DIY coolant change
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Summit, MS
DIY coolant change
Anybody do your 105,000 mile coolant change yourself? Mine is overdue by 28K as far as I know, but I want to do it myself so I will know without a doubt. Any tricks to it?
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
Have you tested your nitrates at all?
If you're going by the "Special Operating Conditions" maintenance schedule, which everyone should be, coolant should be changed at 60K, 110K, 160K.
You can probably drain most of the coolant from the drain on the bottom of the radiator, but I'm not sure if you'll get all of it without hooking up to a machine to flush the system. Haven't done it on the 6.4, but my 95 7.3 and 99 7.3 both were able to do a typicall self flush. Kind of tedious and a PITA with disposing of coolant, running distilled water through the system and just the whole process.
If you're going by the "Special Operating Conditions" maintenance schedule, which everyone should be, coolant should be changed at 60K, 110K, 160K.
You can probably drain most of the coolant from the drain on the bottom of the radiator, but I'm not sure if you'll get all of it without hooking up to a machine to flush the system. Haven't done it on the 6.4, but my 95 7.3 and 99 7.3 both were able to do a typicall self flush. Kind of tedious and a PITA with disposing of coolant, running distilled water through the system and just the whole process.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,861
From: Frederick, MD
You would need to remove the block plugs to get the complete drain. Then a airlift tool and add the coolant and get all the air out.
Your fuel cooler is due as well. Separate system so get that done.
Your fuel cooler is due as well. Separate system so get that done.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Summit, MS
Haven't checked nitrates. How do I do that? I just purchased the truck and I want to get all fluids changed so I know what's going on. I think I'll check with the local dealership just to see how much a proper flush will be. I can do it myself if they try to rob me. Thanks for replies!
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,861
From: Frederick, MD
Haven't checked nitrates. How do I do that? I just purchased the truck and I want to get all fluids changed so I know what's going on. I think I'll check with the local dealership just to see how much a proper flush will be. I can do it myself if they try to rob me. Thanks for replies!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 1
From: The Woodlands, TX
How do you know the previous owner didn't have ESP?
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
esp maintenance and wear is not a common thing and thats the only way it woudl show up.
I look at thios stuff all day long
I look at thios stuff all day long
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
maintenance questions
I'm looking at this thread as I'm checking my maintenance requirements and researching what others are doing. I just passed 60,000 miles.
I went to the Ford Owner site and assumed all of my dealer service work would be logged here but only two of the 12 or so are here. I've used the same dealer since buying the truck new 3.5 years ago. I entered them manually so I'd have them all in once place. I was given an owner loyalty card with my name and a number on it but I don't see any points on the owner site. Are they supposed to be tracked there?
Does the dealer or Ford track all of my maintenance in a separate system? What exactly is OASIS?
I do a mix of towing (15000 lb GN trailer), hauling random stuff, city, & hwy driving so I've been using the 5000-ish severe service schedule. Now that I have a reliable daily driver the truck will get to rest more (~10K miles per year instead of ~17K).
What's the change interval on my SRW 4x4 diffs? Trans fluid was just done. What about the transfer case? Coolant change coming shortly.
Thanks
I went to the Ford Owner site and assumed all of my dealer service work would be logged here but only two of the 12 or so are here. I've used the same dealer since buying the truck new 3.5 years ago. I entered them manually so I'd have them all in once place. I was given an owner loyalty card with my name and a number on it but I don't see any points on the owner site. Are they supposed to be tracked there?
Does the dealer or Ford track all of my maintenance in a separate system? What exactly is OASIS?
I do a mix of towing (15000 lb GN trailer), hauling random stuff, city, & hwy driving so I've been using the 5000-ish severe service schedule. Now that I have a reliable daily driver the truck will get to rest more (~10K miles per year instead of ~17K).
What's the change interval on my SRW 4x4 diffs? Trans fluid was just done. What about the transfer case? Coolant change coming shortly.
Thanks
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,861
From: Frederick, MD
I'm looking at this thread as I'm checking my maintenance requirements and researching what others are doing. I just passed 60,000 miles.
