Radiator Flush on 5.4 Expy.

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Oct 15, 2003 | 09:19 PM

pounder90

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From: Florida

Radiator Flush on 5.4 Expy.

I recently hit 30k miles and have been going down the 30k maintenance list. Today I decided to flush the radiator and add new fluid. I found that I was only able to drain 1 gallon of fluid at a time using the drain on the radiator. The system capacity is around 6 gallons according to the owner's manual. I used Prestone Super Flush to clean things out. When it came to getting that stuff out of the radiator/block it look a lot of time draining and refilling 1 gal at a time. I kept draining/filling/running the truck/cool down and repeat. Then I filled it with Peak coolant and distilled water. But again, I could only add it 1 gallon at a time. I had to repeat the drain/fill cycle several times to bring it up to 50/50.

Now that I'm finished, I have about 12 gallons of water contaminated with ethylene glycol to recycle. What trick did I miss? Would adding a flush kit have made it that much easier? I'm looking forward to your responses.

Oct 15, 2003 | 11:12 PM

PaulC

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Do you have rear A/C and heater? If so, you have the tubing that runs back to the rear heater core, as well as the rear heater core itself in the cooling system.

Oct 15, 2003 | 11:25 PM

pounder90

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From: Florida

PaulC,

Thanks for your response. Yes, I have the rear air and heat. I know that increases the system capacity, but is there a better way to drain/flush the cooling system?

Oct 16, 2003 | 11:01 AM

buzzard

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From: All over Texas

Best way I know of is to drain radiator, remove thermostat and disconnect upper radiator hose from radiator, insert hose into refill tank, turn heater on high and start vehicle. The fresh water will travel through the radiator, into the block, through all water passages, hoses and exit at the top of the engine through the waterneck. And with no t-stat in place will just shoot right out the disconnected hose.

Mar 28, 2005 | 04:12 PM

dr_phatcity

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Any thoughts on the Prestone Flush and Fill Kit?

Mar 28, 2005 | 11:25 PM

SoCal01

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i am glad you were responsible and collected the fluid. your local pep boys should take it free. if not, the city or county you live in should have a pickup recycling truck.

Mar 29, 2005 | 11:49 AM

TAF

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Insert hose into refill tank?

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzard

Buzzard,
I want to be sure I understand this method. When you say "Insert hose into refill tank" Do you mean the plastic tank next to the radiator? Do you leave the upper hose diconnected from thermostat end only, and have the other end postioned so it can empty into a bucket? Is this correct? Please explain..............