I'm wanting to do the coolant separation tomorrow if possible.

1. Do I need to replace the coolant, or should I reuse what's there? I have about 18k miles.
2. If I should replace the coolant, what kind is the best current coolant to use)?
3. It seems obvious that the coolant would all come out when I take off and replace the hoses. Should I drain it all first (and if so, what's the best method?) or just put a large pan under the car, and then take off the hose and aim both sides ... or should I try to plug the hoses with a screw or something right away?
4. Do autoparts stores take and dispose of old coolant?

thanks for any help

 

1 and 2. if you have the means sure change out the coolant. the blue oem coolant is nto available outside of the factory, we use prestone mixes with any coolant and distilled water.

3. stuff an old towel under the hose and be ready to stuff your thumb in when you pull the hose off, close the valve on the kit and use it to your advantage so you wont need 3 hands. i can do it with only loosing about a cup worth of coolant which gets caught by the towel. once kti is installed open both valves before you check the level and top off the fluid (or drop the old and refill with all new).

4. yes, well call your local auto parts shop to confirm but they do around here.
call me if you get stuck tomorrow

 

you need a hoat type of coolant, bill. try some zerex g50 but i prefer to use the m/b coolant. and mix my own with distilled water

 

Iam a MAJOR backer of the idea to FLUSH the system after you open it up. Id suggest draining then adding prestone fast flush, then filling with hose water. Warm, drive per the label and then drain when cooled enough to open the petcock.

Try this, drain in a clean pan and SEE what gunk comes out of a factory radiator system. Its worth a photo.

Flush flush and then drain well. Add antifreeze and distilled water to avoid the minerals. Enjoy Woody

Be sure to burp the hoses for air also.

 

+1 woody! a great idea when the system is apart

 

I just recently did mine and I sucked the coolant out of the overflow and it was a piece of cake. Swapped the hose and done. I changed my coolant last year so I was good there. I then topped it off with distilled in the overflow and good to go.

 

just checking ... when the handle that you can turn is "inline" with the rest of the hose, then the hose is open (with coolant able to pass through) right?

So in the NW pictures:
NeedsWings Intercooler Fluid Isolation Kit

the pic at the bottom is "open" and the pic above that is "closed" off?

I'm pretty sure I checked beforehand, but maybe I only checked one of them (the larger diameter hose)

 

bill the pics appear to be open on both hoses

 

with the ***** parrallel to the hoses they are open, when they are perpendicular to the hoses they are closed. they should both be open or closed when on the car, there is no good scenario to have one open and one closed at any time.

 

i was thinking of geting the NeedsWings Intercooler Fluid Isolation Kit but idk whats ther verdict?

 

You're correct about those photos. Krazy just didn't scroll down to the lower photos.