VC8 needed during coolant change?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 267
From: Middle Georgia
VC8 needed during coolant change?
Rounding up the stuff to do a coolant change on my 2000 F-250. Installing new hoses, themostat, and heater bypass valve. Having to reorder a heater hose because a rat chewed on it in the middle. Also ordering another lower rad hose and quick disconnects, because I either never ordered them or lost them. Pretty I never got the lower hose because dad gave me the dual alternator style upper hose, coolant, and a belt with the truck. Pretty sure I lost the QDs, because I'm positive that I ordered them when I decided to replace the heater hoses, reservior hose, and thermostat while I was at it. Will probably find both shortly after I finish the job, but I've looked for them enough.
I'm sticking with thetraditional green conventional coolant (I don't know if it is green, but it isn't the HD ELC) since I have it already. I seem to recall that dad gave me a bottle of Motorcraft VC8 addative with the coolant. Like the other stuff I can't find it now. Was just looking to get a bottle with a RockAuto order and after reading the literature I'm wondering if I actually need it. I'm seeing "designed to replace additives depleted between coolant change-outs" in the product listing. The bottle says to use a test strip to see if the addative is needed.
Do I need to add VC8 with a coolant change and flush, or is it just for maintenance between changes?
I'm sticking with the
Do I need to add VC8 with a coolant change and flush, or is it just for maintenance between changes?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 41
Yes, you need supplemental coolant additive if running green. You should also get some testing strips to see what levels are like after you flush. Iirc, it's 800ppm. If below that, then add as recommended. If above, no need(since I don't know if you are running green or not). If you don't run additive, you risk cavitation. Mostly on the front cover/water pump. However, overcharging is also a problem. So test first.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,121
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From: Middle Georgia
Thank you for confirming. I looked through the shop again this afternoon and did find my bottle of VC8, might not matter though.
Turns out that the rodent that chewed on my heater hose also has a taste for antifreeze. Dad gave me 4 bottles of ShellZone coolant, it is the traditional green stuff BTW. Well one is a half bottle, so I'd have to buy some more anyway. Two of the three new bottles the mouse chewed into, and nearly chewed the handles off of them. I could probably strain out the piastic pieces, but since they've been opened for an unknown period, I'm probably better off discarding and buying new.
Since my truck is a 2000 model, if I've got to buy coolant anyway, I may as well flush and switch to ELC.
I'll check through what is recommended for ELC and see if I can get a good price from RA while I'm buying the other bits that I need.
Turns out that the rodent that chewed on my heater hose also has a taste for antifreeze. Dad gave me 4 bottles of ShellZone coolant, it is the traditional green stuff BTW. Well one is a half bottle, so I'd have to buy some more anyway. Two of the three new bottles the mouse chewed into, and nearly chewed the handles off of them. I could probably strain out the piastic pieces, but since they've been opened for an unknown period, I'm probably better off discarding and buying new.
Since my truck is a 2000 model, if I've got to buy coolant anyway, I may as well flush and switch to ELC.
I'll check through what is recommended for ELC and see if I can get a good price from RA while I'm buying the other bits that I need.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 267
From: Middle Georgia
On that note, can anyone point me to a recent discussion of preferred ELCs?
Also, since I have the VC8 and haven't replaced injector cups yet, I may stick with the traditional green for now. I'm coming up on 205k miles now (Or was it 210?), and by most accounts I'm approching time for injector cup change and/or oil cooler rebuild. When that time comes I'll be draining and and replacing coolant again. Not much difference in price between traditional green and ELC, but enough that I'd rather dump dump "good" green than good ELC.
Since price of shipping is too high to buy through RA with the other stuff, I'm in no rush to decide on the coolant to run.
Also, since I have the VC8 and haven't replaced injector cups yet, I may stick with the traditional green for now. I'm coming up on 205k miles now (Or was it 210?), and by most accounts I'm approching time for injector cup change and/or oil cooler rebuild. When that time comes I'll be draining and and replacing coolant again. Not much difference in price between traditional green and ELC, but enough that I'd rather dump dump "good" green than good ELC.
Since price of shipping is too high to buy through RA with the other stuff, I'm in no rush to decide on the coolant to run.
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