Hello all I feel guilty asking another coolant question. Background bought the truck new in 2003 its used primarily to pull camper, boat, utility and hay trailer's, never daily driven. Serviced the coolant in 2007 before a long trip truck had 45k on the clock. Drained system filled with water ran, drain, run drain until clear and clean, drained refilled with 4 gallons of motorcraft gold as recommended by the manual.
Brain fart to date, no service work performed on coolant system. Coolant looks good at 69,984 miles and 8 years later. Today I serviced the coolant system same method as described above. Question is would I have caused any damage, cavitation, by not keeping additive added and test strips run. The truck see's basically no short trips just used when a tow motor is needed so the miles are working miles. I never pulled in OD always locked out and cruise set at 2500 rpm if any of that matters.
Thanks for the great site, I primarily lurk but enjoy it a lot. SN

 

There's coolant systems that get treated way worse than yours, you should be fine.

And when you said filled with coolant, did you mix it 50/50 with demineralized water?

 

Personally, your probably fine. There are hundreds of thousands of PSDs that haven't seen SCAs at all or since they left the factory. While cavitation can happen it was a more common problem on the IDI 7.3s than the PDs.

^^ agreed...




Flushed the above out of my truck's cooling system back in 2011... it was the original MC gold coolant and it had the consistency of melted jello. The silica had totally come out of suspension giving it the weird texture. But the truck hasn't had an issue since I flushed it out so I would say your fine.

 

I drained it getting 4 gallons of anti freeze out. Then filled run and drained until it dumped nothing but water. This included two drives with the tap water fill and heater on to be sure it was at operating temp and then opened the radiator drain and let it drain while adding water to make up for what was running out. When all was coming out clear and clean I shut off the truck and drained to the radiator. As 4 gallons came out the first time or half of the capacity I added 4 gallons of motorcraft gold antifreeze. Its about maybe a quart low right now so I will have to purchase one more gallon to get it to full but it will still be within the factory spec of not more than 60% antifreeze. I did not use distilled water most likely a mistake on my part. I made the same mistake in 07 but the first 50-50 mix I drained looked real clean, very clear and it had just a little sand looking stuff in the last little bit in the drain pan. I would guess this grit would have been about 1/4 teaspoon.
Everything else on the truck is original. I carried a belt and crank sensor last year on vacation for insurance sakes and both are still under the seat. The trip were planning this year will be 2500-3000 miles pulling our 30ft 5th wheel. Last vacation the temp started to climb going up Monark pass in Colorado. But that's 30 to 45 minutes of on the floor to keep up with traffic and backing off the throttle cured it. It never showed any temp rise on wolf creek pass or the red mountains on 550 highway going up to Silveton both arguably tougher pulls. But it alarmed me as its made all the pulls before with no temperature rise. At 70k it would seem most original parts should be in pretty good shape. Sorry for the long post but my families trip sorta depends on my truck being able to stay cool. I flushed the fins from the front and rear. Serviced the trans for the second time, filter then flush machine so it all new oil. Transfer case oil was changed as well. Hope to get the brake fluid flushed as well. So that's my story. Any other 12 year old 70k parts that should be chanced or serviced? Thanks for your insight. SN

 

I rumbled through Silverton, CO and the million dollar highway about 6 years ago in a cross country trip. Crazy terrain for a guy from Mass.

If you are really concerned about trans temp, a 6.0 trans cooler is a good way to go if you can do it.

How old is the power steering fluid in the truck? If that is original might not be a bad idea to flush that. Also how much life is left in the pads and rotors on the truck? With that few miles in so many years I would be concerned about rust or seized/lazy slide pins.