How to Flush and Fill a Radiator on a Dodge Grand Caravan, by The Eclectic Handyman on YouTube. 16 min 45 s.
- Video length
- 16 min 45 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on a level surface and let the engine cool completely. Never open the radiator cap or reservoir cap while the engine is hot.
Raise the front of the van on ramps or jack stands so the radiator is the high point. Check your owner's manual for the correct coolant type and capacity.
Place a drain pan under the radiator petcock, open the valve and let the old coolant drain out. Close the valve when it stops.
Pour radiator cleaner and distilled water into the system, run the engine to operating temperature with the heater on full, then let it cool and drain again.
Flush with distilled water until the drained water runs clear, then drain fully and close the petcock.
Mix the concentrated antifreeze with distilled water at the ratio on the bottle, usually 50/50, and fill the radiator and reservoir to the marks.
Fit the spill-free funnel to the radiator neck, add coolant to the funnel and run the engine until the thermostat opens and bubbles stop rising.
For manual burping, run the engine with the cap off and the heater on hot, squeezing the upper radiator hose until no more bubbles appear.
Top up the radiator and reservoir to the full marks, fit a new radiator cap and take a short drive. Recheck the level once the engine is cold.
Tips and common mistakes
Used coolant is toxic, so pour it into a sealed container and take it to a recycling centre or auto parts store.
Use distilled water, not tap water, to mix coolant and to flush the system.
Air pockets can cause overheating, so run the heater on full hot during bleeding and recheck the level after the first drive.
Replace the radiator cap if the rubber seal looks worn, since a weak cap stops the system holding pressure.
Questions
How much coolant does a Grand Caravan 3.6L take?
Check your owner's manual for the exact capacity, since it varies by model year and options. Buy enough concentrate to mix a full fill plus a little spare.
Do I have to use a spill-free funnel?
No. You can burp the system manually with the cap off and the heater on hot. The funnel just makes it easier to see bubbles and keep the level up.
How do I know all the air is out?
The heater blows hot, the upper hose gets hot and firm, and the coolant level stops dropping after a drive. Recheck when the engine is cold.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
