Ok my heat was just blowing lukewarm, so decided to replace thermostat and do a flush/fill. Got the thermostat in ok and DO have good heat now. Thing is, I just spent 1500 on a new rear diff, pitman arm, and oil change, and turns out I have a small radiator leak.so trying to save money now.
Anyway, we tried to drain the radiator from the bottom, and after removing the drain plug at bottom of the rad (passenger side-could not find drainage plug on drivers side), no fluid came out. Just brown goopy muck on the plug. Jammed a screwdriver in there to try to get drainage, no dice, just more brown goopy muck. Even tried to blow it open with a air compressor, still nothing. So we reattached the hose after replacing thermostat (the old one was indeed stuck open). So have good heat now. So I dont know what to do. I dont want to flush with any chemical, because I dont want to cause new leak(s) with that chemical. And I hate to imagine what the heater cores innards look like. What to do? Take it into flush/fill joint and tell them to use only water, no flush chemical? Have radiator replaced? There is a place that just put a used junkyard radiator into my girlfriends camry for 180 bucks. She had overheating problems and was overheating-opposite of my problem. Seemed cheap enough.
What would you recommend? Go in for flush/fill and tell them mnot to use chemicals? Tell them to flush and fill like regular with chemicals? Have this place put in a new radiator? (I can get a new one from AAParts for about 200.00) I want to avoid having to have a heater core replaced. Maybe the flush will clear out the heater core, I imagine it is nasty in there if the radiator is that bad. I am at a loss so any help would be great. Really want to avoid heater core probs.

Thank you all

 

In my opinion I'd just buy a new rad
I had a leak in mine, put that rad seal in it, and it ****ed my heater core over, go to a new rad, then go, get a rad flush, put brand new coollent in

Edit
Forgot to say, BUY NEW HOSES!!!
Check the old ones but I think it might be best to buy new ones

 

X2 replace the radiator also flush it yourself. Mild soap and water hopefully that will clean out your heater core

 

I learned the hardway, NEVER GO CHEAP
If you want this truck to last, you have to make sure you put the money, and effort into it
As for the flush, you can do that, or, do what I did which is, run water through the system for about a day, maybe a little longer, whatever you like, flush the water out, do it again.....OR again like I have to do, go to one of those 10 minute oil change places, tell them to do a rad flush, and get one done
Might cost you a few bucks, but, when it comes to your coolling system YOU MUST make sure its clean and good