Gonna install a new thermostat in my truck and gonna go ahead and flush the coolant system and put all new coolant in it while im there.
Whats the procedure for flushing out the coolant, what do i need to buy etc.
how many gallons does the truck take of fresh coolant, should i go with fleet charge?
thanks for any info!

 

here's a good thread (just from 2 weeks ago) about your topic: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...e-coolant.html

they cover the topic of 6.9 vs 7.3 coolant flushes, SCA's, procedures, and whatnot.

One thing to add, once you have your fluid out, I would highly recommend installing a coolant filter in the engine compartment and a coolant petcock on the engine block itself. The petcock was recommended to me from someone on the forum and it's a brilliant idea.

 

Scripter,

There is a plug on each side of the block, so two pet***** would be required.

Eallend,

Fleet Charge is a widely used product here. With it you will need to monitor your SCA's and add as necessary, or you could do as suggested above and add a coolant filter, then run pre-charged filters. If you haven't done it already, I would buy new radiator hoses while it is dry. They are not that expensive. The 7.3 takes four gallons of coolant, and four gallons of water for a 50/50 mix. I'm not sure about the 6.9, but I imagine it is the same. Make sure you use distilled water, and only use a Motorcraft or IH t-stat, and test it before installation by putting it in a pot of water, bring it to a boil and make sure it opens at least a quarter of an inch. Let it cool and make sure it closes. Repeat a few times and you are good to go. Before you are done, drain about a gallon of coolant from your radiator, (catch it in a bucket, so you can put it back in later) and burp the system of air, by running it with the heater going and the radiator cap off, hot enough for the t-stat to open. Get yourself another radiator cap too, if it hasn't been replaced recently. I run Stant 13lb caps on both my trucks.

Mac.