Hey guys!

Long story short, the heat exchanger blew on my '03 MCS and I'm a little over my head with the repair.

Already have the part/o-rings/etc, car disassembled, but I need some help in the theoretical department.

First of all, how the do you get the top right T30 screw out? I cannot fit any t30 bit driving tool in that area so that the bit lines up square inside the screw. Do i need a stubby bit driver?

Now for the part I'm really not qualified for.

The cooling system is chock full of this fulminated oil gunk, how do I clean it out? I removed the tank, upper hose, and radiator from the car entirely and then connected the radiator to my garden hose until it rinsed clean in both directions, but what do I do about the rest of the system that's attached to the car that I can't just wash out? Should I run some kind of radiator-friendly detergent through the radiator? I'm just scared that I won't be diligent enough when washing the gunk out and break my water pump or something.

 

They do sell products meant to flush/clean radiators and cooling systems. Check the local auto parts store. They also sell some fittings so you can temporary hook your hose up and flush hose water through. Amazon sells them if the local shops don't. The minerals in hose water aren't good for your engine, so do your best to remove the hose water and replace with deionized water before filling with proper deionized water - coolant mixture. Avoid normally detergent. Foaming will kill your water pump...

 

I recently picked up a small screwdriver set with torx bits. It has a flexible extension which you can twist into almost any direction. Or just look for the flexible extension at Sears, or Harbor Freight or similar.


Regards,
Jerry

 

Had to go with a universal joint instead of the flexible one, as the heat exchanger bolt was seated pretty firmly. Got it off though!

Has anyone actually flushed the system themselves due to heat exchanger failure? How specifically did you guys do it?

 

Bump, which parts other than the radiator & hoses do I need to put water pressure through to clean out?

Has anybody actually done this themselves? I can't afford a shop to.