I am planning to replace my oil cooler this weekend and want to flush my coolant first. I have been doing a lot of reading on the subject and see that a lot of people say to flush it with VC-9. I have also seen references to flushing with Simple Green HD purple. Does flushing with Simple Green accomplish the same thing as flushing with VC-9 or is it an additional step? Where can I buy VC-9 and what kind of coolant to I need to put back in when I am done? Sorry for all the questions, but thanks in advance for the help!

 

Deff do 2 qts of vc-9 at high idel for an hour turn that heater on 2 dont forget it
vc-9 is for rust

vc-9 dealer item

simple green to if you want at separate times of corse

I spent a good day flushin mine stuffed a hose in it for awhile I anted it clean spotless clean

ran a coolant filter to


I switched to ELC and synthitic oil at the same time too

 

Allocate plenty of time for this...like all day to do it right. Once you start do not stop. I short stroked it and stopped for the night with plain water in the block after VC9 flush...guess what I am doing this weekend another VC9 flush because the water caused rust to form. Also highly recommend getting the Fumoto Valves 108N so that you don't deal with the *** pain of taking the drain plugs, yes you can get to the one behind the starter w/ a ball end long hex socket, every time you want to drain.....Planning on changing the oil cooler after this too. Have fun. Definitely EC1 grade coolant. Do a search for the coolant flush procedures should be a detailed PDF with lots of pics and directions.

 

The PDF is in the tech folder

 

the guy working on mine used VC-9, then simple green a few times, then (get this) Calgon detergent. He does alot of oil coolers and pretty much only works on Powerstrokes. Said the Calgon softens the water and will finish breaking up the oil

 

As people have said make sure you have some free time to do this as it will take a while. You should be able to find VC-9 at any local CAT or Heavy Machinery dealer. As far as flushing it I left the VC-9 in the system for about an hour of run time to allow for a thorough cleaning. As a replacement for the Ford Gold, any EC-1 rated coolant will do(red coolant, although I have seen others). Make sure you use a concentrate to attain a true 50-50 mix and not a premix. Sorry for long post and if any of this was already known. Just wanted to list everything I could think of

 

VC-9 can also be found at your Ford dealer.

 

The whole reason I am flushing is because I plan on replacing the oil cooler. It makes sense to me to flush before installing the new cooler but i have seen that some people do it afterwards instead. What do you guys think?

 

I vote for before.

 

If the cooler has failed such that it's putting oil in the coolant don't run the engine for flush, the mess gets worse. If oil cooler is just clogging flush first. My understanding the detergents aren't necessary unless there IS oil in the cooling system.

 

Not to hi jack thread but this might be informative to the op as well. I am getting ready to do the same. Can u flush and do repairs over a few days or do you need to flush, put in new coolant , drain and do repairs so the rest of the system has coolant in it.

 

The longer the system is dry or has plain water in it the better the chance of rust forming again.

 

Hello,
I am the Tech manager at prestone coolants. You should replace the oil cooler first beofre the flush, otherwise you will still be getting oil in the coolant. Use Prestone HD flush or the V-9 from the Ford dealer, follow that with distilled water and powdered dishwashing detergent. It does an incredible job getting al traces of oil out of the system. Flush thoroughly with clean water. I recommend Prestone Red HD ELC coolant.

 

You wear a lot of hats...I thought you were the tech manager @ Fram? https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post8963919

Or was it Autolite? https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9783260

 

Yes I do. I am the Technical Training manager at Fram, Prestone and Autolite spark plugs. Also do tech consulting for Garret Turbo and Bendix Brakes. We have just been sold to the Rank Corporation, they also own Airtex fuel pumps, Wells Ignition products and Champion Labs. I expect to be doing tech service for thos ebrand sas well pretty soon.