Cooling system problems

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 6, 2011 | 12:39 AM

oldblue89

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 188

Likes: 0

Cooling system problems

I just flushed the cooling system on my truck about 5 times (with radiator cleaner from napa auto parts and then radiator flush from napa auto parts). Then I took the radiator out of the truck and cleaned it with muriatic/hydrochloric acid and flushed it out with water really well (the radiator had many white deposits inside). I am assuming the deposits are calcium? The truck has been sitting for 3 years and I just acquired it so that is why I am doing all this. The radiator gets really hot at the top, but it seems that the bottom is cold. There also doesn't seem to be much pressure on the hoses. Is this normal? The truck is an 89 7.3 idi non turbo. The temperature gauge seems to read normal and the heat inside the cab works...

Thanks

Mar 6, 2011 | 12:42 AM

wreckinball

Postmaster

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 4,086

Likes: 1

From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley

hot water in at the top and cooler at the bottom, sounds like its working to me. i wouldnt be able to check pressure on my hoses as they are coiled reinforced. There will be no more than 13 psi so it wont feel like much so yeah i believe all is well for you bro!

Mar 6, 2011 | 12:47 AM

84-6.9L

Posting Guru

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 2,216

Likes: 0

From: Princeton MN

Sounds like its working the way it should. Hot on top cool on the bottom thats all kinds of normal. Id put a coolant filter on it. If you get the right filter it should have the sca additive in it already. You should be running the additive theres a post about it here titled .https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ht-causes.html it should explain why you need the sca's

Mar 6, 2011 | 12:47 AM

oldblue89

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 188

Likes: 0

Sweet, that saves me from having to get a new radiator, I guess I should stop comparing this truck to how my 1970 Oldsmobile works.

Thanks

Edit: Thanks for the advice on the SCA's. Luckily my browsing of posts made me aware of that. I have 4 gallons of distilled water, 4 gallons of coolant and two bottles of Motorcraft FW-16 DCA which I will put in now since it seems like the radiator is working (of course I will measure the proper amounts to add as I fill). I might add a filter later on.

Last edited by oldblue89; Mar 6, 2011 at 12:52 AM. Reason: addition