Changed all my coolant hoses.

Flushed. removing block plugs each time. and draining radiator
Flushed with distilled.
Each flush I was only able to get in 6 gallons of distilled.

Put t-state back in.
Dumped in 3 gallons of distilled and 3.5 gallons of concentrate. Went for drive. All set.

But,
I had extra ECL 1/2 gallon so Mixed up 50/50 mix to toss behind seat. Reads -45 with the cheap suction plastic checker.
Sucked a little out of the degas tank. -10. WTF.

Thinking now it needs to be driven and checked again. to mix thoroughly ? If not, Might have to drain out some and add more concentrate?

How can i mess up something so simple. I have done this before but i mixed 5050 before i poured it in. .

Conclusion
Last drain after flush, Block drains were pulled, Radiator was drained. t state installed like I said. Closed everything up and put plugs back in. I had 4 gallons of concentrate. 4 gallons of distilled to go in.. All the empty jugs were kicked aside.
What I have left is a gallon of distilled and a 50-50 mix of ECL. So I put in 3.5 gallons of concentrate and 3 gallons of distilled. Why -10? Need Mixed more by running?. 50/50 mix was -45.

How would the degas tank mix, It don't circulate ? I only went around the block, About 4 miles. the motor was running for some time while I cleaned garage, it takes a while to get to temp I suspect the t stat isn't open yet, Using my hand held the housing was only 180. . Put in a stock t-stat from riff raff.

 

When I did mine, I used Rotella ELC and premixed it 50/50 after my last flush....that's the only thing that went in from the get go. I use a 203 degree thermostat so I took a drive down a country highway to open that sucker. I am doing the exact same thing on my 2nd F250 next weekend when I change out my oil cooler seals.

 

Removing those heater hoses were trying my patience ,

Had to walk away from it 10 times.

 

I was lucky,
mine had ELC in it when I bought it 3 years ago,
the level in the Degas tank has not changed.

 

I still have yet to be able to get to the passenger side plug ...... either the starter or something else is always in the way. Takes a little longer to flush. I was shocked to see a gallon come rushing out of the drivers side though.

 

The cooling system holds about 8 gallons. After a flush and following the final drain, I add 4 gallons of coolant concentrate, top it off with water and run it until the thermostat opens and air is out, then top it again with water. That way, I know I have 50% of the capacity in coolant.

 

^^^ THIS^^^^

 

I knew someone was going to post that

i had plugs out
every single coolant hose removed
t stat removed
as far as I was concerned. There wasnt a drop of coolant in it

I could only get 6 gallons in with no t stat

so, you dumping in the last two gallons of water into your degas bottle ? Hope the truck isnt sitting outside in january. . The degas bottle dont circulate . Other than heat expansion pumping in it aint moving.

So how is that a good process. Now I either have to see if it will mix. Or drain it

 

1/4” drive stubby ratchet and 1” extension gets the passenger side . 6” extension gets the driverside

swear words gets the heater hoses off(if your changing 25 year old hoses

 

I bought 4 gallons of ecl

got it all in except 1/2 gallon of concentrate. Going to take it to get diesel fuel at the res. About 30 miles .

I guess my point here is , even with the block drained. All 25 year old crusty hoses removed . There is still a ton of distilled water hanging out someplace. . And dumping in distilled water into the degass tank is probably bad advice up here in the north country .

and I dont see a lot of posts on removing those heater core hoses. So I suspect there is a ton of trucks with factory hoses still installed . They sucked. . I tried zip ties. Vise grips. Ac line tools. Screw drivers . It sucked. My stomach and arms are all scratched up getting those off.

 

If you believe coolant doesn't circulate through the degas bottle, why did you bother taking the sample from the degas bottle to test the freeze point?

 

To prove my point .
I dumped in a gallon of distilled water, ran it for 25 minutes. Went for 5 mile drive. . Freeze test -10. Didn't mix . Tested 50/50 mix to toss behind seat, -45 . I am hoping over time it will mix. Otherwise I will have to drain some to get degas tank and its hoses protected .

I know I owe it 1/2 gallon of concentrate to get a full 4 gallons of concentrate in. I ordered another gallon.

thinking a big time road trip it will even out . Hoping. -10 aint gonna cut it

 

The degas bottle will mix . It is part of the system, hence the pressure cap. It will all be mixed long before winter. Besides if it didn't mix, how does oil get in in when the oil cooler seals go or diesel when the injector cups fail?

 

Where do you fill the cooling system , if not through the degas bottle ?

 

I "think" (and that is dangerous) it may be that he had put the concentrate in THEN the distilled water and all the concentrate went in as it was empty and he is supposing the follow up fill of distilled water caused reservoir to be overly dilute.

this proved by higher than expected temp test.

Sooo, the prevailing wisdom seems to be "drive it" and by winter it will have mixed enough most likely to be fine for lower temps.

only other would be drain 1/2 gallon out of degas and put the straight stuff in there and let it mix from there..