2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission coolant change

[Mopar_Tim]

how do you guys go about doing a coolant change/ maintenance ... . i am fairly sure it has never been done in my 02 and i have got roughly 75k on it now and i want to do some maintenance this summer ... .



got any tips ?

 

[HBarlow]

When I bought my first CTD, an '01, a TDR friend who had owned several and knew far more than I suggested I drain the coolant and refill once a year.



Just draining by removing the radiator cap and opening the petcock at the bottom of the radiator will not completely drain the cooling system but if you dump and refill every year you'll always have fresh coolant in the system and will avoid corrosion and blockage.



Draining every year is probably excessive but it has not been expensive and if you plan to keep the truck it is cheap insurance.

 

[EKlem]

If you want to change all of the coolant, you can refill the system with water then run the truck up to temp so that the thermostat opens and then shut down and drain it again. After a few cycles of this, you will get everything pretty much out or at least very diluted. This process does take a while though. I do basically what HBarlow described.

 

[WestTN]

The Cummins will drain the entire system if the back of the truck is high enough to make the front of the engine equal to or higher than the back. The lowest wet point in the block is the water pump. I change my antifreeze at 100,000 miles. The radiator looks new inside. Fill it with distilled water and antifreeze only. The only way you can get scale in the radiator and block is by putting it in by using tap water.

 

[K5IP]

One of the TDR authors, several years ago, indicated the easy way to do this was to drain and replace the antifreze every year without bothering to do the block. After doing this for 13 years, my 95 is clean as a whistle.

Rob

 

[DirtyDodge]

I tried draining my coolant a while back, turned the knob on the drivers side of the radiator at the bottom of the unit. Nothing came out, am I on the right spot or is the tube possibly plugged? Doesn't seem like this should be any different than any other vehicle I have ever had...

 

[Batphreak]

After doing a drain and fill like this does anyone have a good way to dispose of the old antifreeze? Particularly anyone in southern Wisconsin?

 

[DSeamans]

After doing a drain and fill like this does anyone have a good way to dispose of the old antifreeze? Particularly anyone in southern Wisconsin?

I just take mine to a local shop. They haven't charged me or given me any problems.



Dave

 

[georgej]

Dirty



You need to turn and pull the drain spigot to get the old antifreeze out. The spigot is plastic with an o-ring seal that might tear when you turn and pull. Get one at the dealers beforehand ( I forget the size) just in case.



George

 

[DirtyDodge]

Dirty



You need to turn and pull the drain spigot to get the old antifreeze out. The spigot is plastic with an o-ring seal that might tear when you turn and pull. Get one at the dealers beforehand ( I forget the size) just in case.



George

George,

Thank you, I appreciate the info. I'll probably do this this weekend, it's way overdue.



Derek

 

[Mopar_Tim]

thanks guy i think i will just do the rad for now

 

[rowilson]

After doing a drain and fill like this does anyone have a good way to dispose of the old antifreeze? Particularly anyone in southern Wisconsin?

According to the EPA you are supposed to pour it down the drain in a city drain where it goes to a sewage treatment plant. These plants are equipped to remove it from the water and dispose of it correctly. I didn't believe it until I went on the water treatment website for our town and read it for myself. Seems they'd rather take care of it than have people dumping it down the storm sewers.

 

[Spunkys Ram]

According to the EPA you are supposed to pour it down the drain in a city drain where it goes to a sewage treatment plant. These plants are equipped to remove it from the water and dispose of it correctly. I didn't believe it until I went on the water treatment website for our town and read it for myself. Seems they'd rather take care of it than have people dumping it down the storm sewers.

REALLY????

 

[HSpiering]

Did anyone ask if it is green or orange you have. Green is abour 3 years orange 5-6 years. Don't ever mix the two.

 

[Loren]

The Cummins will drain the entire system if the back of the truck is high enough to make the front of the engine equal to or higher than the back. The lowest wet point in the block is the water pump. I change my antifreeze at 100,000 miles. The radiator looks new inside. Fill it with distilled water and antifreeze only. The only way you can get scale in the radiator and block is by putting it in by using tap water.

That's correct about using pure water. Don't put scale into your system with the water.



Also, no one has mentioned the extended life anti-freezes. Cummins didn't have one when I did my 1995 truck last, so I used Caterpillar's extended life anti-freeze/coolant. It's good for 100,000 miles or three years, then you add a small bottle (maybe a pint or so) of extender and drive another 100,000 miles or three years. After 200,000 or six years you must drain and refill.



I don't like the job, so I went with the extended life stuff. The Caterpillar meets Cummins specifications and is available pre-mixed. My understanding is that they sell it pre-mixed so they are sure that only distilled water is getting into the system. I think Cummins distributors are now selling their own extended life coolant. I'll use that when I get to the six year point.



Good luck with the job. It's a pain, but you don't have to do it often with today's coolants.



Loren

 

[Batphreak]

According to the EPA you are supposed to pour it down the drain in a city drain where it goes to a sewage treatment plant. These plants are equipped to remove it from the water and dispose of it correctly. I didn't believe it until I went on the water treatment website for our town and read it for myself. Seems they'd rather take care of it than have people dumping it down the storm sewers.

Yeah, I don't really think so on this one. At least, not according to what I find on the EPA website:

http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/p2/autofleet/antifreeze.pdf

And, I've looked at a few municipalities, including my own, and they don't want used anti-freeze dumped down the drain. So, I'm not going to be doing that. Now I just have to find a shop in my area that doesn't mind taking the stuff, I've asked the big boys (Wal-Mart, Farm and Fleet, etc. ), they don't want the stuff.

 

[JGK]

I wonder what you'd learn if you called a dealer and asked what they do with it.



-Jay

 

[JDiehl]

How much?

Any one know the capasity of coolant and water if just draining the radatior?

 

[DirtyDodge]

According to the EPA you are supposed to pour it down the drain in a city drain where it goes to a sewage treatment plant. These plants are equipped to remove it from the water and dispose of it correctly. I didn't believe it until I went on the water treatment website for our town and read it for myself. Seems they'd rather take care of it than have people dumping it down the storm sewers.

I work in an water treatment plant as an Instrument tech, DO NOT DO THIS!!!



From: Antifreeze | Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) | US EPA



Antifreeze is toxic to humans and animals. Waste antifreeze contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium in high enough levels to potentially make it a regulated hazardous waste, so most states strictly regulate antifreeze disposal. Antifreeze generators and state and local programs should not dump spent antifreeze on land or discharge it into a sanitary sewer, storm drain, ditch, dry well, or septic system; dumping antifreeze can cause serious water quality problems and might harm people, pets, or wildlife.

 

[rowilson]

Well Ohio must have some new fangled equipment that takes it out of the sewage. I'm shocked you're allowed to still use the toilet for human waste in Cali :-laf



Household Disposal



ANTIFREEZE

Used antifreeze can be diluted thoroughly with water and poured down the sanitary sewer drain. Do not pour antifreeze into an outdoor storm sewer, where it may go directly to a waterway without treatment. Animals and children are attracted to the sweet taste of antifreeze, so store or dispose of it safely, away from children and pets.