I would like to do it myself. Is there a how to already posted? If not is it pretty much standard like any other car? Or are there things specific to a series 3 I need to know ahead of time? Thanks.

 

Series III XJ6?

Nothing unique about a coolant flush; if you can do a coolant flush on, let's say, a 1965 Mustang, you can do a coolant flush on a Series III XJ6

A V12 Jag would be a different story !

Cheers
DD

 

Never done one before!

cool engine.
Drain radiator
fill with distilled water and cleaner
drive with heat on for ten minutes
let cool
drain water
run engine for a minute or two to get all water out
fill with new green coolant and rust inhibitor sealer
run engine to make sure system is filled up
drive with heater on for ten minutes
check level add more coolant if necessary.

did I leave anything out or put something incorrect in?

 

there is a block drain on the side where the engine oil dipstick is, hidden behind it at the block.

some cars have a spigot there, some have a bolt with a sealing washer.

I always open it to drain the block, then I insert a garden hose into the expansion/filler tank and let it run for a while. Then I close it and add 2 jugs of Prestone Super Flush and fill system with water. All the time with the Heater ON so the flushing gets to the heater matrix. Drive the car around for 20+ minutes then repeat the draining when it cools.

then fill with water only, repeat the driving, repeat the draining. Allow to empty fully.

Run the engine for 2 minutes to fully drain and shut it off. Close block drain and fill with a mix of coolant and water. I use 60% coolant, 40% water. 6 quarts coolant, 4 quarts water.
It takes twice that amount to fully fill the XJ-6 system, so I mix 12 quarts coolant with 8 quarts water.

 

Thanks. Is there a problem using regular water as opposed to distilled?

 

no problem whatsoever. I never bother with distilled water unless it is for a battery.

 

Jaguar maintenance book also says to open the plug at the bottom of the radiator. I’ll be darned if mine has one. Just a straight metal tube with hoses clamped at either end. Weird. I loosened one clamp and jiggled the hose back and forth until coolant and then water stopped coming out. So far I’ve only been able to get 3.5 gallons of coolant/water mix in to the system.

 

As to the water. Some domestic water is better than others as to mineral content. Around here, durn good. Up the road a piece, not so.

The hang up as I see it is what with the flushed water? Just run it n to the ground? guilty for along time. Nt good for the environment. Glycol!!!! Poison to critters...

So, I get it done. fifty bucks. glycol included. Waste safely disposed of, I hope!!!

Carl..

 

Used to just dump it on the ground when I grew up as a kid, didn't know any better.

Now that I have moved to California, I was advised that there are places in town that you can take of to dispose coolant.

 

In '85 or so Jaguar went el-cheapo and eliminated to drain plug to save a few pennies.

Cheers
DD

 

I did it like you guys said for decades. Then I watched so YouTube videos. One in particular by a guy named Chris that has a bunch of good car videos. Just like you said but he recommends re-doing the flush with clear water and save a bit from each flush in a glass. With each successive flush the water got more and more clear. When crystal clear, drain and refill with distilled water, only costs a few dollars. Then drain that, close the drains and add undiluted antifreeze until you get in the the right amount and then top up with distilled water.

Yeah, I agree maybe overkill but heck it's only an hour longer and a couple bucks more. If your like me and you don't get around to changing the antifreeze until it's a couple years late, wouldn't you really rather do it in the best way possible?

Jeff

 

no, not really. Too much coolant is as bad as too little coolant.

It should be pre-mixed to whatever ratio you prefer. Some like 50/50, I prefer 60/40. ( 60% coolant, 40% water ). In other words, in a 10 quart pail, i mix 6 quarts coolant and 4 quarts water. Once that is swallowed, I do a second mix to fill to capacity. Whatever is left over I save for future use.

using distilled water is a personal choice. Not a requirement.

 

Suppose your system holds 4 gallons. But when you pull the plugs only 3 comes out with the other gallon hiding in places like the heater coil, low places etc. So if you pour in 3 gallons of 50/50, the final solution in the radiator is less than that because of that hidden gallon. If you pour in 2 full strength gallons and top up with water you then have a perfect 50/50. Unless you live in Deluth it's probably not a big deal.

 

If it had a gallon of 50/50 sitting in it, and you pour three gallons of 50/50 in it. You are left with 4 gallons of 50/50.

 

if you open the drain at the side of the block, turn the heater TEMP knob to 85, run the engine for 1 minute with drain open, expansion tank cap removed, and a/c in AUTO, you should get around 97% of old coolant forced out by the water pump's impeller action.

sure you cannot get every drop out but you really don't need to.