How's your ELC doing?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
Likes: 17
From: Florida
How's your ELC doing?
Hi all,
3 yrs is up and it is time to flush the coolant. I am going to clean with VC-9, rinse with distilled and then switch to ELC. For everyone that has already done this, how's it going? Any problems? I am hoping between this and the coolant filter that my oil cooler will last forever.
What do you guys recommend for changes after a switch? I was thinking every 500K mi
3 yrs is up and it is time to flush the coolant. I am going to clean with VC-9, rinse with distilled and then switch to ELC. For everyone that has already done this, how's it going? Any problems? I am hoping between this and the coolant filter that my oil cooler will last forever.
What do you guys recommend for changes after a switch? I was thinking every 500K mi
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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I will be doing the same in the next year as well, with the exception of the chemical flush (I did one when changing out my EGR/Oil cooler last year). My deltas are fine right now and using the chemical flush method could potentially change that. I will be doing a comprehensive distilled water flush instead. Record your deltas before and after. It would interesting to see if any change occurs.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
Likes: 17
From: Florida
I'll definitely post my deltas after. Currently 8-9 around town, but 13-16 on the freeway hauling a$$. I am going to change my thermostat at the same time because I seem to run a bit cold - I am rarely over 200, sometimes not even 190 ECT. That may affect the spread as well. I'm still assembling supplies so it will take a while for me to get back to you on the spread change.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
From: Southwest Desert, AZ
Sullid01,
Temps should be read at 65mph and after 20mins and level roadway. Not on the freeway hauling a$$. Why not try that and repost your numbers.
Was that a typo on 500K next coolant change? Maybe 50K sounds a little better.
FYI ELC 1 year and no problems and coolant filter has a few casting sand grains in it. I've reached the point of 1 filter per year. 1-1-13 next filter. Same time as I change oils/fluids in my quads.
Temps should be read at 65mph and after 20mins and level roadway. Not on the freeway hauling a$$. Why not try that and repost your numbers.
Was that a typo on 500K next coolant change? Maybe 50K sounds a little better.
FYI ELC 1 year and no problems and coolant filter has a few casting sand grains in it. I've reached the point of 1 filter per year. 1-1-13 next filter. Same time as I change oils/fluids in my quads.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
Likes: 17
From: Florida
Sullid01,
Temps should be read at 65mph and after 20mins and level roadway. Not on the freeway hauling a$$. Why not try that and repost your numbers.
Was that a typo on 500K next coolant change? Maybe 50K sounds a little better.
FYI ELC 1 year and no problems and coolant filter has a few casting sand grains in it. I've reached the point of 1 filter per year. 1-1-13 next filter. Same time as I change oils/fluids in my quads.
Temps should be read at 65mph and after 20mins and level roadway. Not on the freeway hauling a$$. Why not try that and repost your numbers.
Was that a typo on 500K next coolant change? Maybe 50K sounds a little better.
FYI ELC 1 year and no problems and coolant filter has a few casting sand grains in it. I've reached the point of 1 filter per year. 1-1-13 next filter. Same time as I change oils/fluids in my quads.
About my deltas - 12-13 would be average for "cruising" at 65mph - it is all flat around here, but on the freeway traffic is usually moving about 80 so I go with the flow. BTW, I don't think I have a problem - I am just due for a coolant change (3 yrs). Someone asked about deltas so I posted (although I admit I never could remember when I was supposed to take the reading). I have an Insight so I watch the thing all the time.
About the Restore - I have had a coolant filter for over 2 yrs now and rarely find anything in the filter anymore - do you still think it is necessary?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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I changed my thermostat also thinking it was faulty. The new one had the same results as the old one. On average it runs at 186 deg and usually doesn't go over 200 unless under load.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 259
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From: West TN
from my understanding, yes, if you're changing type of coolant, you need to. All of my understanding comes from reading these forums, so it's just regurgitation, not knowledge. I would do it, yes.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
I will be doing the same in the next year as well, with the Mexception of the chemical flush (I did one when changing out my EGR/Oil cooler last year).y deltas are fine right now and using the chemical flush method could potentially change that. I will be doing a comprehensive distilled water flush instead. Record your deltas before and after. It would interesting to see if any change occurs.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
I don't believe the chemicals will increase your chances of removing all the gold coolant. Repeated dillution and comprehensive flushing should bring it to a level safe enough to switch to ELC, and I believe several members have used this approach safely.
The only thing I will be doing additionally is removing the block plugs to increase the amount of gold coolant removed with each flush. The plugs will be replaced with fumoto valves for ease of flushing. After seeing what came out of my chemical flushes, I would never do it on a healthy cooling system out of fear of clogging the oil cooler. It's an unnecessary risk in my eyes. It didn't take many flushes for me to obtain fairly clear water from the cooling system.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 900
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From: Arizona
I don't believe the chemicals will increase your chances of removing all the gold coolant. Repeated dillution and comprehensive flushing should bring it to a level safe enough to switch to ELC, and I believe several members have used this approach safely.
The only thing I will be doing additionally is removing the block plugs to increase the amount of gold coolant removed with each flush. The plugs will be replaced with fumoto valves for ease of flushing. After seeing what came out of my chemical flushes, I would never do it on a healthy cooling system out of fear of clogging the oil cooler. It's an unnecessary risk in my eyes. It didn't take many flushes for me to obtain fairly clear water from the cooling system.
The only thing I will be doing additionally is removing the block plugs to increase the amount of gold coolant removed with each flush. The plugs will be replaced with fumoto valves for ease of flushing. After seeing what came out of my chemical flushes, I would never do it on a healthy cooling system out of fear of clogging the oil cooler. It's an unnecessary risk in my eyes. It didn't take many flushes for me to obtain fairly clear water from the cooling system.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: knox Tn
I will be doing the same in the next year as well, with the exception of the chemical flush (I did one when changing out my EGR/Oil cooler last year). My deltas are fine right now and using the chemical flush method could potentially change that. I will be doing a comprehensive distilled water flush instead. Record your deltas before and after. It would interesting to see if any change occurs.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
Likes: 17
From: Florida
Yep - that's exactly what I get. My delta's are a bit higher than yours are. I have 55Kmi on an original oil cooler. It seems like some of you think I am playing with fire doing the chemical flush. Should I just stick to the distilled water?
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 313
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The picture is deceptive. The Restore flush included the original gold I drained out. When you take into consideration that you're gonna get 3+ gallons out of each flush, it's only like 4-5 flushes per treatment. With the thermostat removed (highly recommended) you can have this done in a couple of hours.