- Radiator Flush
Radiator Flush
Protect your engine from heat-related damage as efficiently as possible.
What is a coolant flush?
A coolant flush is another name for radiator flush, a procedure to clean your vehicle’s cooling system of sediment and rust. The coolant keeps your engine from overheating while running, and from freezing in cold weather when it’s not running. The purpose of a radiator flush is to ensure that your coolant system protects your engine as efficiently as possible - and to prevent corrosion in metal engine parts from rust and other contaminants.
How do I flush a radiator?
A radiator flush (or coolant flush) consists of four steps:
- Draining the existing coolant from your vehicle’s radiator.
- Adding new coolant and conditioner to the radiator. The new mixture then circulates through the vehicle's cooling system, loosening any sediment and rust that has built up in the radiator channel.
- Draining the radiator to remove sediment and rust.
- Refilling the radiator channel with a fresh coolant mix (typically water and anti-freeze).
How often should I flush my radiator?
Check your vehicle owner’s manual to see how often your manufacturer recommends a radiator flush for your model. A common radiator flush interval is every 30,000 to 50,000 mile, or every 2 to 5 years.
How long does it take to flush a radiator?
A trained mechanic can perform a radiator flush in about 30 minutes using a commercial coolant flush and fill machine. Without a machine, a radiator flush takes about two hours. You’ll need to allow additional time for any other services performed at the same time, such as radiator leak repair or inspection.
Is a radiator flush necessary?
Depending on your vehicle and your coolant, flushing your radiator on your manufacturer’s recommended schedule ranges from a best practice to a necessity. With modern coolants, flushes likely help the operation of the cooling system and, in any case, do no harm. If enough corrosives build up in your coolant, your metal engine parts can degrade. If enough contaminants build up that your engine freezes, you can end up with irreparable engine damage. And If there are silicates or borates in your coolant, it must be replaced regularly. And in the case of a radiator leak, you will need new coolant after that problem is repaired. A full coolant system flush is convenient at that time.
Your Kia-Certified Roseville Kia technician will visually inspect your coolant fluid and hoses as part of every Roseville Kia Multi-Point Inspection. We’ll let you know whether it’s time for new coolant, or if it can wait.
Roseville Kia Multi-Point Inspection includes visual checks of brakes, battery, air filter, fluids, belts, and hoses.
Directions To Our Dealership in Roseville
Use the directions link below, or call us at 916-297-6741 for directions to Roseville Kia.
Prices listed or MSRP does not include destination and handling fees. All prices are from manufacturer website. Please contact dealer for pricing and availability of any in-stock vehicle.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.