I went to the Ford Owner site and assumed all of my dealer service work would be logged here but only two of the 12 or so are here. I've used the same dealer since buying the truck new 3.5 years ago. I entered them manually so I'd have them all in once place. I was given an owner loyalty card with my name and a number on it but I don't see any points on the owner site. Are they supposed to be tracked there?
Does the dealer or Ford track all of my maintenance in a separate system? What exactly is OASIS?
I do a mix of towing (15000 lb GN trailer), hauling random stuff, city, & hwy driving so I've been using the 5000-ish severe service schedule. Now that I have a reliable daily driver the truck will get to rest more (~10K miles per year instead of ~17K).
What's the change interval on my SRW 4x4 diffs? Trans fluid was just done. What about the transfer case? Coolant change coming shortly.
Thanks
I went to the Ford Owner site and assumed all of my dealer service work would be logged here but only two of the 12 or so are here. I've used the same dealer since buying the truck new 3.5 years ago. I entered them manually so I'd have them all in once place. I was given an owner loyalty card with my name and a number on it but I don't see any points on the owner site. Are they supposed to be tracked there?
Does the dealer or Ford track all of my maintenance in a separate system? What exactly is OASIS?
I do a mix of towing (15000 lb GN trailer), hauling random stuff, city, & hwy driving so I've been using the 5000-ish severe service schedule. Now that I have a reliable daily driver the truck will get to rest more (~10K miles per year instead of ~17K).
What's the change interval on my SRW 4x4 diffs? Trans fluid was just done. What about the transfer case? Coolant change coming shortly.
Thanks
OASIS is the Ford online system that we canot see. There the dealer verifies all customer info/warranty/recalls.
Obviously if they are not entering then no customer loyalty points either. You should see it at the bottom or the left side of the page under Quick Links..then Customer Advantage Rewards.
60K rear diff service, 100K on the fronts.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,787
Likes: 102
From: Georgia
Given the mileage and the lack of history with the truck I vote to flush and refill. I did mine a couple weeks ago. It takes a while but there is nothing hard about it. If you google 6.4L coolant replacement it should take you to a you tube from Powerstrokehelp.com. I can't remember his name right now but he is in ATL area and has a couple dozen youtubes on the site about doing various things. If you don't find it repost here and I'll look a little harder and see if I can post up a link.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,923
Likes: 2,642
From: The Great State of Texas
Given the mileage and the lack of history with the truck I vote to flush and refill. I did mine a couple weeks ago. It takes a while but there is nothing hard about it. If you google 6.4L coolant replacement it should take you to a you tube from Powerstrokehelp.com. I can't remember his name right now but he is in ATL area and has a couple dozen youtubes on the site about doing various things. If you don't find it repost here and I'll look a little harder and see if I can post up a link.
I believe this is the video you're referring to. I flushed/changed my radiater fluid a couple of times and used only distilled water to flush the engine instead of tap water like was is used in this video. It took 4 cycles of draining and adding distilled water before the radiater drained clear water.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,787
Likes: 102
From: Georgia
Stanley,
I believe this is the video you're referring to. I flushed/changed my radiater fluid a couple of times and used only distilled water to flush the engine instead of tap water like was is used in this video. It took 4 cycles of draining and adding distilled water before the radiater drained clear water.
6.0 SYSTEM FLUSH - YouTube
I believe this is the video you're referring to. I flushed/changed my radiater fluid a couple of times and used only distilled water to flush the engine instead of tap water like was is used in this video. It took 4 cycles of draining and adding distilled water before the radiater drained clear water.
6.0 SYSTEM FLUSH - YouTube
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Glenwood City, Wis
Haven't checked nitrates. How do I do that? I just purchased the truck and I want to get all fluids changed so I know what's going on. I think I'll check with the local dealership just to see how much a proper flush will be. I can do it myself if they try to rob me. Thanks for replies!
I would think the dealer should of did all that before had but then again they want to save money out of there own pocket!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
