If good replace anyway?

[Dash01]

Well i have to replace the Water/Heater valves too so can't i clamp the hoses between that and the tubes which lead thru the firewall to the core when i have that off then only have to deal with what coolant remains in the interior ends of the tubs and the core itself?Even if i drained the Radiator i'd still be dealing with that residual wouldn't I?

I just did my HC and did not drain the coolant or disconnect the 3 hoses at the firewall, either. Just used a rag to absorb any spillage, and when I disconnected the HC from the alu. tubes I used a shop vac to suck some of the coolant from the top of the HC so it would not spill when pulled out of its housing.

However, a small clean bucket under the radiator would have worked well to drain some of the coolant from the system, so its level would be below that of the HC (and/or heater valves if you are working with them, too). In other words, you do not need to drain all of the coolant. Then, you'd have the coolant to pour back into the system when finished.

[BillionPa]

the last time i clamped a hose in my 13 year old car it split in half.

you would still be dealing with residual coolant, but draining the radiator also drains out the cylinder head, which should relieve downward pressure on the hoses going to the heater core.

[Jehu]

Good thought,that i could do.Thanks for the ideas.

[bbig119]

How old is your coolant-- its a good time to flush the system. If its new, you can easily reuse it. Draining the radiator isn't hard, and while I have no idea if it actually helps reduce spillage when you remove the heater core, I'd rather spend the a few minutes doing that than cleaning up coolant from the carpet.

[Jehu]

coolant is about 6 months old/almost 30k miles.My concern is that i only have my sister's garage at her apartment to do this job in.I am in NH and its the middle of bone breaking winter here.There is no drain in the garage and if i spilled even a drop of coolant on the floor i'd hear holy hell and possibly cost her her security deposit.I can't do anything there that would risk that so while i suppose i could buy a drain container and let some out and reuse it to bring the pressure down i was planning on just using a bunch of old towels.If i am not mistaken the heater/water valves are not below the expansion tank level and aside from the hoses to the HC Tubes they have the Aux water pump between them and the rest of the coolant system so if i am carefully disconnecting the heater/water valves,plugging the hose coming from the aux water pump with a rag then i could probably rent a shop vac and suction out the residual coolant from the firewall side of the HC Tubes before i disconnect them at the Core making whatever is left easily contained with rags and towels when i remove them at the HC.At least this is the extent of my planning.When i finally get the parts and look at it again i expect i won't have to actually drain any coolant since most reports lack any mention of that step.