Coolant change question
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Florida
Coolant change question
Hi All!
I have a 2000 7.3 F350 Dually I bought a couple months ago. It has 46k and the green coolant looks real clean. I have no clue when the coolant was changed last or if it's low on additive. I tried to order some test strips and can't seem to find any that are not on backorder. I called ford they said it should just be changed every year. If I just drain the radiaor how many Gallons of Radiator fluid do I need and how much additive. I was planning on picking everything up before I drain it. Thanks in advance!
I have a 2000 7.3 F350 Dually I bought a couple months ago. It has 46k and the green coolant looks real clean. I have no clue when the coolant was changed last or if it's low on additive. I tried to order some test strips and can't seem to find any that are not on backorder. I called ford they said it should just be changed every year. If I just drain the radiaor how many Gallons of Radiator fluid do I need and how much additive. I was planning on picking everything up before I drain it. Thanks in advance!
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When mine was on the way out, I would have a quick engine jerk when it was raining or damp out. Others have a stall, or a dead truck with no turning over of the tach when they try and start it. Many many signs of are varying for each of our experiences.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Florida
Does the gold fluid already have the additive? I don't really have time to flush it out. Can I just take it to Jiffy lube or Ford. Have them do the flush. I thought it would just e easier to drain and refill with the diesel additive all at once. It looks like it was just changed but I have no way to test it.
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Coolant capacity is 32.75 quarts which includes 5 quarts in the recovery tank. A typical 50/50 mix would result in a little over 4 gallons of coolant/ 4 gallons of water. I have always been told if you have the green stay green but others will probably chime in and debate that notion as in later model years they started using the 'gold' coolant. (Just as Ford always said Mercon only in these vehicles and lastest reports indicate that its o.k. to use Mercon V). The coolant additive once was called FW-15 which I believe awhile back it was changed to FW-16 and may even go by another name at this point. Mixing ratio's for the coolant additive should be posted on the bottle label. For a complete flush and refill it should be 4 pints for the stated 32.75 quarts. Coolant additive (8-10 ounces) should be added at 15,000 mile intervals to maintain proper concentrations. DO NOT exceed a 60% coolant/ 40 % water concentration when refilling.
For the CPS question, use the search function near the top of the page and type in CPS and you will probably find more info and articles than you can read on that subject.
For the CPS question, use the search function near the top of the page and type in CPS and you will probably find more info and articles than you can read on that subject.
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Read this thread, should help you out...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=483892
Also see these two links
https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.ph...f%2Fdyk299.pdf
https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.ph...isc%2Fscuc.pdf
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=483892
Also see these two links
https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.ph...f%2Fdyk299.pdf
https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.ph...isc%2Fscuc.pdf
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From: CA Bay Area
For my Detroit diesel I bought FleetPride lifetime coolant.
It is not cheap at about $25 a gallon, but you can mix it like 1:3 and it is comparable with other coolants, so you don't have to worry about flushing the old coolant too well.
With 42 gallons capacity in bus conversion I am very happy with lifetime on it.
The so-called filters also have some chemicals in it, that keep SCA balanced.
So the coolant come perfectly balanced and the spin-on filters keep the balance over the years. I think I will go with the same scenario on my Ford.
It is not cheap at about $25 a gallon, but you can mix it like 1:3 and it is comparable with other coolants, so you don't have to worry about flushing the old coolant too well.
With 42 gallons capacity in bus conversion I am very happy with lifetime on it.
The so-called filters also have some chemicals in it, that keep SCA balanced.
So the coolant come perfectly balanced and the spin-on filters keep the balance over the years. I think I will go with the same scenario on my Ford.
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Originally Posted by Big RedX
So If I just have Jiffy Lube flush out the radiator. I can just ad the 4 pints of additive and be good to go.
You won't notice anything at all. It won't affect how it runs or how it cools. But the damage accumulates. It is possible to cavitate pinholes in the cylinder from the water jacket. That would have to be from severe neglect, but it is possible and it has happened.
I had never heard of such a thing before I bought my PSD. Within two weeks after I bought it, I found information on SCAs, nearly panicked as I had no idea when the coolant had last been serviced, and immediately flushed the coolant and added SCA.
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