Notices
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

coolant flush.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 11, 2012 | 01:22 AM
  #1  
Bigtruc's Avatar
Bigtruc
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
coolant flush.

I am gonna be doing a coolant flush soon along with new 203 thermostat billet housing & new seals on the lower tube. I am wondering about what is out there that I can run through the engine to help clean all the gunk out of the cooling system. I thought I read somewhere on here one time about using a simple green/water mix but how much can I safely use? Thanks guys
 
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2012 | 01:44 AM
  #2  
Stewart_H's Avatar
Stewart_H
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Club FTE Gold Member
VC-9 is the chemical flush the 6.0L PSD owners use whenever they have contaminated coolant.

What year is your rig? Is it the '99 pictured in your garage in your User profile? Is it an E99 or an L99?

What makes you think you need to flush your system with a product like VC-9?

Stewart
 

Last edited by Stewart_H; Dec 11, 2012 at 01:46 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2012 | 01:57 AM
  #3  
Bigtruc's Avatar
Bigtruc
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
It's an e99, I just want to do it as a preventative measure to get the system as clean as I can. Bought the truck this spring with 150k on it & don't know how the PO was with maintenance so it's for my own piece of mind
 
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2012 | 02:18 AM
  #4  
Stewart_H's Avatar
Stewart_H
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Check out this thread from the 6.0L PSD forum: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post8061403

Since you have an E99, make sure you stick with a conventional "green" coolant with proper SCA package dosage when you refill.

Stewart
 
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2012 | 10:03 AM
  #5  
SkySkiJason's Avatar
SkySkiJason
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Club FTE Gold Member
I always put a petcock valve on the drain plug above the starter. That plug is always a PITA for me and the valve makes is sooooo easy to drain between flushes.

Also, I fill with distilled water and run without t-stat to 'flush'. I'm in the middle of an engine swap and the new engine's coolant was contaminated with fuel - I'm gonna look into the VC-9. Thanks Stew!
 
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2012 | 05:48 PM
  #6  
Stewart_H's Avatar
Stewart_H
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by SkySkiJason
... and the new engine's coolant was contaminated with fuel - I'm gonna look into the VC-9. Thanks Stew!
Yep, the six-oh guys will use Simple Green, flush, then the VC-9 and flush whenever they have a fuel or oil intrusion of the coolant system.

The Simple Green removes the oil contamination in the cooling system. The VC-9 is a rust remover.

Stewart
 
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2012 | 09:48 PM
  #7  
A/Ox4's Avatar
A/Ox4
9 ECHO 1
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Club FTE Silver Member

I needed to remove rust from my system, so I went to Ford for some VC9. They had it in stock and were ready to sell it to me when..... I decided to just let them do it in the service bay in <1 Hour rather than me spend an afternoon doing it (I had other things to do). So I forked over $168 and they took my keys and got to work. 50 some odd minutes later my truck was done, flushed, cooling refilled, and washed.

Later I looked at the invoice and found that they hadnt charged me for any VC9, but rather for a kit called BG Cooling System Cleaner. Why they use this over the Ford VC9? I have no idea.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2012 | 12:15 AM
  #8  
Stewart_H's Avatar
Stewart_H
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by A/Ox4
Why they use this over the Ford VC9? I have no idea.
I found this info on the 'net:

BG Products, Inc.

BG Universal Cooling System Cleaner


BG Universal Cooling System Cleaner is a revolutionary formulation with amazingly safe and effective cleaning capabilities. It removes tough organic deposits that result from oil fouling, grease and glycol oxidation residues—yet contains no harsh chemicals. BG Universal Cooling System Cleaner can be used in either gasoline or diesel engines. It is completely harmless to all cooling system components, and the cooling system does not require neutralization after service.
VC-9 needs to be completely flushed from the system, plus it's specifically a rust remover. The BG stuff looks like it's geared more to oil and grease contamination.

"VC-9 Contains cleaners that effectively remove rust and polymers that disperse sludges, is non-aggressive to both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including mild steel, copper, aluminum, cast iron, brass, bronze, and stainless steels and provides a passive iron surface after cleaning to avoid flash rusting"
Stewart
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-3

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
Old Dec 12, 2012 | 12:19 AM
  #9  
A/Ox4's Avatar
A/Ox4
9 ECHO 1
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Club FTE Silver Member

I wonder if it still works on rust.. that was the whole purpose of my flush lol
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2012 | 12:38 AM
  #10  
Stewart_H's Avatar
Stewart_H
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Club FTE Gold Member
My Google info search wasn't too in-depth Trey, but I didn't see anywhere in any of the info I Googled stating the BG cleaner removes rust.

Stewart
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2012 | 12:41 AM
  #11  
A/Ox4's Avatar
A/Ox4
9 ECHO 1
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by Stewart_H
My Google info search wasn't too in-depth Trey, but I didn't see anywhere in any of the info I Googled stating the BG cleaner removes rust.

Stewart
I've had similar google results. Perhaps I will write the company. My first coolant filter change should be revealing.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Westerman
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
2
Aug 11, 2016 09:56 PM
FSJ-EARL
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
8
Oct 29, 2010 08:08 PM
6litrefan
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
17
Jul 5, 2010 12:39 PM
makohon
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
31
Nov 9, 2008 09:57 AM
crapr6
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
12
Oct 4, 2004 09:47 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:43 PM.

story-0
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-2
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE