Are there any special procedures that have to be followed when changing coolant? Unfortunately, this is one aspect of my truck that's been neglected. I've been religious about oil changes, etc, but the coolant is now 6 years old.

Can I just drain from the radiator, fill with water, run the engine, drain, then repeat until clear water comes back out?

 

if you want to get serious you could see if the block has plugs and take them out.

 

I wouldn't mess with the block. I would do exactly the procedure you described. Put back a high quality long life coolant-not the $4.99 low end brand. You will be fine.

 

Good to know, thanks. Now just have to wait till the weather warms up. It was 0F when I woke up this morning.

 

Yeah, unless you are doing the change in your garage, I would say wait...

If you have not done your belt I would do that too. I do mine at about 80K or 4-5 years.

 

I will do the belt as well. Truck has 76k miles but will be 6 years old this August.

As for my garage, it isn't heated. If it's 0F outside, it's only about 25F inside. No way I'm laying on that concrete floor...

 

I don't blame you, it's not that dire!

I'm in southern CA, 2 miles from the coast. I might see high 40's on a cold winter day. No excuses for me....

 

Ahh.. I used to live in SoCal. Whittier to be exact. I lived there for 3 years back in the early 90s. I miss the weather, but that's about it.

I'm in Pennsylvania now. Huge change in terms of climate... both meteorological and political, if you get my drift. No complaints from the peanut gallery.

Edit: I do miss Del Taco and the huge super burrito trucks...

 

Tell me the traffic is not as bad as LA there?

I would tolerate the seasons to get out of the traffic.

 

Traffic's not too bad if you stay out of the major metropolitan areas like New York City or Philly. Unfortunately, I commute every day from my home in PA to NYC for work. Traffic is great until I get to the last 10 miles of my journey, where it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to get where I finally need to go.

What we're really suffering from now however are pot holes. With all the snow we've gotten along with the temperature cycling, the roads have just been torn to shreds. I've had to replace 5 tires already on my 2012 Golf TDI which is my commuter car. It's gotten so bad that I've been driving my Expedition to work, despite the fuel costs...

 

Ug. I guess I shouldn't complain. You would figure they could repair many potholes from 2am-5am. I work in concrete construction. There are products that will set up in minutes. Small car to save gas-blown tires, large car/truck no tire damage-gas sucker. Can't win.

 

Well I'm no concrete or asphalt specialist, but I think with the constant massive temperature swings (0F to 60F within a week then back to 0F), whatever they're using to patch the holes isn't adhering to the surrounding surface. As soon as it snows again and a plow comes through, it just rips the filler right out.

 

Yes, that will be an issue, but having it fixed for a week beets nothing. You would need a full time crew just filling holes.

I am sure millions have been spent on that plan.....

 

I would also advise getting the coolant in that 100-115 degree range, not hot enough to burn but hot enough to suspend contaminants that are in it and effectively flush it.

 

Good advise. I'll idle the engine for a few minutes with the heater on in order to get everything that's settled in suspension.