What is the proper way to flush and change coolant in the 6.0

[6litrefan]

Hope you guy's don't think i am a complete dumba** for askin this but bismic states in his procedure for the final fill after you have flushed with water...to start truck up and add distilled water till full....to do this you have to have truck running with degas bottle off.....my question is because the truck is at or near operating temp wont coolant blow out of the degas bottle when cap is removed because coolant is hot?.....i remember a while back i was taking out my intake and removed the hose above the intake that goes to the degas bottle to get more room and the truck was still warm....as i removed the hose from the bottle it blew coolant out i quickly put it back on but it was really coming out!...just enlighten me here...i don't understand the physics.....when i go to refill with coolant and take the cap off i don't want it to blow in my face....

[bismic]

Step 10 did not say "get it to operating temp" and then add distilled water.

Step 11 stated to let it cool.

I do not see what you are referring to.



Also, if you ever HAVE TO depressure when hot ............ I have often opened a hot radiator cap w/ a heavy towel (doubled over twice) over the cap. Turn the cap slowly. The pressure bleeds fairly quickly. The towel absorbs the hot water.

[Fandini]

Originally Posted by bismic

The manual states it will go 105k at first and then change it every 45k after that. The reason for this is that the dealerships will fill the system back up w/ tap water. The minerals in the tap water reduce the life. If you use distilled water you should be OK to go well past 45k.

Ford's recent mailing pretty much states to test the coolant strength every 45k (or every 15k optional). They state to add supplemental coolant additive (VC-8) if the nitrite strength is between 300 ppm and 800 ppm. They state to flush the coolant if the nitirite strength is below 300 ppm.

I believe the main issue is that combustion gasses getting into the coolant (leaking head gaskets and EGR cooler leaks) deplete the strength of the coolant.

Your right, I had to go look at my mailer, however under severe service or special operating conditions you check your coolant every 15,000 miles and change every 45,000. Special operating conditions are defined as "Extensive towing, Long idle time, Extended low speed driving, Biodiesel fuel use, or Off Road/Dusty Conditions," and since I do a little of all those I follow the special operating conditions guidelines.

[mrnecsteve]

Distilled water????
If my tap water is good enough for me to drink...its good enough for my truck...
(besides that...I dont want my truck to get cancer from the plastic bottles that distilled water comes in)

[bismic]

Originally Posted by mrnecsteve

Distilled water????
If my tap water is good enough for me to drink...its good enough for my truck...
(besides that...I dont want my truck to get cancer from the plastic bottles that distilled water comes in)

Put Dr. Pepper in your radiator. It is mostly water and good to drink. Also, it comes in aluminum cans.

[Fandini]

Originally Posted by bismic

Put Dr. Pepper in your radiator. It is mostly water and good to drink. Also, it comes in aluminum cans.

How many miles can you get out of Dr. pepper in the colling system........... maybe we need to ask a Dr.

[uncertain]

is this for the coolant strength,
Or is this for an SCA additive, that prevents cavitation, like in the IDI?

oh, and the aluminum will give you that thing that makes you forget... man I can't remeber what they call it.

[Fandini]

How do you test the coolant? Is there a test kit you can only get at a dealer or are they available at auto parts stores? Somebody enlighten me!

[bismic]

Ford mentioned in their mailing the "Rotunda" part number for the test strips. So far, no one I know has been able to get them from Ford. They say the test strips are for their shop and not for general sale.

I do know that International sells the test strips and I have been told that NAPA sells them. Just be careful - there is an expiration date on them.

[Fandini]

I'd pay for the shop to test it if it didn't cost a chunk. Does anybody have any idea what the dealer would charge for that?