Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix (1st generation), Toyota Corolla complete coolant flush

We purchased a used Vibe several years ago. Without knowing the vehicle's history we decided to do all the major maintenance items that may have not been completed in this nine year old vehicle.

Coolant is a touchy subject on the Pontiac Vibe forums. The engine is a Toyota engine and comes with Toyota red coolant from the factory. Unfortunately the Vibe's owners manual say to use orange DexCool - standard GM fare. The two are not compatible. Query DexCool in your favorite search engine and you're bound to find it nickamed "DeathCool!"

I had a shop flush the system and they used a Shell universal coolant. I believe it was yellow.

Five years have passed and it's time for a flush again. When I pulled some coolant from the radiator there were black floaters in there!  This doesn't need flushed - it needs SUPER FLUSHED!

Note: This is what I did with my vehicle for documentation purposes. I'm not responsible for your vehicle or your safety.

Applicable Vehicles (1ZZ-FE engine)
2003 - 2008 Pontiac Vibe (base)
2003 - 2008 Toyota Matrix (standard and XR)
2003 - 2008 Toyota Corolla (CE,S, LE)

Materials
Cooling system cleaner
4 gallons distilled water
2 gallons concentrated coolant (not 50/50 fix)
Optional:Hydrometer to measure coolant effectiveness
Time: This process took me an afternoon to complete

Materials for the job

Coolant choice: I'd recommend using the Toyota recommended concentrated coolant. I didn't because I wasn't sure that I would get the system 100% clean. I used a brand claiming to be compatible with all coolant types.

Tools
Funnel for adding coolant that will fit radiator neck
Drain pan to catch drained coolant (minimum 6 quart capacity)

The capacity of the cooling system is 6.9 quarts. Draining the radiator will eliminate half. The idea is to remove all the coolant and replace with distilled water. This will take several cycles through the process. Once we do our final drain we will add concentrated coolant. This will net a 50/50 ratio.

NOTE: Only do these steps on a cold engine! You do not want to get burned by the coolant or vehicle parts.
ANOTHER NOTE: Coolant is deadly! Do not store it where kids can get access to it. Clean up any spills. It will kill any animal that drinks it.
YET ANOTHER NOTE:Coolant spilled on paint will discolor or remove it. Keep some water and a towel nearby just in case.

Drain Procedure

• Place your drain pan under the radiator drain hole. Below is an action shot showing coolant dripping from the radiator. If you are in front of the car facing the engine it will be located on the extreme right side of the radiator.

Drain location under vehicle

• Find and turn the drain cock valve. From above the radiator you can reach the valve with your hand. It is on the back right side. It should be finger tight and not require any tools. You don't need to remove it totally. Coolant should start draining from bottom of the radiator. Note: Should it break and you can't loosen it, you can remove the lower radiator hose.

Location of the drain cock from above

Drain cock removed

• Let it drain. It may take a good ten minutes. Many recommend removing the radiator cap to speed the process. I prefer to leave it on so suction will drain the coolant overflow tank.

• After ten minutes, open the radiator cap.

Left up arrow: radiator cap
Down arrow: overflow hose connection point
Right up arrow: Overflow tank fill location

• Once the coolant slows to a drip, tighten the drain cock with your fingers. No tools!

• If there is coolant in the overflow tank you'll need to drain it. Pull the hose off the side of the radiator filler neck by pulling to the right. It can be tough to remove the first time. Don't use tools. There's plastic in there!

Remove hose by pulling right

• Move the drain pan under the left side of the radiator. Get the overflow hose lower than the bottom of the tank so it drains. Reattach when complete.

• If you see crud on your radiator cap, clean it off with water. If there is any in the filler neck area, clean it off best with a paper or shop towel. The picture below was after the third flush. My system was filthy!

This just ain't right!

Congratulations! You successfully drained half the coolant system.

Refill Procedure

• Double check that the drain cock is screwed in tightly and the overflow tank hose is connected.

• If this is the first time through the refill procedure, pour the radiator cleaned in now and then add the distilled water.

• If this is your final refill, use concentrated coolant instead of water. Note: Be careful of any spilled coolant. Clean it up ASAP.

• Using your funnel, fill the radiator with distilled water (or coolant). Squeeze the upper radiator hose on the right to help expel trapped air. You should be able to get about 3 quarts in the system.

Use funnel to assist pouring in water

Squeeze this hose to burp system periodically

Note: I skipped filling the overflow tank. As coolant warms it expands so there is no need for the radiator to pull from this tank yet.

• Start the car with  the radiator cap off. Put your heater on the hottest setting and turn the fan on low speed. We want to flush the heater core, too. Water may spill out. Keep an eye on it and add water to it as needed. You will see air bubbles expelled.

• Let is run for at least ten minutes. Afterward turn off the car and reinstall the radiator cap. I like to drive the car for another ten minutes. This will help mix everything in the cooling system.
• You now need to let the car cool down. You will need to wait anywhere between one to three hours. The idea is to not burn yourself.

Since this is a SUPER FLUSH. Repeat the Drain Procedure and the Refill Procedure. I did this four times in order to get clean water out of the system.

At the end of all the flushes I used just shy of one gallon of coolant and three gallons of distilled water.

Overflow Tank Fill
The overflow tank needs a 50/50 mix added to it. The simplest way to do this is take one of your water jugs and get it half full of distilled water. Add coolant to fill the jug. Put the cap on it and shake. Be careful that the lid doesn't pop off. Pour this mix into one of the empty coolant bottles. Do yourself a favor and label this bottle as 50/50 mix and include today's date.

Pour this mix into your overflow tank so that it is above LOW and below MAX.

Checking Coolant
Let the vehicle sit until it is cold - three hours. Check the level at the radiator cap. Add your coolant mix as needed. Also check your overflow tank to make sure it's above LOW.

Check it a week later, too.

You'll also want to check how well the coolant protects. You'll need a hydrometer to measure. These are available at auto parts or even Walmart for a few bucks.

Hydrometer

Just remove the radiator cap, squeeze the bulb on the hydrometer, place it in the coolant, suck it up until full. If it's difficult to get enough coolant in the tool, squeeze the upper right radiator hose while the hydrometer sucks in the coolant. Don't squeeze out so much that it spills.

You typically want the pointer to raise until it hits -34 degrees F - depending upon where you live.

I hope this guide helps.