As a mechanic congrats on offering a solid video and maintenance of your BMW radiator. Distilled water - yes! And the chemical treatment - optional - yes. I don't recommend "flushing" any system with except what is supposed to be in the system for use. Water for radiator. Oil for crankcase etc. If your radiator does have corrosion take out the radiator and use water but with some pressure to it to help clear the radiator. Or better yet, just get a new radiator. They are not that expensive, and with the new radiator maintain it properly and you won't need to "flush" it with chemicals. You can use tap water to clear the radiator say with a hose, then distilled water to clear the tap water out. thumbs up.
Unless you also drain the block via the block drain plug, I would not use distilled water to ''flush'' the system prior to refill because when you drain the distilled water, you will leave some inside and when you add your coolant mix, the final dilution in the engine will not be accurate !! This is not an issue in warm climate, but up north, this might be an issue when the temperature drops to minus 30 !!! I would just refill without rinsing the system with distilled water, again unless you can drain the system entirely .
Distilled has less minerals and is less acidic. If you flush with a hose you will leave behind some water in the block as I mentioned in the video which will leave behind more impurities, and personally I think the hose pressure could hurt on an old car if it’s to high
definitely grab at least 10 gallons, it will vary per car. As soon as the water coming out is clean your done. If I could go back I would let the car run a little longer after every flush to get more of the old coolant out.
@@MissionmadeAirsoft So, I ended up flushing the system with a garden hose and am actually glad I did because the pressure pushed out debris that looked like it came from corrosion. Got to only clean water coming out of drain but ended up only getting 1 gallon of fresh blend in before the system was full. That tells me its best to not take any short cuts and open the block drain, too.
@@apem0de not usually one to defend BMW on upcharging from OEs but BMW branded coolant is only a couple bucks more than Zerex and I can't really find Zerex in any brick and mortars so it's actually easier to just go to a dealership
As a mechanic congrats on offering a solid video and maintenance of your BMW radiator. Distilled water - yes! And the chemical treatment - optional - yes. I don't recommend "flushing" any system with except what is supposed to be in the system for use. Water for radiator. Oil for crankcase etc. If your radiator does have corrosion take out the radiator and use water but with some pressure to it to help clear the radiator. Or better yet, just get a new radiator. They are not that expensive, and with the new radiator maintain it properly and you won't need to "flush" it with chemicals. You can use tap water to clear the radiator say with a hose, then distilled water to clear the tap water out. thumbs up.
What do you think about the paint job or headlight restoration video?
Thks for sharing this Intel, keep posting and I keep watching 👍👍
Thanks so much for this clear guide. Just did it today on my 85 535i...also with the incorrect green coolant from previous owner. Subscribed!
Amazing e28!!!! I have a 1985 524td with only 59.000 km. Greetings from Italy ;)
Caio strunz! Perché non hai comprato un 535is?? Io vengo da Napoli 😂
Unless you also drain the block via the block drain plug, I would not use distilled water to ''flush'' the system prior to refill because when you drain the distilled water, you will leave some inside and when you add your coolant mix, the final dilution in the engine will not be accurate !! This is not an issue in warm climate, but up north, this might be an issue when the temperature drops to minus 30 !!! I would just refill without rinsing the system with distilled water, again unless you can drain the system entirely .
Great informative video!
Just did the coolant flush on my e28 this weekend and this video was helpful.
@@thrty8street hope everything went good! How many flushes did it take you to get clean water coming out?
Bout to do this to my e30 tomorrow thanks!
Hope this video helped!
What if you flush the system using a water hose instead of distilled water
Distilled has less minerals and is less acidic. If you flush with a hose you will leave behind some water in the block as I mentioned in the video which will leave behind more impurities, and personally I think the hose pressure could hurt on an old car if it’s to high
The coolant reservoir has an opening right next to the cap does a hose go to that?
Should be a vent hose on there.
So how many gallons of distilled water did you end up needing since you flushed it 7 or 8 times? 21-24 gallons??
definitely grab at least 10 gallons, it will vary per car. As soon as the water coming out is clean your done. If I could go back I would let the car run a little longer after every flush to get more of the old coolant out.
@@MissionmadeAirsoft So, I ended up flushing the system with a garden hose and am actually glad I did because the pressure pushed out debris that looked like it came from corrosion. Got to only clean water coming out of drain but ended up only getting 1 gallon of fresh blend in before the system was full. That tells me its best to not take any short cuts and open the block drain, too.
There was no blue coolant when your car was new. It came with green coolant from the factory.
Yup, exact same formula as zerex g-05 but bmw sells it at a premium.
@@apem0de not usually one to defend BMW on upcharging from OEs but BMW branded coolant is only a couple bucks more than Zerex and I can't really find Zerex in any brick and mortars so it's actually easier to just go to a dealership
DON'T ever flush with the chemical treatment !!!! Best way to clog the little passages in the block,,,,
exact reason i ended up not using it