Topping Off Coolant
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Topping Off Coolant
Hello,
I have a '94 F250 7.3 that was leaking coolant from the bottom radiator hose due to a loose hose clamp. I bought NAPA green coolant (NOT 50/50 mix), NAPA Kool 4056 additive, distilled water and some test strips. This truck has green coolant in it, I believe I remember the previous owner telling me he had the coolant flushed by Ford.
I have a few questions:
Do I add straight coolant or a 50/50 mix of distilled water and this coolant to it to fill it?
Do I top off the coolant through the degas bottle? (the plastic container on the a passenger side, I think thats what its called)
Where is the best place to extract a coolant sample from this engine so I can check the SCA levels?
Thanks a lot for the help and your time.
Nathan
I have a '94 F250 7.3 that was leaking coolant from the bottom radiator hose due to a loose hose clamp. I bought NAPA green coolant (NOT 50/50 mix), NAPA Kool 4056 additive, distilled water and some test strips. This truck has green coolant in it, I believe I remember the previous owner telling me he had the coolant flushed by Ford.
I have a few questions:
Do I add straight coolant or a 50/50 mix of distilled water and this coolant to it to fill it?
Do I top off the coolant through the degas bottle? (the plastic container on the a passenger side, I think thats what its called)
Where is the best place to extract a coolant sample from this engine so I can check the SCA levels?
Thanks a lot for the help and your time.
Nathan
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
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From: Madison, WI
"Coolant" is whatever is in the cooling system. You want a 50/50 mix of the _anti-freeze_ you bought and distilled water. That mix, plus the SCA, is the _coolant_.
If you have a degas bottle, you must have a '95, and a "late" '95 at that. The '94.5s and early '95s had an old-school overflow tank and a radiator cap. In any case, you top off coolant via the degas or overflow, depending on which one you have.
If indeed you have a degas bottle, it's the only place to dip an SCA test strip., without removing a hose (which you don't want to do). I find I have to put the test strip on a needle-nose pliers to dip into the degas in order to test it. If you have a radiator cap, then dip the test strip there.
If you have a degas bottle, you must have a '95, and a "late" '95 at that. The '94.5s and early '95s had an old-school overflow tank and a radiator cap. In any case, you top off coolant via the degas or overflow, depending on which one you have.
If indeed you have a degas bottle, it's the only place to dip an SCA test strip., without removing a hose (which you don't want to do). I find I have to put the test strip on a needle-nose pliers to dip into the degas in order to test it. If you have a radiator cap, then dip the test strip there.
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Joined: Dec 2017
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Thanks for the reply, I confused the terminology on the overflow bottle. Mine is on the passenger side next to the washer fluid. So best thing is to find a way to dip a test strip in that bottle when it’s cold? Thanks
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