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Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
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| | | | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 241 | I just installed a new radiator and thermostat in my truck. The cooling system was flushed before I pulled the old one out. Would it be OK to run tap water through the system to test for leaks than draining it before filling it with anti-freeze?
This is my first radiator install. Hopefully the last.
Thanks.
Mark
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,747 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,747 | Water works just fine for a leak test and to see if the thermostat is good. Just drain it out when you are done. It will freeze. Water is my choice just because it won't hurt the environment if it does leak and...it is cheap. But don't forget to drain it out when the test run is over. Antifreeze will help protect the water pump and it it is better at heat transfer than plain water. Also will provide some corrosion protection with the different materials encountered. Did I mention the thing about freezing? Yes use water just don't forget to drain and replace. 
Steve H
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 241 | Thanks Steve. I appreciate it. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | Unless you remove the block drain plug(s), you won't get all the water out, so mix the coolant a little strong on antifreeze when you refill the system. A stovebolt six has a block drain on the driver's side near the back, and the V-8's have one on each side, centered in the block just above the oil pan rail. You might have to poke a wire into the hole in the block to clear the sediment away if the block hasn't been detail-cleaned recently.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 241 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 241 | | | |
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