I'm fixing to change my water pump today, as th old one has had a catastrophic failure.

While doing this job, I'm going to swap to Red ELC. I know it needs to be flushed well when changing over. Will it be easier to flush while all the parts and such are out? Or to install everything, and then use the water pump to power the flush like in Gooch's Coolant Flush procedure?

 

Id go with the install but leave the t-stat out. After the flushing of distilled water, drain system, pull coolant plugs...get ALL water out then proceed to re install olugs, tstat then fill ur up

 

I went a different route since I am on well water and did not want to put the minerals of the Earth water into the engine.

I removed and installed the waterpump. In order to do that, you should first drain the block by removing the plugs in the lower half of the engine. I could not get the one behind the starter, so I left it. I drained the radiator as well. Replaced the waterpump and then gutted the thermostat since I was installed a new one. I filled the truck with distilled water from the store. I had bought 45 gallons of distilled water prior to starting the job. It is about $1 per gallon, so not a big deal. I set 5 gallons aside because that would be my 50/50 ELC and distilled water mixture since I was using concentrate ELC from Rotella.

I ran the truck with the return line that goes into the top of the degas bottle plumed into an empty gallon jug that I had just poured distilled water out of. I kept an eye on the degas bottle level and filled with fresh distilled water as necessary. The fluid started to run clear about 15-20 gallons into the procedure, but just to be sure I pushed all 40 gallons through. Make sure the HVAC heater is on full hot while doing this in order to purge the coolant out of there as well.

Once I had all 40 gallons of distilled water pushed through and the fluid had been running clear for a while, I drained the system again. I installed a good thermostat and then poured the ELC and distilled water in at the same time but at a 1 to 2 ratio or close to it. Two parts ELC to one part distilled water. This way I was sure to get the required amount of ELC in and could top off after burping and when necessary with the distilled water. I used a high idle tune in order to get the thermostat to open and burp the system.

If you don't have a high idle tune, you can simply take some fluid with you, drive a bit and check the level in the degas bottle frequently.

So, after I rambled a bit the simple answer is drain, replace parts, flush and fill...

 

I see the coffee kicked in at your last sentence SousAM.. lol

 

Sounds good. Thanks guys. I was assuming replace then flush would be best. But hadn't seen anything specifically regarding flushing with the pump out.

 

Spray those drain plugs ahead of time with PB blaster.

 

Have you replaced your Orings on the Oiler cooler? If not, nows a good time, too.

 

I would make the switch. If your is a 2000 you are fine doing that. Maybe spring for a new degas bottle and rad cap while at it. Make a nice little project out of it. I'd replace the hoses too if they are old.

 

Choose your coolant wisely. I picked Rotella Ultra ELC because my local walmart had it, However they no longer have it and it's impossible for me to find now NAPA can order it for me but it will take a month and I have to buy 4 gallons.

 

I too bought Rotella ELC, but from Tractor Supply Company off the shelf at a local to me store. TSC is nationwide and/or you can mail order it by the gallon from a few online retailers.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...=rotella%20elc

Also, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to mix one brand of ELC with another brand of ELC as long as they both met CAT EC-1 specifications. What you are concerned with is in the bottle not on the bottle. By that same argument, it does not matter who makes the ELC, just as long as it is the right specification, so have fun and enjoy the project while making your truck better today than it was yesterday.

 

Thanks everyone.

One more question!

I got everything out, new stuff in (new water pump, serp belt, fan clutch, lower Rad hose, nice aluminum thermo housing, etc).

Started on coolant flush, then got chased inside by sudden pouring rain. As it stands now, cooling system is full of well water. Do I need to go back outside and finish it in the dark when the rain is gone, or will it be fine sitting full of water for about 16 hrs till tomorrow afternoon?

Weather won't be cold enough tonight to freeze, so that's not an issue.

 

I would flush that out with distilled tomorrow and not worry about it. People do the initial flush with their garden hose usually, then distilled water, then pour the bottles of concentrate in (whatever much the gooch instructions say...cant remember) then top it off with distilled until full. If you just pour in the premixed stuff it will mix with the straight water still left in the engine and leave the coolant concentration too low. (If it were a completely dry engine you'd fill it with premix.)

 

Just wanted to make sure it wouldn't start things rusting or some such sitting over night.

Thanks guys