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Question on a coolant flush...

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Old Aug 3, 2013 | 03:40 PM
  #1  
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Question on a coolant flush...

Was about to attempt a coolant flush on my 05 F350 with 70k miles. Was thinking of using this method....

See if that link even works...it says to flush with hose and then follow up with one or two flushes with distilled water. I bought 4 gallons of the Zerex ELC C-1... So is this basically the way? Or do I need to consider pulling the plug(s) on the block?

Thanks...!!
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 12:24 AM
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Pulling the plugs is quicker. I did mine without pulling the plugs and it took most of the day. I've decided to get the valves and pull the plugs if I have to do it again. Takes way too much tune to do it right without pulling the plugs.

I recommend using internationals Restore then Restore Plus (save as ford vc9) to make sure its done right.

I had to replace a oil cooler after 20k miles because the mechanic didn't flush the coolant system after an oil cooler rupture.
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 01:12 AM
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This:


The garden hose with running engine is by far the best at getting everything out. All plugs, drains removed and full water flow.


If you have decent temp spreads I recommend NOT doing a chemical flush, just water.

Josh
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 01:33 AM
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what they said. lol. if u need me, drop me a pm. i did mine and switched out to an ELC, but i also did my egr delete with updated turbo oil feed line and updated turbo oil drain pipe. couple other things too.
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 05:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Snuggyworm
what they said. lol. if u need me, drop me a pm. i did mine and switched out to an ELC, but i also did my egr delete with updated turbo oil feed line and updated turbo oil drain pipe. couple other things too.
I have the exact same truck as you do, 2005. F350. King Ranch. DRW. 4x4.... I truely believe that with a good maintenance schedule and the proper parts (not always Ford parts), this diesel can run for a long, long time.
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Bullitt390
This:

6.0 Liter Ford Powerstroke - Flushing the Cooling System Part II - Including Why Oil Coolers Fail - YouTube

The garden hose with running engine is by far the best at getting everything out. All plugs, drains removed and full water flow.


If you have decent temp spreads I recommend NOT doing a chemical flush, just water.

Josh
Also remove the t-stat or you won't get the proper flow. It will not open due to the constant supply of cold water.
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Bullitt390
This:

If you have decent temp spreads I recommend NOT doing a chemical flush, just water.

Josh
Wait... what? So if you don't do a chemical flush, how do you switch to ELC? I have both a gallon of Restore and a gallon of Restore Plus. I planned on 2 quarts of restore, and then 2 quarts of Restore Plus to accomplish my switch to ELC Cat-1.
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by 99ExpyProblems
Wait... what? So if you don't do a chemical flush, how do you switch to ELC? I have both a gallon of Restore and a gallon of Restore Plus. I planned on 2 quarts of restore, and then 2 quarts of Restore Plus to accomplish my switch to ELC Cat-1.
You don't have to do a chemical flush to switch to ELC.

Odds are, if you have a good oil cooler and use chemicals, it won't be long before you'll be replacing the cooler.

Josh
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 09:17 AM
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Here is what I did:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13077974

Josh
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 09:56 AM
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I hate to offer a different thought than Bullitt because I am no expert.

A member posted about two weeks ago that he had deltas in the 30s. He did a chemical flush an his deltas went down to less than 10. I distinctly remember the post because I was shocked with the results.

Until the post, I was a firm believer in not chemical flushing unless you had high deltas. I had a deltas of 40 after a chemical flush done during a radiator replacement. But my coolant system was nasty because it wasn't flushed when the oil cooler was replaced a year earlier. I tried another chemical flush with no changes to the delta.

I did not have readings on the delta before the radiator replacement. My system was so nasty, i think the oil cooler was plugged before the radiator replacement.

In summary, I would not chemical flush if I had good deltas. Not because I think it would hurt, but because there is no need ..... And there is a chance it could hurt. Most people think it will. I really don't know if it will or not.

Does anyone have any experience with chemical flushes causing deltas to increase? If so, please post. I know one example where a chemical flush decreased deltas.
 

Last edited by BryanStein; Aug 4, 2013 at 09:57 AM. Reason: typo
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by BryanStein
I hate to offer a different thought than Bullitt because I am no expert.

A member posted about two weeks ago that he had deltas in the 30s. He did a chemical flush an his deltas went down to less than 10. I distinctly remember the post because I was shocked with the results.

Until the post, I was a firm believer in not chemical flushing unless you had high deltas. I had a deltas of 40 after a chemical flush done during a radiator replacement. But my coolant system was nasty because it wasn't flushed when the oil cooler was replaced a year earlier. I tried another chemical flush with no changes to the delta.

I did not have readings on the delta before the radiator replacement. My system was so nasty, i think the oil cooler was plugged before the radiator replacement.

In summary, I would not chemical flush if I had good deltas. Not because I think it would hurt, but because there is no need ..... And there is a chance it could hurt. Most people think it will. I really don't know if it will or not.

Does anyone have any experience with chemical flushes causing deltas to increase? If so, please post. I know one example where a chemical flush decreased deltas.
That's what I said in Post 3. If you have decent temps, DO NOT do a chem flush.

If you are having a high temp spread, then do a chem flush as what do you have to lose?

Looks like we agree, not disagree.

And, there have been more than a few that have had great temp spreads, did a VC-9 or some other chem flush and the cooler ended up crapping the bed not much later.

Josh
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 01:44 PM
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So you wouldn't even do use Restore on it? I have seen my Deltas as High as 16, but not using the 'official' test from Ford where you WOT on flat highway. I'm usually around 6-12 cruising around town/idling etc. I'm still confused at how that measurement works.

ie Take measurements while WOT, Take measurements at a stand still after WOT etc etc. Like I said, 16 is the highest spread I have ever seen and I changed my ScanGaguge II to update on it's fastest setting. I check it frequently, more frequently than I probably need to, but the truck is new to me, so I've been running through all the maintenance.
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 99ExpyProblems
So you wouldn't even do use Restore on it? I have seen my Deltas as High as 16, but not using the 'official' test from Ford where you WOT on flat highway. I'm usually around 6-12 cruising around town/idling etc. I'm still confused at how that measurement works.

ie Take measurements while WOT, Take measurements at a stand still after WOT etc etc. Like I said, 16 is the highest spread I have ever seen and I changed my ScanGaguge II to update on it's fastest setting. I check it frequently, more frequently than I probably need to, but the truck is new to me, so I've been running through all the maintenance.
Looks like your cooler is plugging.

In your situation I would use a chem flush, whether VC9 or CLR.

If your temps were normal and were wanting to switch to ELC then just straight water would be my recommendation.

Josh
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 02:11 PM
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Here is a great read on Coolant. I believe it's mostly about what to do on 7.3L, but the information about mixing coolants, using tap water and brands etc.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...rmation-3.html


Also, as Josh stated, I guess others agree... you don't need to do a chem flush when switching to ELC.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...formation.html
 
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 02:38 PM
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DeltAs should be checked at 65 mph steady after warning up for 20 minutes.
Deltas decrease at idle and coasting, increase at higher speeds, towing and pulling hills.

Temps should decrease on downhill runs.

My delta is 7 to 8 with a new oil cooler.

If ur delta is good at 65; I would not chemical flush.
 
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