[cyclone3565]

I have a 2003 6.0 with 162,000 miles on it. Runs Great!!! EGR Delete, Juice Attitude, Banks Turbo Back w/o CAT. New HPOP - new style, Oil Cooler, etc.

I have been reading a lot about coolant flushing and coolant filters. On Friday I ordered the Dfuser kit, after much reading. Can't wait to install.....

The question is, why doesn't anyone take their truck to the dealer and let them do the flush? Why deal with 30 plus gallons of waste water/coolant, which then has to be disposed properly, plus the time. The dealer here (Five Star Ford), uses the restore and VC-9, then refills with the Premium Gold. What are the reasons for not going that route?

I have the Juice/Attitude installed and am monitoring EOT, Coolant Temparature (Delta is with 2-3 degrees), Trans Temp, and EGT. Should I be watching Boost rather than one of the above or is the above the best configuration?

Love this forum - Absolutely the best out there.

 

[sarnott140]

I go by the phrase "if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself". That's why i dont take it to the dealer. Not saying there all bad but the one in my town is. Plus the Gold coolant is the root cause for oil and egr cooler failures. If I were you I wouldn't use the vc-9 or restore for the flush since you only have a 2-3 degree delta. I'd just flush it with water and fill with CAT EC-1 rated ELC. Many owners have plugged an otherwise healthy oil cooler by loosening particles in the system.

 

[2 Stroker]

If with 162k on your motor and you have delta is with 2-3 degrees i would not got to Ford, as stated drop the coolant do 4-5 distilled water flushes the go back with 3 1/2 gallons ELC coolant CAT EC-1 Rated coolant.
2 stroker:ford:

 

[cyclone3565]

Hi 2stroker,

and thanks for the advise. How do I go about doing 4-5 distilled changes. Do I open the draincox, drain it, close and refill at the Degas bottle 4-5 times, driving in between. If so, how long do I drive it for before I can drain and repeat this. Sorry for the ignorance. Thanks in advance.

 

[2 Stroker]

Hi 2stroker,

and thanks for the advise. How do I go about doing 4-5 distilled changes. Do I open the draincox, drain it, close and refill at the Degas bottle 4-5 times, driving in between. If so, how long do I drive it for before I can drain and repeat this. Sorry for the ignorance. Thanks in advance.

Yes open the drain then after about 1/2 gallon pull the bottom radiator hose then you should pull the block drain it is an 8mm allen wrench check this out it is a great post.
http://home.comcast.net/~lyon.family1/truck/Powerstroke Cooling System Flush v1-0.pdf
Here is the drain when you are finished you could leave it in.
QuickOilDrainValve.com - the best way to change oil
When you get it up to temp 192* drive for about 5 min then drain need to cool some before add to the degas tank about 3-4 gallons.
2 stroker:ford:

 

[cyclone3565]

Thanks for the web-site 2-stroker, I really appreciate it. Today it spoke with a friend of mine who is the service manager/tech at a local Diesel Shop and he told me that they replace the coolant with Green concentrate, Prestone. What are your thoughts about that?

 

[ex mounty]

Thanks for the web-site 2-stroker, I really appreciate it. Today it spoke with a friend of mine who is the service manager/tech at a local Diesel Shop and he told me that they replace the coolant with Green concentrate, Prestone. What are your thoughts about that?

That he really needs to read up on what that crap will do to the interior of this particular engine.
Don't do it. Under any circumstances. Never

 

[2 Stroker]

Thanks for the web-site 2-stroker, I really appreciate it. Today it spoke with a friend of mine who is the service manager/tech at a local Diesel Shop and he told me that they replace the coolant with Green concentrate, Prestone. What are your thoughts about that?

:nono: X2 what ex mounty said you will be in Big Trouble, he needs to do some :read:ing
2 stroker:ford:

 

[YT90SC]

You are half assing it if you don't pull both blockplugs on the drain. Period.

 

[sarnott140]

Thanks for the web-site 2-stroker, I really appreciate it. Today it spoke with a friend of mine who is the service manager/tech at a local Diesel Shop and he told me that they replace the coolant with Green concentrate, Prestone. What are your thoughts about that?

The ONLY prestone that is acceptable for our trucks is the ELC in the black jug (red coolant)

 

[cyclone3565]

Point and advise taken and will be followed. I wish I could have replied earlier, but was busy installing my Dfuser Coolant filter. What a breeze, hardly lost any coolant, a few drop, probably not even enough to fill a shot glass. Degas bottle and coolant very clean looking. Looking forward to cutting the filter open in about 500 miles, should proove to be interesting. Going to order the drain valves that 2-stroker has recommended so that I can capture the fluid properly, for recycling. Again, today on the way home from work, Delta, as always was 3 degrees, actually many times coolant is hotter than the oil. Will report back once I cut the filter open and post pictures if I can.

 

[cyclone3565]

One quick question, when i bought the truck the previous owner, who obviously took really good care of it, and replaced a lot of the "trouble" components, mentioned to be that the level in the Degas bottle is suppose to be 1/2" or so below the MIN mark, which is where it has been for the past four weeks, since I bought it. He told me that he thought there was a decal indicating such. As mentioned above my Delta is excellent..........

Where should that level be, keep it where it is, bring it up to half way between MIN and MAX when cold????

Thanks in advance.
Martin

 

[ex mounty]

When cold, I have my coolant level at the MIN mark.

 

[cyclone3565]

Thanks Ex-mounty,

That is what I had on my '04. I did see where there was a Degas Bottle recall on the '05 for mis-marking but could not find anything on '03. I will top it off with Premium Gold (that is what is in there right now) change coming up soon.

 

[ex mounty]

If you run short, NAPA sells the Zerex G-05, which is the same coolant in a different package.

 

[cyclone3565]

I have a full bottle of Premium Gold and can always add some distilled water, so I should be okay.

 

[ex mounty]

If you stick with the Ford Gold after your flush, plan on doing another flush in 45K miles.

 

[cyclone3565]

Another question, almost was not going to ask..........When I cut the High Hose (as Dfuser) calls it, I lost very little coolant, not even enough to fill a shot glass, should that hose be full?

 

[cyclone3565]

Well, as to the flush, I was half tempted to just take it to Five Star Ford, here in Fort Worth, and have them flush and refill it and then just do it every year (drive about 10-15,000 miles a year). They charge $80.00. I thought that along with the filter might be okay. What are your thoughts?

 

[cyclone3565]

Hi Mounty,

wondering if you might not have seen my posts from last night.

Thanks in advance.