Any issues with doing a cooling system flush on a '17?

[cricha]

Going to do a cooling system flush on my '17 using the mopar flush chemical. Are there any issues that may come up doing a flush? In my last truck (another brand) it was fairly common that when a coolant flush was performed, the oil cooler and egr cooler would plug up. Mostly the oil cooler due to casting sand and gunk. I just wanted to know of any potential pitfalls before starting the procedure. Any advice and comments are appreciated! THANKS!

 

[Topzide]

Just drain system and refill with distilled water, bring up to temp and drain. Then just refill with favorite brand of proper coolant! Never seen a flush treatment that really worked!

 

[Diesel85]

I do that with all my equipment/trucks. Drain, then fill with distilled water. I then drive it around a bit, then drain it. Then fill it with proper 50/50 coolant. Top off as needed as the air works its way out. I normally do this during the summer months. I've actually kept distilled water in for a day or two, then drain it.

I'm probably still over complicating it somehow.

 

[p-Bar]

Don't use the radiator drain petcock. Pull the bottom hose.

 

[Diesel85]

Don't use the radiator drain petcock. Pull the bottom hose.

I've done that before and had better (and quicker) results! Seems like the rush of coolant out the radiator flushes it better.

You just have to have a nice size container and wear safety glasses (or engage safety squints LOL) and kind of look away for the first few moments so you aren't gonna drink coolant.

 

[cerberusiam]

Usually takes 3 flushes at least with distilled water to get most of the sediment out of the nooks and cranny's plus mix up the gallon or so that cannot be drained. I have seen as many as 5 flushes get a relatively clear drain result. Using a chemical agent to help break up any sticky stuff has to help, do at least one more flush with distilled water to make sure it is relatively clear. One flush is better than none, flushing until clear is better if one wants to go that route.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I like to take a garden hose to both heater core hoses. I also drain by removing lower rad hose.

 

[Topzide]

5 gallon below the lower hose works great! I pulled wheel and set on milk crate. Agree on the "safety squints" though!

 

[cricha]

flushed out the cooling system with the Mopar cleaning solution. dumped the coolant, refilled with fresh water then dumped again. refilled with distilled and added coolant system cleaner. ran it up to operating temp so the tstat would open and circulated. What came out on the first dump was absolutely black. Did SEVEN refills with distilled and each time got it up to operating temp (195*) so tstat would open, then dumped by pulling the bottom radiator hose. A concerning amount of contaminates like sand and other granular solids came out in the first few dumps. no oil sheen on surface of coolant in any of the dumps. the pic is the seventh dump, it looks slightly darker than it actually is. It is relatively clear, just orange colored. Just a slight bit of oxidation from just having water in the engine block? Or is there an issue that needs to be looked at? Comments appreciated ! THANKS!

 

[cerberusiam]

If it is just slightly discolored and you aren't seeing any solids now that is probably as good as it is going to get.

 

[Tuesdak]

Is the "sand" stuff possibly sealant tabs of some kind installed at the factory to reduce warranty claims for leaks?

 

[cricha]

Nope. If you saw it, it's pretty evident.