The radiator is responsible for keeping the engine and the automatic transmission at an optimum cool temperature. To keep your radiator in good condition, you need to flush it from time to time to remove any accumulated deposits, particles, or rust. While many people might know the general cost of radiator flush, few are aware of radiator flush cost at Walmart.
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In this article, we explain the meaning of radiator flush, provide an overview of radiator flush cost at Walmart, highlight different ways to save money on radiator flush at Walmart and provide a comparison between radiator flush cost at Walmart and other common locations. Furthermore, we also discuss the most frequently asked questions related to radiator flush.
What does it mean to flush a radiator?
The radiator coolant consists of equal amounts of antifreeze and distilled water. Over time of use, particles and other deposits can accumulate in the radiator coolant. These particles can prevent the radiator from working properly. As a result, the radiator will not be able to keep the engine at an optimum temperature, which can eventually cause complete engine failure.
A contaminated radiator coolant affects the radiator's performance in many ways. For instance, the coolant fluid might freeze up due to the existence of foreign particles in winter. As a result, the frozen coolant can cause cracks in the head or the radiator block, which affects the overall performance of the radiator, if not completely damages it.
Besides, a dirty coolant fluid is not able to prevent corrosion. Thus, several radiator metal and copper parts will start eroding overtime. In difficult situations, this erosion can clog many radiator connections, including connections to the water pump, heating core, and water jackets.
What are the benefits of radiator flush?
It is highly recommended to flush the radiator regularly to achieve the following benefits:
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It removes contaminations and any foreign particles
Over time of use, the radiator can collect different types of contaminations, including dust, dirt, and other foreign particles. As we discussed earlier, these particles can cause severe damages to the radiator. When you perform a radiator flush, all particles will be washed out with the coolant fluid.
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Coolant additives can lubricate the water pump
When you perform a radiator flush, the mechanic will not only add coolant fluid, and he will also add several types of additives that help lubricate the water pump seals and the thermostat.
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Mechanics will perform a full coolant system inspection
Radiator flushing is usually accompanied by complete coolant system inspection, and the price will be included in the flushing. If your machine requires a new price for the inspection, you should consider visiting a different mechanic shop.
During the inspection, the mechanic will inspect every component in the coolant system. They will check for leaks, cracks, and any other issues. This is a great chance for you to detect any minor problem before it gets more complicated and requires a higher repair price.
That been said, keep in mind that radiator flushing might result in additional repairs, which increases the overall cost that you might have in mind.
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Coolant additives prevent foaming and rust
One of the most common problems with the radiator fluid is the build-up of foaming. When you perform a radiator flush, you can get rid of any rust and foaming using the different additives that come with the coolant.
What does the radiator flush cost Walmart?
Many people prefer to get several car repairs at Walmart as their prices are lower than many other dealerships or auto repair shops. Unfortunately, Walmart does not offer radiator flush work, they offer parts only, and you must get the work done somewhere else.
That been said, radiator flush cost at Walmart is between $112 and $879 for parts only. The price varies by car's make, model, and year.
While Walmart doesn't offer radiator flush repairs, flushing your radiator is not a very complicated process, and you can do it at home.
No matter what the price was, you must get your radiator flushed from time to time. Radiator flush might be expensive to some extent, and its price is still lower than replacing the whole radiator part by ignoring the problem.
How can I save money on Walmart's radiator flush?
There are many ideas you can do to save money on the radiator flush. The first thing you can do is to perform the radiator flush on your own. This way, the labor cost for flushing your radiator will be zero.
One thing to keep in mind if you decided to flush your radiator by yourself, you must know that the coolant is a very toxic fluid. As a result, you must educate yourself on how to recycle best and dispose of this type of fluid.
The second thing you can do is to keep an eye for Walmart's promotion, discounts, and coupons in your area.
You might also consider looking for special deals by your local mechanic shop if bringing your radiator flush from Walmart; they might have special deals.
How does radiator flush cost at Walmart compared to other locations?
In general, Walmart's radiator flush is within the average price across the nation. Overall, there is no significant difference between radiator flush cost at Walmart and any other locations around the United States, unless for areas that offer labor along with the parts.
Even if you are interested in seeing Walmart's cost of radiator flush, it is a good idea to know about the prices at other locations, especially since Walmart doesn't offer the actual work; it only offers the parts.
To get the complete comparison and the final decision, there are a couple of factors you need to keep in mind. First, Walmart does not offer the actual work; it only provides parts. Thus, you need to sit down and do the math, is it worth having the work done at another place that offers both parts and works?
