Well, the deed is done, I am now a conformist - lol. 4 flushes with distilled water and 3.5 gallons of Rotella ELC Ultra. Also have a new lower radiator hose.

Procedure:

Drained radiator (degas bottle was at the minimum mark - got out 14.75 quarts (3.7 gallons)

Drained passenger side block - got 3.25 quarts

Drained drivers side block - got 2.5 quarts.

Total drained fluid - 20.5 quarts or 5 1/8 gallons (apprx). The total system holds 27.5 quarts.

Removed the thermostat.

Filled system w/ 4.75 gallons of distilled water (to the max full line). Had to start the truck and idle it to get the last couple of quarts in. Clearly there are air pockets that will eventually need to be gotten out.

Loosely screwed the degas bottle cap on. Drove for 15-20 minutes with the heater on max. I had zero pressure building in the degas bottle w/ the cap being on loose (I monitor the degas bottle pressure). After the drive was done, I had gotten the coolant temp to 140 *F. I shut it down, waited 30 minutes or so and repeated 3 more times.

Each time I drove it after the refills, the max temp increased by about 5 *F.

The last fill was 3.5 gallons of coolant and a little over 1 1/4 gallons of distilled water.

Drove it again w/ the degas cap on loose until the temp got to 190 degrees. Then screwed the cap on all the way. Again - no pressure in the degas bottle.

I will let it cool down, drive it again and get it fully up to temp and then I will carefully vent off the pressure. This should eventually work the air pockets out.

according to the math, I had 0.07 qts of the Gold left in after the 4th flush. That is 2.25 ounces.

BTW - I still am not sure why I switched . I am not one to believe that the Ford Gold is the root af all 6.0L problems!

 

You caved in?

 

Ouch ......................



yes

 

Et Tu Brutus

 

Lol its ok we all know the reason is the extended intervals. That flush procedure is really long and annoying. :-)

 

I am still defending the Gold (with proper maintenance) and catching a little flac for it over on the org - lol. Oh well.

The flush isn't fun, but I really hate those spring-loaded hose clamps!

 

It's all good...just poking and prodding a little. LOL!

 

How hard was it to remove the passenger side block plug?
I only did the driver side block plug when i flushed mine and 6 months later my water pump is going out so i may flush again since it was so much fun and all

 

I have fumoto vales in the block - both sides. Made it real nice.

I had them put in when I had the studs done.

I would remove the starter to install the passenger side fumoto valve. It was hard enough to reach in there and connect the drain hose (I have both block drains connected to a drain hose, and I tie them together to one drain location).

 

And you catch flac so very well Mark.

Shell Rotella Ultra ELC, from what I have read so far, that might be a good choice. Fairly new product, and when ever you lift the hood, no one will ever notice you changed!

(I have been watching the "other" site)

Thanks for sharing!

 

What color is it? I'm sooooo hooked on the gold...don't know if I could stray away.

 

It is yellow also. But be aware - it is like "gold" in several ways ..............

 

Yeah, I saw some pricing. I was going to ask, how many times you could change the Ford gold for the price?

 

Three. And I got a GOOD deal on it.

 

Three, with a deal! That was a good deal!