Coolant Flush
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 3
From: California Desert
Coolant Flush
I know the coolant flush procedure...but I am used to having a radiator cap to poor fluids back into. Either this truck does not have a radiator cap, or it is buried under that plastic cover over the radiator. Basically all I'm asking is do I need to find the radiator cap? Or do I have to slowly add fluid through the expansion tank?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 21
One of the most frustrating cooling changes I ever did. I have a 4.6, there is no block drain plug on the right side, only one on the left. The engine holds almost 3 quarts of coolant when the radiator and block plug are open. Kept rinsing and rinsing. It helped to use the discharge on a wet vac to blow the coolant out, by blowing thru the reservoir and heater hose. Make sure you plug the one you are not blowing thru to keep anti-freeze off the paint. I'd do the final rinse with distilled or RO water. Drain and measure full strenght coolant, at half the system capacity to the pressurized reservoir. Start engine and top off with distilled or RO water.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 21
On my 4.6L you crawl under the truck from behind the left front wheel. The plug is right next to the frost plug, it's six sided and brass colored, and is in fact soft steel. You can see the treads behind the hex, and they have brunt orange colored pipe dope on them (Gasolia Dope?). Thats how you can tell it from a bolt. On the 4.6L there is a plug right behind the altenator, the plug below looks the same.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth,VA
I have a 97 f-150 4.2L and their is no raditor cap on the raditor itself, but you use the overflow tank as your access when filling up the raditor with coolent, and you fill it up to the min line on the tank.
New User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Trending Topics
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 21
Yes, the extension on my rachet handle was up against the suspension. I believe the 4.6 and 5.4 are the same, just one is bigger. Its really easy to get the coolant back in the system and filled. Just hard to get it all out.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 21
my extension was up against the Lower Control arm, there's a place were it has a sharp curve on it as it gets bigger. The extension was against that place and pointed straight up and slightly forward and center. The plug was17mm or 11/16" I used a 15" 1/2" extension and a 6 point deep well socket. That gave me just enough room to swing the rachet handle around, and clear everything.
New User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
thats a big 10-4 on trying to get it all out! I think I found what your talking about. But what I'm thinking is the drain plug is the type of hex that I have to use a allen wrench on? I can see the threads like you were saying though. I'm currently improvising on a tool situation. Don't have enough leverage with my allen wrench.
New User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I flushed the hell out the system. All I'm concerned about at all is that whatever water I don't get out is tap water and has calcium in it. I'm about to just go up to the store and buy some distilled water and flush the systen once or twice with that and forget about this dam drain plug. I don't think it will bew that big of a deal if a have a pint of hard water left in the system that hold 27 qaurts. But then again, what if if does clog something up.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
hobbymanlp
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
1
Feb 19, 2011 01:07 PM
tom302
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Sep 10, 2010 08:49 AM
idahodisco
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
2
Apr 18, 2010 10:41 PM
