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Dec 9, 2011 | 05:55 AM

Redonkulous BOB

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Radiator

Just finishe up a rebuild on the trucks engine. Put in a new rad, just wondering of full to fill it or how the process goes. Right now there's about 2.5 Litres in it, do I fill the rest with distilled water? If so, how much. Radiator is the largest you can buy for truck and brand name is specter or spectrum premium.

Dec 9, 2011 | 07:14 AM

OldStyle

Rusty Roller

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From: Santa Cruz Mountains

Unless you are going to flush it again don't forget the anti-freeze and rust inhibitor/water lubricant won't hurt. I've used distilled water before but personally didn't see any real benefit; depends on your water quality I oppose.

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Dec 9, 2011 | 09:25 AM

Redonkulous BOB

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Sorry my bad I meant to say there is already 2.5 litres of antifreeze already in the system. So question is still the same do I fill the rest with water?

Dec 9, 2011 | 10:07 AM

OldStyle

Rusty Roller

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From: Santa Cruz Mountains

Yes. The wait for it to purge the air out of the system if you can. Otherwise bring it up to temp so the thermostat opens ant top it off.

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Dec 9, 2011 | 11:49 AM

mikeo0o0o0

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From: Stanley, VA

Also, these trucks don't have a coolant recovery system, so if you fill it full to the filler neck when it's cold, once it warms up you'll see coolant running out the overflow as the coolant warms and expands.
When the truck cools down the coolant contracts it will suck air back in.
When you check the coolant cold it should be about an inch or so below the filler neck, this is normal.

Dec 9, 2011 | 12:57 PM

Rogue_Wulff

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From: Lost

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redonkulous BOB

Sorry my bad I meant to say there is already 2.5 litres of antifreeze already in the system. So question is still the same do I fill the rest with water?

Unless you live a rather warm climate, you need to have around a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze. Even in warm climates, this is still a good idea, as it helps prevent rust inside the cooling system.
I seriously doubt 2.5L is enough antifreeze to fulfill the 50/50 mix.

Dec 9, 2011 | 03:57 PM

Redonkulous BOB

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Ok so I'll put about another 2.5L in it and fill it with water. Once done I'll let it run and go to temp. then go from there. Do I leave the overflow tank empty when I fill it up and just let t naturally fill or whatever? Thanks for the help guys!!

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Dec 9, 2011 | 06:44 PM

Blue and White

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I just put the high capacity "Spectra Premium" in a '78 with 400M. I had flushed the block out with distilled water and it still had some water left in it that doesn't drain.

For filling, I looked up cooling system capacity first - 18 or 19 quarts on mine with "heavy duty" cooling. For 50/50 mix or better, I filled first with 2 1/2 gallons (10 quarts) of full strength anti-freeze then topped off with distilled water. It takes a while to make the initial fill as air needs to escape from the block.

Then I started it with cap off that helped burp some more air out. I topped it off, put the cap on and took it for a drive to get it up to temp with heater set on high. The first drive will burp some more air out. When cool, I topped again with distilled water - about 1" below the fill neck on the radiator - and called it good.

From now on, any coolant I add will be 50/50.