Here's the deal - I have a 2002 Navigator which has very dirty/rusty/stinky/(tm) coolant. I opened the radiator drain today and measured the amount of coolant that came out - 2.5 gallons. The CD indicates the system hold 4.8 gallons.

Question #1. Is there an easy way to get the rest of the coolant out of there?

I removed the thermostat (as the CD suggests) and ran water through the system and also removed the degas bottle and flushed it out.

Qustion #2. Any one have a way to clean out the degas bottle? (On my old truck I used to put about a cup of small stones and dish detergent and shake till clean - don't think that will work on the Navi as the degas bottle has all kinds of little compartments that the stones would get trapped in.

Then I filled the system up with water and drove it 15 miles and drained the radiator again. Coolant still came out dirty/rusty/stinky. This could require repeating this process at least 1/2 doezen times to get most of that old coolant out of there.

Question #3. Any one ever install one of those 'flush kits' on this engine? With all those heater hoses, which one would be the correct hose to install one in?

Thanks in advance for any ideas you may have

 

When i drained and flushed my 99 i bought a powder called rust out it is made to remove iron and rust from water softners, dishwashers, washing machines worked very well mixed up 4 oz in a quart jar added to radiator by way of the hose that leads from fill bottle also put some in the fill bottle let truck run 15 minutes then drained radiator and engine block my 5.4 has 2 plugs one on each side of the engine block above the oil pan did this 3 times water did come out very rusty and mucky after second drain water was much cleaner and after the 3rd very clean the rust out can be purchased at sears, walmart, menards for about $5.00 Also after soaking the fill bottle just stuck a garden hose in it until it cleaned up.

 

Vettman80,
Thanks for those ideas. I'm gonna see if I can find that Rust-Out and I'll look for block drains on this 5.4 32-valve Inteck V8.

Anyone installed a flush kit on this engine?

 

Found the block drain on the driver's side. It was so gooked up no water came out until I poked a screwdriver in there - then I got an antifreeze bath! Got another gallon plus of smelly/cruddy/yuky stuff outa there. Flushed it three times before the water started to come out cloudy instead of brakish!

Is there a block drain on the passenger side of the Intech? Can't see much on the PS, what with the starter motor, motor mount, and axle shaft blocking the view. Does it require removing items to get to the PS block drain? (If there is one on that side)?

Couldn't find rust out in this area, so I went to the local Water Systems Store and they reccomended a product called "Super Iron Out". It is also a powder and sounds like its similar to rust out so I'll give the cooling system a treatment tomorrow.

 

pdqford

the drains on my 5.4 are passanger side is in front, drivers side is in the back also the super iron out is the same as rust out dont know if the local water cond store told you or gave you any instructions on how to use that product but donot under any circumstances get moisture into the bottle of iron out the active ingredient is sodium hydrosulfite when mixed with water it is totally harmless but if moisture gets into the powder it will generate heat and can catch on fire but is great stuff when handled properly

 

Oh the memories!

 

vettman80,

Well, I got the DS drain plug out and hooked up the garden hose to the heater return hose and flushed it till the water came out clean. Then closed it up, filled it with water (no thermostat) drove it about 15 miles and drained it again - water came out dirty again! Repaeated theree times. Then put the Super Iron Out in and drove it about 15 miles. Had to flush it three more times (driving it between each flush) until the water came out reasonable clean. Then I took the degas bottle out and shook it with the Super Iron Out and it really cleaned up the degas bottle.

I then installed a new thermostat, closed the system up, filled it with 2.5 gallons of antifreeze, and added water from the dehumidifier until it was full.
Sure looks good in there with the clean degas bottle!

 

You know that tomorrow your water pump is going to blow, right!?

 

Shhhuuuuuuuusssssssh!

 

i have seen water pumps leak, seen the bearings come out, even seen them drive the fan into the radiator but never blow

 

Where do you think that gurgling sound comes from?

 

And you disposed of all of the waster coolant/water properly right?

 

After my fifth trip to the recycling center they told me not to come back anymore.