New Guy/ Old Problem With Radiator...Help Please!

[dudatmello]

1st off im new to the site and new to having a bonneville. I love the way the car drives it had one previous owner and now Me. So my problem is the radiator has a leak on the driver side since last friday. I just bought a radiator, t stat, and tank because of the rust and contaminates. Im just wondering because the leak is on the driver side is the engine still getting coolant. after running for 5-10 minutes the hose is hot and easy to squeeze. I don't think that should be happening right?

Also I was thinking of flushing the coolant system without the radiator in, would that be a good Idea?
If So can anyone explain to me the steps.

Thanks in advance.

[2kg4u]

The leak does not affect coolant delivery to the engine, unless the coolant level gets too low in the radiator to the point of starving the system. Heater hoses get easier to squeeze as the engine heats up, but if yours feels too soft to you, replace it. Particularly if you don't know when it was replaced last. Installing a new radiator is a perfect opportunity to replace both rad hoses at minimal additional cost.

Most flush systems require the coolant to flow in a circuit, which requires the rad to be in place. I suppose you could hook a garden hose up to a heater hose with the flush kit you can buy, but I don't know how good a flush you would get.

[dudatmello]

Yeah I was gonna grab some hoses tomorrow morning b4 I start the flush. One more question thats probably been answered before but what are the best steps in flushing. I should probably flush then replace radiator and refill tank?

[2kg4u]

Flushing before you put the rad in makes sense as you won't flush a lot of crap into the rad, but I don't know how well it will work. I would try flushing without the rad, then flush some more with the rad. Stop flushing when the water coming out the filler neck is clean.

[dudatmello]

Okay one more question...what hose do i remove from the tension assembly...Could you please tell me or show me a picture?

[Arrowhead]

For better flushing, I recommend removing the thermostat, stuff rags around a garden hose that's been put into one of the radiator hoses to get a seal established(both disconnected from rad.), flush, flush, flush. Then, switch radiator hoses, repeat.

[dudatmello]

So Arrowhead I can flush the top hose (where the t stat is) out to the bottom hose then go from the bottom hose back to the top again...right? smh I haven't worked on a car in so long i feel like a noob again.

[Arrowhead]

1 in, 1 out & then, reverse, that's how I do it.

[Archon]

This may help.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 15064.html

[dudatmello]

okay ive successfully replaced rad but now the top tran oil cooler connector is leaking...what should i do and how can this affect the car.