Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Confused about coolant choices

[DVR]

I would like to change the coolant in my truck (2001. 5).



I would like a coolant good for at least 100k miles.



I am looking fo a product that is reasonable in price and readily available.



Please tell me the best way to evacuate the system.



Does it need to be flushed after draining before refilling?



is the process as simple as drain and refill or do I need to consider anything else?



sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance.

 

[rkressg]

1. I run the Red Stuff which should be good for 100k, but I still change it every 50k



2. Put a good cooling system cleaning solvent into the cooling system as per say the instructions on the bottle.



3. I have found the best way to evacuate the system is to flush it until no more antifreeze comes out. There is a drain cock on the bottom drivers side of the radiator. Open this and drain it out (you can remove the t-stat to increase the speed of this). Once you have drained as much as you can, fill the radiator with water from a hose. Drain and repeat this as many times as necessary until you get only clear water out of the system. This will take around 6 times.



4. Fully drain and count how many gal of water you get out of the system the final drain (it will be around 3 gal).



5. Reinstall the t-stat (if you removed it)



6. The system holds a total of 6 gal coolant and you will want to mix this 50/50. Remember, you drained out only 3 gal of water, so there still is 3 gal of water in the system. Add 3 gal of anti-freeze into the system, this should produce 6 gal of mixed coolant and a full system.



7. Add some type of anti-corrosion material to the radiator when you are finished.



It is a very simple process, but will require around 1 hour of time.



-Rich

 

[rweis]

Search for a post by Steve St Lawrence (sp) about changing radiator fluid. Post might be a couple of years old, but a really good post about the process and procedures.



Bob Weis



The radiator drain plug - it untwist, and will come part way out by itself, but you have to gently pull it out a little further to get it to drain.

 

[OTRPU]

I ain't got the balls to leave any fluid in my truck for 100,000 miles. And to anybody haulin anything for hire that ain't a year. I'll use syns but with analysis. And just on GP's everything gets changed annually. Come to think of it, it pretty much happens normal use. My case anyway, I run a truck all day every day, things break and things leak. Sorry to say, more frequent than I care for them too.



Cheers,

Steve J

 

[Froadin]

One thing to make a note of, it's not good to use tap/hose water to fill in the system with. Using distilled water should be the only thing you use for the final fill. Not as cheap, but much better for the cooling system in the long run.