coolant flushing question

[gadams]

I took my D2 in for an oil change and asked the mechanic to flush the coolant for the 30K service (not at the dealer). When I came back, he said that he had called LR who told him that the disco cannot be flushed, you can only disconnect the lower radiator hose, drain and refill. My mechanic bowed out of that as his labor costs would have been higher than the "power flush" method. My question is, why can't this engine be "power flushed?" If I can't do that, can I at least drain the system, hook one of those Prestone flushing Tee's in the heater hose and flush through the Tee with a garden hose? Is there something I am missing here? FYI, my mechanic felt bad about not completing the service and gave me the oil change for free.

 

[alex]

You can flush it if you want, but after 100K you'll probably need a new radiator anyway, so why bother. just drain the coolant by disconnecting the lower hose, button it back up and refill it.

 

[gadams]

I guess I just like clean fluids

Greg

 

[deltadude388]

You can flush it if you want, but after 100K you'll probably need a new radiator anyway, so why bother. just drain the coolant by disconnecting the lower hose, button it back up and refill it.

I am just curious, why would one need a new radiator at/around 100K miles if the coolant is constantly flushed and maintained at 30K intervals?

just curious....

 

[93Disco]

Me too,
Why would one need a new radiator at/around 100K miles.
My D1 has clocked up over 20030, kilometres with the same radiator.

 

[jmoore]

Part of the problem has to do with having an aluminum block. I'm not a chemist but they cause what ever coolant you use to muck up over time.

 

[KEJ]

You would also want as complete a flush as possible when changing to low-tox coolant. My personal crusade....

KJ

 

[gadams]

Yeah, that ethylene glycol is pretty tasty/nasty stuff. Always dispose of accordingly.

Greg

 

[driven]

Should I convert my 96 Disco over to the "new" orange coolant. I heard somewhere that is supposed to be better for AL block engines. Is this true? I have to repair/replace a leaking radiator @ 116K miles.

 

[alex]

Maybe LR improved the rads with the DIIs, but the original Discos suffer from irreprably blocked radiators after a few years. The only real solution is to replace or recore. Doesn't happen to everyone but it is very common.

 

[scrover]

FWIW I think it's more important to mix using distilled water than to worry about which particular brand of coolant is better. For as often as we change it (not very) it's easier for me to just use one of the new 50/50 pre-mixed coolants, and it's only a few bucks more for the convenience and purity. I used Prestone 50/50 last time round.

Not sure about the DII but my 4.2 has two block plugs at the lower rear that are used to drain the block completely.

BTW, my radiator clogged at about 80k (before I started using distilled water )

SC

 

[jmoore]

Daniel,

I would suggest Dex-cool (orange stuff) in your Disco. That's what LR uses for newer D2's. The distilled water is also a good recommendation. Like I said in my earlier post, I'm not a chemist, but I think the aluminum block causes the coolant to become acidic over time.