The antifreeze (also known as coolant) in your 2005 Toyota Tundra circulates through the water pump, cylinder head and radiator to keep the engine cool. Along the way, it picks up rust and other contaminants in the system, which can make the antifreeze less effective. If you don't want to go through the hassle of a full coolant flush, draining out the old coolant and changing it with new coolant can certainly improve the cooling system's functionality.
Instructions
- 1
Allow the engine to cool for several hours prior to working on the cooling system. It's preferable to wait overnight if possible, but alternately, at least 5 hours. Then place a drain pan underneath the radiator, just below the petcock at the base.
2Loosen the petcock on the radiator using your hands and allow the coolant to drain out of the engine. Open the radiator cap using your hands.
3Loosen the hose clamps on the upper and lower radiator hoses using the flathead screwdriver. Then pull off each hose and drain the coolant into the drain pan. Reattach the radiator hoses with the hose clamps.
4Pour the 50-50 pre-diluted coolant into the top of the radiator until the radiator is full. Once it is, reinstall the coolant cap and turn on the truck. Turn on the interior heat to the high position and let the truck run for 10 minutes. Then recheck the coolant level and add more coolant as necessary.
