HELP! Question re: FLUSHING

[Cenflamark]

Hello...Iam essentially replacing the thermostat and perhaps the water pump in my E36. My question however is:

When flushing the engine- I know that i take the garden hose to the the top radiator hose (removed from readiator) and flush the block..but...

DO I ALSO STICK THE GARDEN HOSE INTO THE EXPANSION TANK HOSE AS WELL (the hose that goes all the way around to the side of the block)??

I appreciate anyones quick response-Thanks!

[Larry F.]

Mark (maybe?)

Flush everything. I am hoping against hope that you have drained your coolant, through both the drain at the bottom of the radiator, and the 19mm plug in the block right under #5 exhaust, and further that you have collected up the coolant for recycling.

Presuming all that, leave the block plug out when you have the garden hose going into the top of the block, with the expansion tank cap off as well. While that is going on, pull the two hoses to your heater core (on the firewall, and hard to get good clearance on with the intake in the way) and in a separate cycle, flush the core in both directions.

When the water is coming clear out of the block, temporarily screw in the plug, and the water should start coming out of your expansion tank. When that runs clear, turn off the hose, let everything drain out - you want as little tap water in the system as possible. Reinstall the plug (18 ft-lbs is all Bentley suggests) and connect everything back up. I'm sure you will go with BMW coolant and distilled water 50/50, too.

Viola! Flushed.

Hope this isn't too late (you have all day tomorrow, right?)