sunday i'm will be replacing the cooling system hoses. i figured that i'd flush the system while i'm at it. i've read the FAQ's on flushing, but i don't quite understand it and since i'm in an apartment, i don't think i have the facilities for that type procedure. here's my questions:

what parts shop radiator flush product is best???
i won't be able to get volvo coolant, so i will be at the mercy of the parts shop. what's the better coolant i can find there???

thanks in advance,

Bubba
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just call me Bubba

The Volvo blue-green is fine, but other formulas are fine too. The yellow kind.

If you want to use red long life, then you have to flush. If not, you don't.

I wouldn't bother with flushing UNLESS you are convinced you have some sort of a blockage problem. Most of the cars I see with severe blockage have had excessive amounts of Bars Leaks or some such product added to the cooling system.

Usually, if you drain the block and the radiator with the heater core open to the system, you will get a good majority of the fluid out of the system. That's typically good enough for a few more years of trouble free operation.
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Chris Herbst, near Chicago, IL. 93 940, 91 240, 90 240, 88 740, 87 240

Use preston and distilled water. Since you are in an apartment, you may just want to just run some water through the radiator.

Bubba, buy the orange dexcool stuff and use distilled water. That combo works great for me. The stuff lasts longer.

Start by turning heater full blast, shut off car, Remove cap, loosen drain cock (found under exhaust manifold, near passenger compartment, looks kinda like a spark plug, sort of...). Then remove hoses, insert garden hose into every open hole and flush like there's no tomorrow. You'll see clear water coming from drain cock. wait till it all drains out, put hoses back on, tighten drain cock, mix coolant and h2o 50/50 and fill it up. add about a gallon and then start it up with heat full blast and keep filling.