you can see the thermostat in action here:
ruclips.net/video/dOGDdxaAots/видео.html
Lmaooo what year was the doge bro sheesh
2007
You took 10 mins to explain what should take 5 minutes
I've learned that most people who seek help prefer details and appreciate the explanation. My audience tends to lack confidence which I try to give them by being thorough. You're not one one of those people and I hope you acquire the gift of tolerance.
Lol Doug
Louis CK ?
How to ramble endlessly.
I do it well, thank you
Skip to four minutes to not waste your time on the long winded part.
Unless you've never done a radiator flush before of course. If this is the case, you should probably watch the intro.
I'm getting a Jeff Goldblum vibe off of this guy. Little too much information up front. Let's get to the meat and potatoes Jeff. I don't need the complete breakdown on how the radiator works for some future civilization if they ever find an intact Grand Caravan.