Second, some companies have a warranty associated with the radiator flush. For example, if Walmart's radiator flush is limited, is it worth purchasing the parts from Walmart or do the complete repair at another location, which offers a 24-month warranty? For example, NAPA provides a 24-month warranty to get you a complete radiator flush, including both parts and labor.
Third, even if you decided to go with the longer warranty, you need to keep in mind the location of the company or repair shop. For instance, it is most likely that you have a Walmart branch close to your house, or you can order items online via Walmart or Amazon. How about NAPA or Midas? Are they close to your house?
In the following table, we summarize the radiator flush cost at Walmart and other common locations. We also show information about whether the place provides parts or services as well. Finally, we describe the warranty associated with each work.
| Company | Service | Price | Warranty |
| Walmart | Parts | $112-$879 | Limited |
| Your Mechanic | Parts & Labor | $240 – $980 | 12 months |
| Midas | Parts & Labor | $275 – $1100 | 12 months |
| Mr. Tire | Parts & Labor | $260 – $1049 | 12 months |
| NAPA | Parts & Labor | $245 – $1199 | 24 months |
| Amazon | Parts | $110 – $949 | Limited |
Frequently asked questions about radiator flush
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When do I need to flush my radiator?
To best answer your question, you can refer to your vehicle's owner's manual. The manual will have detailed information about when to perform a radiator flush.
However, there are some situations where you need to flush your radiator more frequently than what your car's owner's manual says. This depends on the weather, your driving style, and your vehicle's age.
In general, your vehicle is due for a radiator flush once every 100,000 miles or every five years.
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How can I flush my radiator system?
Flushing a radiator is not a very complicated mechanical exercise, and you can do it on your own. YouTube is full of tutorial videos for very specific cars. Search for how to flush a radiator for your car and follow the instructions.
To give you an overview of what you will see in the video, here is a general list of how to flush your radiator according to wikihow.com:
- Remove old fluids
The first thing you need to do is to remove any old fluids inside your radiator. You can't start working until your car is completely cooled down for at least 30 minutes after driving to avoid any danger from hot fluids.
As we mentioned earlier, the coolant is a very toxic fluid. Therefore, you must wear safety glasses and protective rubber gloves. This way, you can keep your eyes and hands protected from splashes of the toxic fluid.
Once you are ready, you need to lift your car's front using a jack to be able to place a pan under that will collect the drained fluid. You must make sure that your car does not slip by using the parking brake.
Under the lifted car, place a pan that is large enough to collect 2 gallons of liquid, at the minimum.
Open the car's hood and find the radiator. If you don't know where your radiator is, you can use the car's owner's manual or search up online for your car's make, model, and year.
After you locate the radiator, open the large pressure cap at the top of it and make sure to place it in a location where you can find it easily.
Remove the drain plug at the bottom of the radiator and allow the fluid to drain into the pan that you placed under the vehicle and close the drain valve completely after it finishes draining.
- Clean your radiator
Before you refill the radiator with the new coolant mixture, you need to clean it with the radiator cleaner and the distilled water. You can always refer to your vehicle's owner's manual to determine what type of radiator cleaner and distilled water you can use for your vehicle.
Once you added the cleaner and the distilled water, you need to turn on your car for at least five minutes to allow the cleaner to go through the entire radiator and cooling system. Once this is done, you can turn off the car and leave it to cool down for another 15 minutes. Again, the engine might be very hot, and you don't want to touch it unless it cools down.
Finally, drain the radiator cleaner and the distilled water into the pan underneath your vehicle and then flush the radiator with regular water.
- Fill your radiator with the appropriate coolant mixture
Using the information in your vehicle's owner's manual, identify the required amount of antifreeze and distilled water, you need to use to prepare the coolant mixture. In general, you will usually need half a gallon of antifreeze and half a gallon of distilled water.
Once you prepared the mixture, ensure that all the draining valves are securely closed and refill the radiator.
After that, turn on your vehicle, so the coolant mixture runs in the cooling system.
Finally, close all caps and valves and give your car a driving test to ensure no leaks or other problems in the cooling system.
Conclusion
Your radiator is responsible for keeping the engine and sometimes the automatic transmission at a specific low temperature to avoid overheating. Over time of use, your radiator coolant will accumulate dirt and dust that can affect the overall performance of your radiator.
That's why you need to perform a frequent radiator flush. Your car's owner's manual should have details on how often you should flush your radiator.
Many people choose Walmart for several auto repairs due to the relatively low cost and high proficiency.
Radiator flush cost at Walmart is between $112 and $879. While there is no significant difference between Walmart's price for a radiator flush and the other companies, it is important to note that Walmart offers parts only, and it has a limited warranty.