How to Drain & Replace Car Radiator Water Yourself at Home

As a car owner, of course, we want our vehicle to be usable for a long time. If so, a good cooling system or radiator is a must. By replacing it, the durability of the engine will be well maintained. So, how do you drain the car radiator water?

Basically, the car's cooling system is designed to keep the engine from overheating while working.

To prevent the engine from overheating, engine coolant and radiator fluid are used. The function of radiator water also helps to dissipate heat from the coolant that passes through the engine block.

However, this engine coolant must be replaced and flushed to protect the engine gasket and safeguard the cooling system from corrosion.

Signs That Radiator Water Needs to Be Replaced

So that we don't miss the time to replace the radiator water, we need to know when to drain the radiator water.

There are several signs that radiator water needs to be replaced immediately, for example, when it has exceeded the mileage. Cars certainly have a standard mileage and must be serviced periodically.

You might be wondering, how many km to drain and replace the car radiator water? Usually, every use 80,000 km or every 6 months.

If the car has exceeded the recommended mileage, the radiator water must be replaced immediately. Other signs that radiator water needs to be replaced include the radiator water turning brown, dirty, or cloudy.

Overheating can also be another sign. When the radiator water is no longer good, the engine can overheat. The engine will get hot and eventually produce smoke from the hood.

Easy Ways to Drain Car Radiator Water Yourself

How do you drain the car radiator water? The method is very easy and simple. You can do it yourself at home. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Locate the Radiator Component

The first step is to remove the radiator component. The way to remove the car radiator water is very easy.

Lift the hood of the vehicle and then look for a flat metal area at the front. This is the location of the radiator.

Then, look for a round cap made of metal that points towards the radiator.

You should also pay attention to the label “radiator coolant” or similar wording above it.

Once you find it, note the location of the cap because you will later add fluid to it.

2. Start Draining the Radiator

To start draining the radiator, you need to crawl under the vehicle and then look for a valve and a large-diameter rubber hose. This hose will connect to the radiator.

Prepare a container to be used for draining the radiator water, then move the pot under the valve or hose clamp. Then, open the valve and loosen the clamp.

Let the radiator drain for about 10 minutes until only drops of engine coolant remain.

3. Clean the Radiator Using Water

After cleaning is complete, the next step in draining the car radiator water is to tighten the clamp that holds the hose in place and close the drain valve, if your vehicle has one.

Then remove the radiator cap and pour mineral water into the radiator until full.

Replace the cap and start the vehicle. Let the vehicle run for about 15 minutes.

This activity will allow water to flow into the engine, then flush out dirt along with the leftover cloudy radiator water.

4. Add New Coolant

If the cleaning is complete, you can check the manual to see how much coolant the radiator needs, open the radiator cap, then place a funnel into the inlet and add coolant.

Check the tank and add coolant until the level reaches the service line.

Then start the vehicle for a few minutes and check for any leaks.

If you are afraid you cannot follow the steps to drain the car radiator water above, you can take the vehicle directly to an official workshop or Daihatsu dealer. Here, the car will undergo several checks, so the cleaning can be done optimally.

Additionally, you don't have to worry about waiting in line for a long time, as you can make a service booking, allowing you to schedule your arrival according to the service queue.