I'm about to flush and replace coolant and change the oil for the first time on my car (first time for me, not the car...I hope). Any advice before I begin? I was just going to go by the Haynes manual.

Don't swallow anything, I know it looks like thick chocolate milk, and green apple cool aid, but take it from someone who knows, it does NOT taste like it looks.

just remember to recheck the coolant level, the next morning. they usually have to burp



mike

When you flush, open up the block drain.



USE EVANS NPG+

You should flush and drain the block too for the coolant change. I put in one of those Prestone T-fittings and hooked up the hose to flush the entire thing. Check your hoses and thermostat too. Now would be a good time to replace them during the coolant change.



Don't forget to put a new washer on the oil pan drain bolt.....

Damn, I like green apple cool aid.



What's the block drain? Is it called something else?



If evan npg+ is a coolant, I already bought some other kind (don't remember off hand). Is there a severe difference? I mean, I'm in Florida. I might get several freezes, but nothing below 20.



Hoses and thermostat: all the hoses, or certain particular ones? When you say replace the hoses, I look under the hood and say, "damn, there's a lot of freakin hoses down there"



any particular kind of washer? Lock washer, flat washer? one made for oil pans?



I'm going back to disount auto parts to get some of those wheel ramps, I'll pick up anything else you say I need.

just give everything a good once over, are the radiator hoses nice? crunchy? swollen? is there coolant leaking from anywhere? oil leaks? there is a hose under the oil filter, is it really soft and oily?



block drain: it is located in the center housing, there is a long 14mm plug that comes out of the motor mount bracket, on the left side of the motor. you can also follow the oil filler tube down.



the oil drain plug has a copper or aluminum washer on it to prevent leaks, it should be changed once and a awhile.



mike

Distilled water by the way, no tap water.

mike is my mentor

Where the hell am I gonna get distilled water? I gotta buy gallons of that **** from the store? Speaking of which, about how much is it gonna take?