Toyota Corolla Flushing Tips
Car Repair Advice on Flushing a 1999 Corolla Engine
Your questions answered about a 1999 Toyota Corolla and engine flushing.
This weekly Q&A session answers your questions about cars and trucks. This week explores a 1999 Toyota Corolla.
Question: Toyota Corolla Flushing
I just read about Motor Power Bleeder. Is that necessary? I am thinking about flushing the engine. About a month ago, I put in half of a small container of engine cleaner in the coolant part in front. I could not find a way to take the antifreeze, cleaner or debris out of the front of the engine. You said in your article that a car never needs a flushing and I was worried that because I put in some cleaner, and I may have clogged a valve with debris. The car runs the same. It's a 1999 Toyota Corolla, Please advise.
Kathleen DeSantis
Answer:
Putting a flushing agent into the cooling system is not too bad. You can drain it out, fill it with water, run the engine for about 15 minutes and drain the water out. Then you can fill it with fresh coolant and you should be okay. There are 2 coolant drains, 1 in the lower left-hand corner of the radiator on the engine side, and another on the block below the intake manifold, between the engine and firewall. The coolant does not interact with the valve train so there are no worries there.
If you have been doing regular oil and oil filter changes then there is no need for an engine flush. Any engine that has oil and oil filter changes done every 3,000 miles or so will never need an engine flush, regardless of the mileage.
Engine flushes push a heated cleaner back against the normal flow of oil and there is a good chance of the oil passages getting clogged up and large chunks of debris getting into the crankshaft main bearings and connecting rod bearings. This will lead to catastrophic engine damage and is very expensive to repair or replace the engine.
GM and every other auto manufacturers have never recommended or endorsed engine, or transmission, flushes and several have issued technical service bulletins specifically advising against it. Stating that any flush service will void the Powertrain warranty.
So, in short, regular oil and oil filter changes every 3,000 miles and regular transmission oil and transmission filter changes every 30,000 miles is the best thing you can do for your vehicle.
That's all for this week. Feel free to browse the archives for past topics and other resources. And, as always, if you are stuck and need an immediate answer you can always call Vince on the phone.
