How much coolant do you put back in after flush?

1998 GMC JIMMY
125,708 MILES • 6 CYL • AUTOMATIC
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ROYCAR71
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I will be doing a coolant flush. My vehicle takes 3 gallons. Do I put back in 3 gallons of coolant plus water in total? or 3 gallons of coolant than add water back up to reservoir?
Jun 15, 2012 at 5:49 PM
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DOCFIXIT
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Not all liquid will drain out of block so system won't take 12qts and that is a 50/50 mix. so usually add antifreeze till full and what is in block dilutes to @50/50 mix. after test to see if protected to -25deg
Jun 15, 2012 at 5:54 PM
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ROYCAR71
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I have a flush tee on my heater inlet hose. I will be doing a backflush than drain out remaining fluids from radiator. Does this method apply?
Jun 15, 2012 at 6:11 PM
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DOCFIXIT
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Yes there will still be water in block
Jun 15, 2012 at 6:13 PM
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ROYCAR71
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Can blow air through inlet hose to push water out?
Jun 15, 2012 at 6:27 PM
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DOCFIXIT
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pull bottom radiator hose that will drain most
Jun 15, 2012 at 6:34 PM
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ROYCAR71
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Thanks.
Jun 15, 2012 at 6:40 PM
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DOCFIXIT
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How did it go?
Jun 16, 2012 at 8:39 PM
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ROYCAR71
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I had to do 2 vehicles. A GMC Jimmy and Ford expedition. I could not remove drain plug from GMC jimmy so I removed lower radiator hose but ford was easy to remove. After draining, I previously had a prestone backflush kit installed on both vehicle heater inlet lines and used a garden hose flushed water through them until i saw clear water. Then drained radiator again. Then i add some prestone "flush" and added water back up to reservoir full line and ran engine for 15 minutes. I flush again and added just water ran engine for another 15 minutes. Lastly, I flushed and added just about 1.5 gallons for gmc jimmy and 2.5 gallons for Ford expedition coolant. I let engines run for about 30 minutes with cap off reservoir to let system bleed out air and add just coolant. As you said earlier, it would not take full capacity because of diluted water in block. Both vehicles run good sofar. Thanks.
Jun 17, 2012 at 5:50 AM
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DOCFIXIT
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good job that is how it is done bleeding out air VERY important
Jun 17, 2012 at 6:29 PM
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