Question: Is there a site or other guide for changing radiator fluid? Is this a simple job.

Thank you;
Dutch

 

Yo Dutch,
I have the info from my 96's Owner's Guide:
"Use Ford Premium Cooling System Fluid or an
equivalent engine coolant that meets Ford
Specification ESE-M97B44-A. Do not use alcohol
or methanol antifreeze and do not use engine
coolant mixed with alcohol or methanol
antifreeze. If you do not use the proper coolant,
the aluminum radiator on your vehicle will
corrode."
"Keep a mixture of engine coolant
in your engine that has a protection rating of at
least -34°F (-37°C), or whatever protection rating
is appropriate for the climate in which you live."
"Engine coolant drain and flush
To drain your vehicle’s engine coolant:
1. Turn off the engine and let it cool. Fully
depressurize the engine cooling system by
covering the radiator cap with a thick cloth
and turning it slowly counterclockwise to the
first stop. Step back while the pressure
releases.
2. Remove the cap.
3. Attach a small hose to the drain tube at the
bottom of the radiator.
4. Let the engine coolant drain into a suitable
container. Disconnect the lower radiator hose
at the radiator connector and drain any
remaining engine coolant into a container.
5. Reconnect the lower radiator hose and close
the radiator drain ****.
Proper procedures for flushing the cooling
system can be found in the Truck Service Manual.

Engine coolant refill procedure
After you have drained the engine cooling
system:
1. Fill the radiator with a 50/50 mixture of the
specified engine coolant concentrate and
water. Allow several minutes for trapped air
to escape (bubble out) and for engine coolant
to flow through the radiator.
2. Replace the radiator cap to its fully installed
position, then back off to the first stop. This
will prevent high pressure from building up
in the cooling system during this part of the
fill procedure.
3. Start and idle the engine until the thermostat
opens and the radiator upper hose becomes
warm.
4. Shut off the engine and allow the engine to
cool. Cover the radiator cap with a thick
cloth and cautiously remove it. Step back
while the pressure releases.
5. Finally, check the radiator and add more
engine coolant if needed, following the
procedures noted above. Reinstall the
radiator cap securely, when finished.
6. If more engine coolant is necessary, fill the
overflow reservoir to the appropriate level
marked on the bottle."

 

HI Dutch, it is simple, and can be a pain at the same time. First thing is you want to catch as much of the old coolent in buckets as possible, and dispose of it correctly. ie don't feed it to any of the domestic or wild animals in your neighboorhood.
The correct way is to drain the radiator, then the block. the radiator has a drain on it, somewhere, and it may not be easy to get to. But, basically you will find a drain, put a bucket under it to catch what flows out.
Take off the thermostat housing, you will be replacing the thermostat. Clean the housing well.
Next, on the bottom of the block are drain plugs, one on each side. You will need a lot of muscle and a breaker bar to get those loose.
Again, put buckets under those when you open up the block to drain.
Once the system is drained, make sure the heater core drains too. Run water from your garden hose through the whole system. There will be a lot of garbage flushed out.
Ok that is the correct and hard way.
The easy way is to buy a flush kit from your local auto parts store. You cut a section of the heater hose, install the hose connection. And follow the directions.
Also replace the thermostat.
Bruce (Big Red Bronco)

 

Is replacing the thermostat difficult? What am I in for here?

 

Me personally, I would go to an auto parts store or even Wally World and buy a Prestone Flush kit and install it on your heater hoses on the passenger side. There are real good directions as well. Also, buy a Haynes manual. It pays itself off in a few repairs. Once you find the drain plug on the passenger side near the radiator, drain it into a bucket. Once it is drained, attach the water hose as explained in the instructions and run it full blast with the heater on full blast until it runs clear. Fill it with a cleaner from Prestone etc... and run it til it gets hot. Let it cool down and then repeat the above process. When clear, stop the water flow and drain it from the drain plug. Put in a bottle of radiator and water pump lube, fill with the correct amount of antifreeze (Haynes), and run til warm and fill until it tops itself off.

The thermostat is pretty easy as well. Probably easier if you remove the air hose from the air filter / throttle body. Remove the upper radiator hose. Oh yea, do this after you have done your final drain and rinse on the block as I stated above. Remove the 2 1/2" ? bolts and remove the housing and scrap the old gasket off BOTH surfaces. Replace the t-stat with the same type, new gasket and torque to the proper specs (Haynes), install upper hose and the do the fill up like above.

I know it is long winded but I thing that you can figure it out pretty easily with this, the Haynes manual and the instructions with the drain kit.

Hope this helps you out,

 

Thanks: So, I have to cut or slice section of hose to install the flush kit? Do I need to then replact he cut hose ?

Thanks
Dutch

 

Hi, actually I wouldn't use the flush kit. I've seen people use it and blow gaskets and crack the heater core because of all the pressure it makes in the system. Also, if it was me, I wouldn't bother with the thermostat unless it was broken!! Hope this helps you some.

 

Where is all the pressure coming from that you are talking about ? It is fully open lines when you flush it out, so there is no way that you could build any damaging pressure.

 

You know, i never have used one, but my friend John used it on his 1993 Bronco. It did cause what I described in my previous post. Maybe he did something wrong?

 

I would definately replace the thermostat when I did a flush and fill. They aren't expensive and if you wait til one goes bad then you run the risk of trashing your motor. I have heard of people having problems with the flush and fill kits but I have never had trouble using them. As far as pressure goes, maybe it the pressure that they put in that is causing the damage. On replacing the thermostat, they are really easy to do. My only precaution would be, make sure that you reinstall the new one the right way before you tighten down your bolts. I made the mistake of putting one in backwards once and ended up breaking the thermostat hopusing when I tightened it down.

 

Hi, again, the Prestone kit is a straight pipe inserted into the heater line, so there is no way to have a pressure build up. I put them in every vehicle I own, and have never had a problem with one.
Also, the $5 for a thermostat is cheap, insurance against having one go bad. I've had those go bad and it is not nice. If you want to pay a little more, get one of the fail-safe types. Those fail in the open postion so you will not overheat.
Bruce (Big Red Bronco)

 

Okay, the flush fill sounds doable. As for the thermostat I will replace it as well. Since I have never replaced a T-stat will Haynes or Chiltons give me enough info to complete this job?


Thanks

Dutch

 

Go here and enter your vehicle info. Instructions for changing the thermostat are usually under the engine and engine overhaul catagory. If you can use a ratchet and a screwdriver, you can change the t-stat. It's really that easy.

 

thanks Mrwizard !

 

After I cut a section of hose for the flush kit, when done with the flush, do I just splice in a piece of hose or replace the entire section? Also, I noticed the thermostat has a gasket is that one or two? Finally, does the gasket need a sealant of some sort?

Thanks

Dutch