I am working on a 2007 F-250 4X4 that has 166K and just had a coolant flush about 50 miles a go.
Here is the question: We would like to change the oil cooler now because it has never been done to his knowledge. The truck is completely bullet proof but he doesn't was a plugged cooler to happen so he wants to change the cooler and install a coolant filter at the same time.
Do we need to drain the coolant or can it be done with minimal coolant mess. Also can it be done without removing the turbo?

 

I'd get the temp. spreads between the eot and ect before throwing money at it for no reason. If the temp. spread is good use the money elsewhere.

 

I hear you but it's not my money, I'm just doing the work. Just need to know if the coolant needs to be completely re-drained or can I just pull off the required parts and re-install.

 

If your doing an oil cooler change and it hasn't ruptured then you should do a full chemical flush with VC-9 first and then distilled water till totally clean.

 

I did a chemical flush with VC-9 using a thread on this forum actually about a week from yesterday (50 miles). Really just need to know if I can pull the intake manifold and oil cooler without having to flush the entire system again know what I mean.

 

Yes, the coolant will have to be dropped. The oil cooler has oil and coolant in it so if you don't drain it's likely to get coolant in the oil on disassembly. A couple of gallons should do it. You'll get about two and a half gallons by draining the radiator, should be more than enough. I'd catch it in a clean bucket, keep it covered and reuse it.

I've never pulled the oil cooler cover without pulling the turbo and intake but I've only done this job a few times but it may be possible. I think I've read the cover clears the intake if you trim the forward EGR cooler mount tab off the intake manifold with a cutting wheel. Which shouldn't be an issue if this truck has an EGR delete already.

 

Great advice thanks. I had only mentioned the intake manifold but yes the turbo and everything else associated will be removed so I won't have to trim anything.

 

the intake cannot be pulled without pulling the turbo ..... unless there has been an egr delete and the egr mounting tab has been cut off the intake.

Drain the coolant from the radiator. It'll be about 3 gallons. Catch, filter and reuse.

If it were my truck, I'd like to drive it for a few hundred miles first and drive it hard for those miles. I'd want to wash anything I could that broke loose from the coolant flush into the oil cooler before it got removed. With just 50 miles, there may be stuff floating around that is just waiting to mess up that new oil cooler.