Radiator Flush - Petcock Won't Flow

[lanesharon]

This is the darndest thing I have seen on a vehicle. The petcock for draining the radiator is on the lower, driver side, back of the radiator. It is open all the way to shut it off?? That's the way it was when I found it.

When I turn it the other way, it flows in a drip, instead of a flow. If I turn it all the way in, it keeps dripping. If I turn it all the way out, it stops the flow.

I am trying to drain the radiator and having two problems. Obviously the petcock, but I am ready to pull the lower hose and get a bucket. The next is that the only manual I have for this thing is actually for the Ram truck. In that manual, there is an engine block petcock to drain the coolant from the block. I cannot find this anywhere on my van. Does someone know where it might be?

[Dodgevanman]

Sounds like the bottom of the radiator is clogged up with debris restricting the flow out the petcock.

The block drains are going to be in the same location as the pickup. Probably will be a plug rather than a petcock.

[BigBlackB250]

HEY SOUNDS LIKE WHAT I WILL BE DOING i had the same problem with that thingy too lol have fun they tell me all sortsa stuff the ones on the block

[lanesharon]

I didn't even try to get the block ones off. It took me a day to find them. LOL And I certainly couldn't crack them. So, I decided to just keep flushing with distilled water. Took 3 days of flushing, cooling, flushing, etc.. Finally got it pretty clean today and filled it up. When I get home to NY this summer, I will have a friend of mine crack those block drains so that next time I can get them myself. Everything on this van is almost glued shut.

Tomorrow, I am going to just relax. I hope everyone has a great Easter.

[Psyclone]

It may have been more effiecient to flush with regular water till it was clean then flush the clean water out with distilled water.

[lanesharon]

There was so much lime deposit in it, from the previous owner, that there was a kind of sludge everywhere. The water here is really bad.

I used two chemical flushes. I used garden hose water after the first, and distilled water after the second. Each water rinse took several sessions, warming up the engine in between. Eventually, I got rid of about 70% of the old deposits. That's the best I could do. Hopefully, the next time around will give me another chance.

I didn't change the thermostat. It's working fine, so I am going to wait until I get back to NY to all of my tools. Then, I will change the stat and the drive belt. Both need to be replaced, soon.

[Dodgevanman]

Your van is proof as to why distilled water has to be used and regular cooling system maintanence should be done. Glad you were able to get the junk out of the system. Did you flush your heater core as well?

One way that I have done to flush the block, is to remove the thermostat and lower hose from the radiator. Then you stick the garden hose down into the thermostat opening and flush the mess out the lower hose.

[lanesharon]

One way that I have done to flush the block, is to remove the thermostat and lower hose from the radiator. Then you stick the garden hose down into the thermostat opening and flush the mess out the lower hose.
That is a whole lot easier on your older models. This 2000 B1500 has absolutely no room anywhere. To remove the thermostat, you have to remove the alternator (now called generator), the supporting bracket for it, and the drive belt. I will wait to do all of this when I get back to NY and have all my tools. :drivingz:

[Dodgevanman]

Oh yes I know this. I just did intake manifold gaskets, plenum gasket, valve cover gaskets, thermostat, radiator, and water pump on my '94 last June. I know all about working on the Magnum engines in a van. Verrrry tight indeed.

I had busted knuckles for a week! LOL!

[BigBlackB250]

Hey i never thought of it till now but.... where exactly would the thermostat be on an older model, say a 85' 318 engine?????

[B-300]

Under the flange on the intake manifold were the upper hose connects... Same place as a magnum engine.
--B-300--

[BigBlackB250]

thats kinda hard to get to aint it

[B-300]

It is a bit buried. You could remove the heater hose that connects to the intake manifold to provide a way to flush the system instead... It maybe easier to remove the end at the heater control valve.
--B-300--

[BigBlackB250]

Alright i have gotten 50 different ways to flush a coolant system Can yall do me a big favor and alot of others im sure to i want a balance of simplicity and eficeincy or however you spell it, i thought the easiest way was to remove top and bottom hose but because of the thermostat im guessing it wont work

[Dodgevanman]

I you don't want to fool with the thermostat, then as B-300 said you can splice into one of the heater hoses. The parts stores sell flushing kits, that include a T-fitting to allow you to flush the system easily.

[B-300]

You can use the kit Nate pictured, but rather than cutting a heater hose remove them both from the heater core and connect the kit and flush the engine and radiator 1st... This will keep the sedimint out of the heater core and allow you to flush the heater core with a hose from both connections to help remove sedimint.
Also the plastic in the hose adaptor isn't automotive grade and will eventually break... I have seen a few broken in the salvage yard with blown engines.
--B-300--

[BigBlackB250]

thanks so imma do this option disconnect the heater hose from the easiest end, flush it out the bottom hose this sound correct i know im givin yall a headache with this im just not tryin to botch this. So the heater core flushing is easy its that big black box that says air conditioning or am i wrong i also failed to mention they cut and crimped a a metal tube that goes around the engine to the passenger side from dog house view looks like it might have something to do with it all

[BigBlackB250]

im lookin at this thing online that looks like that tee thing looks like whats in my van plus its is where its been cut off!

[Dodgevanman]

Does this metal tube go around the back of the engine to the passenger side? Sounds like this is an emissions tube...totally unrelated to the cooling system.


Get this manual too. You're gonna need it you plan on doing your own maintanence.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Ram-Van-Wagon-factory-service-manual-1985_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34217QQihZ019QQite mZ290103659917QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[BigBlackB250]

Um i dunno if its emmisions its a black tube that goes around the back yes and it is crimped and cut at three spots the one that was supposed to connect to a rubber hose then one that goes i dont know where but it branches of like a t along with the other end and is there another way to obtain the almight manual lol

[lanesharon]

I got a Haynes manual that was sent to me today, for the wrong year vans. It is for 71 - 96. If you tell me exactly what parts you are trying to find, I will try to find photos or illustrations that match and mark them up for you.

[lanesharon]

Maybe this will help your guys to guide him a little.

[BigBlackB250]

actually that will help alot you think you could like get a shot of the whole engine from inside cuz what you pointed out is to the thermostat trying to find heater hoses and a pic of heater core hoses and what nots heck id buy the manual from you lol if i could!

[lanesharon]

I was going to send the manual back to the guy who sold it to me by advertising it incorrectly. But I have to pay return postage, which means I lose my original shipping charge and the return. I paid $5 plus shipping. It can be shipped media mail. I live in Arizona. So, if you think it is worth your while, let me know.

I wish I had an older van to take digital pics and let you look see, but mine is much newer. If you have a digital camera and want to show a pic of what you are talking about, I can help you understand how to crop it, etc.. Or, you can send it to me in an email or mail and I will get it on here for you. Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. I, personally, like visuals.