Had a close call with a customer's coolant flush yesterday

I was doing a routine flush on a 2017 Ford Escape in the bay. The system was pressurized and hot, but I thought I'd given it enough time. When I went to crack the petcock on the radiator, a geyser of boiling coolant shot out and hit my arm. I jumped back, got the spill kit, and had to explain the delay to the customer. Has anyone found a reliable way to double-check a system is fully depressurized before opening it?

2 comments

2 Comments

baker.willow1mo ago

On that geyser of coolant, I always touch the upper hose with the back of my hand first.

brookebailey1mo ago

Used to just grab it, but that back-of-the-hand trick is a game changer lol.