It seems like my truck it WAY overdo for a coolant flush, based on how it looks. What procedure do you guys follow?

As of now, I don't have overheating issues, but the coolant is gross.


I just topped it up here

Foamy feeling


I should add that the coolant is still clear in the system, but brown tinged and smells gross. This looks even worse because of some sediment that was stirred up when topping off.

 

I had to do this not long ago. For what ever reason the coolant that had been fresh about 15 months prior with a new rad looked terrible. It wanting to have to do it again I went the whole hog on it.

I drained it and since the rad comes right out I pulled it and then ran a hose through it back and forth until it flowed clean.

I did the same for the heater core and those hoses.

For the block I pulled the stat and had a new stat and gasket ready and just ran the hose top down until it ran clear and put it all back together.

 

Yikes. I would just blast with a garden hose for the initial clean out and see if you can open the block drains to get that scale out. Then 1gal of Evaporust and rest distilled. Run per instructions to clean that crap of the system...and it really cleans awesome. The heater core is probably plugged and I would just replace it, $1 says that radiator is too.

100% recommend inline coolant filter too, this will passively keep cleaning as you drive. I install mine on the supply side to the heater core. On these trucks, I usually install it over by the charcoal vapor canister so access is decent. With a system as soiled as yours, expect that filter to plug up within a short time.

 

I actually used the prestone back flush kit...
install the "T" fitting in the heater hose underhood connect hose and it comes out the radiator cap hole. I run a bottle of the flush in it also. Never used evaporust but have heard good things about it

 

Citric acid flushes work too, never tried but have seen results after and were excellent.

 

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I'll definitely flush it clean with a hose, maybe some sort of cleaner if I'm feeling it.

My heater does still work good, so that's not an issue. But I'd like to get things cleaned up before it ruins the core.

Filters not a bad idea, I'll consider chopping one in.

Is this the right T fitting kit? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CCFY5W?tag=bravesoftwa04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US