Ford Repair: 02 ford escape cooling system, petcock, ford escape

Question
can i flush my system the old way with a garden hose? can i open the petcock and put a hose in the coolant bottle?

Answer
Robert-

  Sure.  They actually sell kits at parts stores specifically to be used with your garden hose.  I normally don't recommend using tap or hose water for the radiator since it contains minerals that can build up and clog the radiator over time, but if it's just for a flush and fill I don't see any harm there.  Just make sure to fill it back up with distilled water when you're done.  Hope this helps.