When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Here's my advice. My truck has 335k on it. I have the radiator out for another part of a project....that being said as I grabbed it to re-install it I thought..."Hey, I should clean the cooling fins of the radiator with the garden hose before I put it back in."
I really didn't "look" dirty....but, the dirt and bug guts that got flushed out was enough to convince me that if I ever did a coolant flush....that would be a GREAT time to pull the radiator and give it a thorough cleaning.
HA!
Thats great!
Another reason why I'm subscribed to this thread.
Thanks Dan, i will most certainly give it a shot. Whats the harm if im already half way there right?
If you have access to the AC condenser you may want to consider picking up a set of fin combs to clean and straighten them as well as what Dan V has recommended.
I took an hour or so and straightened all of the road debris fins on my condenser. Well worth the few dollars the combs cost in my opinion. Plus, now I can use them on my other vehicles.
If you have access to the AC condenser you may want to consider picking up a set of fin combs to clean and straighten them as well as what Dan V has recommended.
I took an hour or so and straightened all of the road debris fins on my condenser. Well worth the few dollars the combs cost in my opinion. Plus, now I can use them on my other vehicles.
Thanks Sous, i didn't even know this was a thing. Im sure its as simple as it looks but ill look up a how to video just to make sure.
Amazon is an amazing thing, it will be here by the end of the week!
@Dequinex Welcome to FTE. In my opinion, I would dump all programs and revert back to stock settings. Not knowing the previous care and maintenance of this vehicle, you might as well start at the very base and then go from there. Before doing anything with the coolant change over to ELC, check and double check for coolant leaks. Might even go ahead and reseal the water pump and change the thermostat. I too recently installed Peak ELC> (Final Charge). It must be some really good stuff because I had no leaks before, and now I have several places that----just barely seep---not even enough to add coolant. But that tells me this coolant is getting into places that the other coolant did not. Document what you do to the vehicle as well. It is easy to jot down in a log book what and when, but a whole lot easier to forget. Welcome to the Bonfire. There is always room for one more.
@Dequinex Welcome to FTE. In my opinion, I would dump all programs and revert back to stock settings. Not knowing the previous care and maintenance of this vehicle, you might as well start at the very base and then go from there. Before doing anything with the coolant change over to ELC, check and double check for coolant leaks. Might even go ahead and reseal the water pump and change the thermostat. I too recently installed Peak ELC> (Final Charge). It must be some really good stuff because I had no leaks before, and now I have several places that----just barely seep---not even enough to add coolant. But that tells me this coolant is getting into places that the other coolant did not. Document what you do to the vehicle as well. It is easy to jot down in a log book what and when, but a whole lot easier to forget. Welcome to the Bonfire. There is always room for one more.
Morning ajbron208!
Solid advice, i was looking for a notebook that i can leave in my truck for just this purpose.and i was also going to revisit the the trouble code reader after i put the tuner to stock and reset the codes just to make sure.
As far as the coolant system i most certainly want to make sure thats on point. Ive had vehicles in the past that had issues no matter what i did with the system and i do not want that again. ill look into what it takes for the pump, and the thermostat im sure is just like any other truck.
@Dequinex I too recently installed Peak ELC> (Final Charge). It must be some really good stuff because I had no leaks before, and now I have several places that----just barely seep---not even enough to add coolant. But that tells me this coolant is getting into places that the other coolant did not.
Since switching to the Peak Final Charge several years ago, I have chased leak after leak after leak. Mostly heater hoses, but my lower radiator hose has given me problems as well. Ended up replacing every hose on the truck, and the clamps with the best clamps I could find (t-bolts only). Finally leak free for now...knock on wood. That stuff will sure find its way out if there is even the smallest opportunity.
@Nicmike Yes sir. I was under there the other day, and it appears that the seeps have slowed and all most stopped. I couldn't help but think that the new radiator cap might be building up too much pressure. Even some of the coolant has come out around the block heater where it screws into the oil cooler /oil filter housing. Those threads have sealant on them. This has got to be some good stuff. LOL.
Why don't you guys just use the FleetCharge instead of the Final if to causes so many leaks?? I guess I can't figure out the mentality on changing to ELC like ti's some sort of miracle coolant. Our trucks don't run cooler on it and the Fleet has the SCAs needed. Makes no sense to me.
Swapped to Rotella ELC over 6 years ago when I installed the IH pump with integrated filter. Not one leak since then (knock on wood) except for my failure to seal the billet thermostat housing properly. Since sealing the housing properly, not one leak from hoses, gaskets, whatever.
I changed to ELC simply because I don't have to maintain it, it should last for the rest of my life even if I need to drain and reuse it and I prefer the red over the glowing green/yellow color.
Swapped to Rotella ELC over 6 years ago when I installed the IH pump with integrated filter. Not one leak since then (knock on wood) except for my failure to seal the billet thermostat housing properly. Since sealing the housing properly, not one leak from hoses, gaskets, whatever.
I changed to ELC simply because I don't have to maintain it, it should last for the rest of my life even if I need to drain and reuse it and I prefer the red over the glowing green/yellow color.
It's good to hear you have had good luck with it Sous. I am not sure why it would cause leaks? For me, even if I have to change it out sooner, how much sooner? I mean I can do it every 50k miles, and even for me, that's every three years. My understanding is that I can go 100k on the Fleetcharge from the same company. Most guys won't put that much on their trucks in the lifetime of ownership. I would rather flush and clean just for maintenance sake, but that's a personal choice. Either way, this is a debate that's not a big deal. I am just trying to understand why the need to go to another product when one has already been proven?But any of you that have known me on here also know that I think that way.
I wouldn't say there is a need for it, but a desire to change some that may not need to be changed. I find myself doing this less and less as I get older and a little more wise.
Same as the saying "if it is not broke, don't fix it". Well, some of us have to scratch that itch and I feel with age that itch is less bothersome, for me anyway.
Although, looking back now at when I changed to ELC and as I eluded to earlier, I may have done it simply to get a different color fluid in the bottle. Some say that is counterintuitive because now I have two red fluids, but I have always been one to forge my own path when presented the opportunity.
When we have a beer one day, I will try to remember to say "why is that green crap in your degas bottle..." and we can both have a laugh while our wives laugh at us. I will probably forget though, but maybe not.
I wouldn't say there is a need for it, but a desire to change some that may not need to be changed. I find myself doing this less and less as I get older and a little more wise.
Same as the saying "if it is not broke, don't fix it". Well, some of us have to scratch that itch and I feel with age that itch is less bothersome, for me anyway.
Although, looking back now at when I changed to ELC and as I eluded to earlier, I may have done it simply to get a different color fluid in the bottle. Some say that is counterintuitive because now I have two red fluids, but I have always been one to forge my own path when presented the opportunity.
When we have a beer one day, I will try to remember to say "why is that green crap in your degas bottle..." and we can both have a laugh while our wives laugh at us. I will probably forget though, but maybe not.
Hey!! My crap is purple!! LOL....yeah, same for me with the age thing.
Pre-charged coolant is just that - ‘pre-charged’ with SCA. Monitoring and SCA maintenance is still required. So are 100k mile cooling system flush and change.
ELC’s are basically a lifetime coolant for these trucks and no monitoring/maintenance is req’d.
There is no good reason to keep using coolant that requires SCA’s on L99+ trucks and earlier trucks that have had the injector cups changed.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
