Hi Guys,
I'm putting an XDP coolant filter system on my 6.0 and replacing the oem thermostat. I am new to diesel engines and therefore a "diesel dummy". Please give me direction and advice on the correct way to thoroughly flush my coolant system and any additives or tricks to do the job correctly and have a clean system. Thanks for your help!

 

Welcome you should find the info in the tech folder in sticky section I'm sure some one will be along to help if not enough info .

 

Personally, if you're not changing coolant types or replacing the oil cooler for a specific reason then I would not chemically flush the system. You'll just plug up your oil cooler faster. If you're just changing coolant then drain and flush, with the thermostat removed from the housing (it just twists out), until the system runs clean. I start with tap water then go to distilled. On the LAST drain of distilled water, install the new thermostat, seal up the system, add 3.5 gallons of 100% coolant. This should put you to or over the minimum line on the degas bottle. Drive the truck to operating temperature--15 or 20 miles at least--to get air out of the system and check the bottle level. If you need to adjust the level either let the truck cool or cover the cap and SLOWLY bleed the system pressure off. I like to let the truck cool by itself with a loose cap before adjusting the level, which should end up 1/2" below the minimum line.

 

If you are only changing from the Ford Gold over to CAT ELC would you still need to do a chemical flush or would a regular water flush work?

 

That's a hard call. Do you run a filter? How's your coolant look right now?

 

I do not currently run a filter. I thought it would be best to do that after the change over. I coolant in the degas bottle looks fine (not muddy or mucky looking). Also I would want to back flush the oil cooler to make sure it get cleaned our well and if any blockage was there I could remove it. Deltas look fine to me currently as they are 8-10 degrees (ECT 188, EOT 196-198).