Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) ????coolant change???

[JRheams]

I need to flush and change my coolant (02 3500 dually) and have read several threads on just using the flush kit from autozone. My question is if I can't use tap water and must use distilled, can I use tap water to flush the system?? My truck currently has green coolant, when I went to get new coolant I found already mixed with distilled water and the back of the bottle said it was for my engine. Being a newbie (but a little common sense) I have heard that you can't change coolant colors, so called. If you have green, use green. If you have orange, use orange. The new coolant was orange. My next question is, can I use it???? Last question, besides in my neighbors cat bowl, where can I legally dump my old coolant??? Thanks for all the great post.

 

[Oil Burner]

I just recently changed coolant and went from factory green to cummins red. I did a good flush with distilled water and filled with 50/50 mix. I used the method described by Steve St. Laurent (hope i spelled your name right Steve).



You have to flush to get the old stuff out, because even after you drain you've got a couple of gallons left. Hopefully someone can post a link to the process but basically you:

1. drain the rad from the petcock

2. remove the t-stat housing and let the block drain back through the rad.

3. fill the block throught the t-stat housing with distilled water until "clear" water comes out (this means that you have flushed most of the green stuff out.

4. Then fill with new "concentrated" red stuff until you see a red tint coming out of the rad petcock. (now you have roughly a 50/50 mix of red and distilled water in the block.

5. top off with 50/50 mix in the block, then top off the rad and overflow bottle.

6. put it all back together and warm the engine up and chek for leaks and top fluids off again.



Works best if you are parked with the front of the truck facing downhill.



An autoparts store should be able to handle disposal for you.



-Jason

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

As long as the system is flushed really well it's ok to change coolant types. When I changed to the Zerex G-05 I flushed the system quite a few times (5?) Each time I put in fresh water and ran the truck for a trip back and forth to work (100 Miles) then drained and refilled and drove again until it came out clean. Make sure that the heater system is getting cleaned out also and run the heat even if it's 110 degrees outside otherwise it'll remain full of the old stuff.

 

[JRheams]

thanks Oil Burner. Looks like I will be getting wet this evening. .



I have asked autozone but they say they won't dispose of it.

 

[JRheams]

Apparently also getting hot, Thanks Turbo Tim