Coolant Trouble
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 16
From: Ideeho
Start with draining old coolant, then go buy a bottle or two of a good cooling system cleaner. Permatex used to make the best one, but the last time I needed to flush one, I couldn't find it. Don't remember what brand I ended up using. Don't know if Permatex still makes it or not. Use the cleaner as recommended and then refill with new coolant. It will either clean it up or find every place that you would end up with a leak eventually. Looks like the cooling system has been neglected for years on that one!!!
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More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 580
Likes: 4
From: Michigan
You would be correct. Just want through that process two months ago and problem is back. My cousin owned the truck and was abusive to it and not mechanically inclined. The truck also slowly loses coolant and I haven't fount the leak but it's on something hot because I can smell it. And the oil isnt milky colored. I'm working on getting a loan for a 1993 F350 with a 7.3 idi. 72000 miles. Then I can put this one in the shop as a project.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 4
From: Washington
A couple of tablespoons of dawn dish soap works too. Drain the dirty coolant, then refill with plain water. Add three tablespoons of Dawn, and drive around a couple days. Drain the water and repeat if necessary. Once it's nice and clean flush with water until all of the suds are gone. Drain the water and refill with 50/50 coolant/distilled water.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
A couple of tablespoons of dawn dish soap works too. Drain the dirty coolant, then refill with plain water. Add three tablespoons of Dawn, and drive around a couple days. Drain the water and repeat if necessary. Once it's nice and clean flush with water until all of the suds are gone. Drain the water and refill with 50/50 coolant/distilled water.
Sorry, couldn't help myself . . .
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Penn Valley
My take: drain and refill with 50/50.
Do it again next year if it still looks muddy.
It will be pretty much clean then.
Do it every 3-4 years thereafter to prevent this from happening again.
The cooling system is not like the oil system, doesn't need to be squeaky clean nor can it be.
I don't like using chemical flush, too hard to get it all out and get rid of it. And it seems to make little nuisance leaks pop up all over.
Do it again next year if it still looks muddy.
It will be pretty much clean then.
Do it every 3-4 years thereafter to prevent this from happening again.
The cooling system is not like the oil system, doesn't need to be squeaky clean nor can it be.
I don't like using chemical flush, too hard to get it all out and get rid of it. And it seems to make little nuisance leaks pop up all over.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2014
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mine looks like that, and its a brand new radiator, wtf?
I would flush the radiator really good.
there are different ways, I've always used distilled water and white vinegar, its been so long since I had to do this, I forgot the ratio of distilled water to vinegar,
but you drain the radiator fill it with the mix of distilled water and vinegar, let it run, drain it, fill it, run it, drain it, flush, repeat. etc, etc,
I would flush the radiator really good.
there are different ways, I've always used distilled water and white vinegar, its been so long since I had to do this, I forgot the ratio of distilled water to vinegar,
but you drain the radiator fill it with the mix of distilled water and vinegar, let it run, drain it, fill it, run it, drain it, flush, repeat. etc, etc,
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 4
From: Washington
I installed a new radiator, water pump, hoses, overflow tank, and thermostat two years ago. I also flushed the coolant several times before refilling with. A couple of months later the coolant was just as muddy as yours is now. I flushed it again a year after I replaced those parts. I'm flushing it again right now, and it's still muddy. I've pulled the drain plugs in the block each time. The driver side plug is full of gunk and doesn't even drain. I'm still getting rust and gunk out of the block after two years. It's not all coming out until I decide to rebuild the motor, and have it hot tanked.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 8
judging by the amount of rust in the throat of that rad filler neck, the OP is in a similar state. as for there being a fix ... the rusty insides of the block will continue to discolour your coolant. that in itself is not a real concern, but that rad, and your heater rad, could be awfully close to the point of being ineffective.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 8
i agree; well worth flushing and carrying on ... but i would budget for a rad and/or heater just in case.
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