I have never done this on a Gen 2 protege. My girlfriend has a 96 LX with the 1.5L. The coolant is a low in the reservoir and I am not sure if it has ever been flushed. Winter is coming and we take her car around more than my P5, so I wanted to make sure everything is in working order.

Is it safe to remove the radiator drain plug after the engine is completely cooled, let it drain out of the radiator and then put a hose in the the top to let fresh water run through the entire engine? Do I have to have the engine running in order to completely flush it? (Does the water pump not allow water to pass through if it is not running?) Also, do you have to use distilled or cleaner water? Our garden hose facuet thing is filtered and doesn't have a bad color, smell, or taste but I don't want to **** her car up.

Anyone ever done this?

 

well I would not use a garden hose as that can have debris in it that you may not know about ... as for flushing the radiator, you can do that by just running water through the top opening , while letting it exit through the bottom screw , you don't have to have the car running, I really don't bother with that , then I close it up , use distilled water and just fill up the resevoir with a 50/50 or so of water and anti freeze..... and leave the cap off and run the car with the blower off and let it idle till all of the bubles dissapear .
Bruce

 

Thanks dude

Isn't there a need to flush the whole system, including the pump and block, or is it just basically the radiator?

I have only done this on a Probe GT, which is sort of similar to my P5. In that the pump would be sealed (even with the thermostat open)without it running meaning it would not flush out the block of all the old coolant without having the engine running. I didn't know if it is completely needed to get all the old out or not.

Thanks for the help man

 

database may be having issues again

 

Ok, would somebody please tell me where the drain plug is on a '97 1.5L!!!!! Last year i spent a good hour under the car looking for 1 but i could not find 1, so i just siphoned all the liquid out and refilled it...

 

sorry i can't tell where the plug is for the '97 but i can tell you guys what i did with my '87 mustang.

i pretty much did what the installshield said. let the old stuff run out. while plug is open, fill it up again and start engine. keep adding water as needed. wait for the thermostat to open (the engine must reach operating temp) and the water will cycle through the engine thus removing old stuff from it. turn car off. let everything drain out. fill it up with water mixture of anifreeze/water you like. water provides better cooling so if you are in florida you don't need more than 40% antifreeze. probably even less

 

I would suggest to go to Jiffy Lube or another place like that and get it done. It would cost slightly more then $50 bucks, no more then a hundred. It will take about 20 mins and do a complete flush, and put the new coolant in already mixed, and with out air gaps. I used to work in Jiffy, so I have done some of them, and especially this time a year.

 

You paying? I am in college dude

 

Yeah, good call, us college folk can't be spendin money to get our fluids cleaned out....

 

yeah, true, true. why not spend half an hour at home and save the $50-100. not only do you learn more about your car but you also get a great feeling of satisfaction after you are done. btw, i can't believe you said take it too jiffy lube. dude, i would rather be shot by a sniper in dc then take my car there

 

Also remember to use distilled water when mixing coolant. You don't want that hard water from the tap in your engine.

 

Well I WOULD rather got to Jiffy, then get shot by a sniper. But I am in college too, and I have no or the money, because I spend half the regular day in school, and the weekends working. I know it is good that you might learn more about your car. But have you thought of concequences that you might do it wrong? Your engine might sustain some serious damage if you don't do it right, and you will endup spending more money that way. I was only suggesting, guys. Jiffy is not the only that can do it. I only said Jiffy, because I used to work there. Yes, they suck major ***, and no I would not work there again, but I needed quick money, so what? Anyhow, that is my opinion, and suggestion.

 

I am sorry, I have nothing against you or the fact that you worked for jiffy lube. I think I would rather work there too than clean toilets at my local supermarket (yeap, thats what i did through high school and freshman-junior of college, i am a senior now). I just have a problem with jiffy lube. they are horrible. but i agree with you that even though its super easy if somebody is a total moron they might do something wrong while flushing.

 

I have done it before just not on a 1.5L protege, and I wanted to know if there was anything special to do to it, anything to look out for. Thanks for you help men.

 

on the 1.5 L the drain plug is located at the bottom of the radiator ,, I believe it is dead center if not close to it , when you jack up the front of the car and look under there you will see a white plastic plug that you can put a flat head screwdriver in and turn it and the fluid will come out ...
Bruce