Next goal was to refresh the cooling system.
I had added radiator cleaner solution to the cooling system approximately 2 weeks and 500 miles prior to taking my Escalade off the road. I had drained the radiator back in October of 2021, approximately 29,000 miles ago, so the coolant did not look too hateful.
Same thing this time, the coolant drained was still clear orange.
I will not get into the argument for/against Dexcool. For me, it works in my vehicles in which I take care of the cooling systems. So that is what I run.
Once the system was drained, I removed one heater hose from the water pump. And then poured 6 gallons of distilled water into that hose, the coolant reservoir, water pump ports on the block, and the upper radiator hose. Intent was to 'flush' the system.
Then, removal of all flexible coolant hoses in the engine bay, front steam bleed line, the godforsaken heater Tees, the coolant reservoir, and the water pump.
Again, all this work was preventative maintenance. The water pump wasn't leaking and appeared to be circulating coolant well. All the hoses were still pliable, and not deteriorated 'soft.' The heater Tees did not feel brittle. My Escalade always ran the needle right at the top middle of the coolant temperature 'gauge' and was always in the 19* degree range on the app.
So I believe the cooling system was in good shape.
All new GM Genuine parts went back in. I don't want to have to do this again for another 100,000 miles.
No real issues with any of it, other than the constant tension hose clamps. I have a tool kit of the various types of hose clamp pliers. It greatly helps, but the clamps are still a pain in the kazoo.
![2023-12-04 013.JPG 2023-12-04 013.JPG](https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/data/attachments/410/410398-2c4faaedfa35e975b16199cce8a96512.jpg)
This plastic clip that secures the upper radiator hose to the fan shroud was an absolute bear to get apart.
None of the above coolant hoses looked bad at all.
![2023-12-04 021.JPG 2023-12-04 021.JPG](https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/data/attachments/410/410399-dd65ba941cbbdde4d878129aa6201cf0.jpg)
Coolant reservoir was stained and dirty.
And then...the Heater Tees.
I had read many suggestions and tricks on getting the heater Tees off of a GMT900 here on TYF. Since I am uniquely gifted with luck, none of them worked for me. What finally did it for me was to reach in with both hands, right thumb and forefinger squeeze the release tabs as hard as I could, and left hand pull the hose off the Tee. In my case, the heater hoses and fittings came off, but the locks remained on the Tees. I then did the same procedure to release the Tees from the heater core lines in the firewall. Sounds easy. Was not. Compounded by the fact I am an idiot. When trying to release the white Tee, pulling on the black Tee does not work.
Once the Tees were disconnected from the heater core lines in the firewall, it became a twisting game to pull the them free and then be able to disconnect from the rear heater core lines.
I finally got them, though.