Question.....I recently purchased a 2002 ranger 2.3l and I was thinking about flushing the coolant and possibly having the thermostat replaced. This vehicle has sat for long periods and only has 15k miles on it.....but being that it's 5 years old, should I flush or not? And how long does a thermostat last on average? Is it important to flush the system or is just a drain and refill good enough?

 

I would definitely go with a drain and fill. And replace the thermostat while you're at it. If you see any sort of brown discoloration in the radiator flush it. Otherwise just drain it and fill it up. I would replace the thermostat and check the belts and hoses though if it's been sitting around with low mileage.

 

Thanks John. The hoses and belts look great and the coolant in the overfill also looks fine.....but I haven't bled anything out of the radiator yet. Is the thermostat a simple deal to do?

 

flush it. the thermostat should be ok, but its your call.

 

Thanks Rich.