Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Coolant level and fuel pressure gauge

[TMills]

With the engine cold, you open the radiator cap. Is it suppose to be filled to the top or not? Also, does the antifreeze mixture go back into the radiator after it has been in the resevor?



I am sort of confussed. I just flushed my radiator and the manual I have said it would take 6 gal. to fill the coolant system back up. I just put 3 maybe 3. 5 gal. back in. I'm not sure exactly how much drained out. Is my manual wrong, or am I doing it wrong?



One more question. I have already had a fuel pump to go out and I am not exactly sure how far I drove with it out. I would really like to know when the next one is out. Would installing a fuel pressure gauge let me know when it is going out?



Thanks,

Todd

 

[College Cummins]

I recently drained the coolant in my old Ramcharger, referred to the manual, and it said that it would take about 4 gallons, I put about two in, and it was done. What you have to remember is all the water jacket and whatnot in the block itself. My Ramcharger is a 360, and the diesel is also, albeit, one is a V-8 gasser, but I figure that the same principle applies here. I rechecked periodically to make sure of myself, and topped off the raditator, and filled the resivour in between the add and full, just for expansion when heated.



I have yet to put a FP gauges on my truck yet, however a westach is on order, should be here before Christmas From what I've read, on this site, and from what knowledge I've gained from others, the point of watching the FP, is to make sure the lift pump is good to go, and when the FP starts dropping, you would be able to tell the lift pump is on the out. Correct me if I'm wrong here guys, still learnig, can never stop learning. Happy Holidays, James

 

[Diesel Gunner]

When you drain and flush your cooling system it is a good idea to pull the lower radiator hose from the radiator and remove the thermostat. This will allow you to more completely drain and flush the radiator and block. The overflow tank is easily removed from the mount by looping a dog leash or nylon rope under it and pulling up quickly. It will pop right out and is easily cleaned.



When you refill the system after everything is reconnected leave the thermostat off. This allows air to easily escape from the block. Reinstall the t-stat and fill entire system. Only fill the overflow tank to the cold line. One little problem that I encountered was that each time I would check the radiator before a cold start, the level in the radiator would be low. The level in the overflow tank remained constant. I would top off and go. Then the level in the overflow tank began to rise, but the radiator would always be low when I checked it cold.



Turned out that there was not a clamp on the line from the radiator cap to the overflow tank. However, there was a clamp at the o-tank. So, it was sucking air into the radiator when the system cooled down. I installed a clamp at the filler port and the problem was solved.



Fuel pressure gauge? Never a bad idea. Just dropped my truck off at the dealer to have the second pump replaced. Fuel Pressure was 15psi at idle and fuel was dripping from the botton of the pump where the electrical connection is made. Last pump was replaced due to low pressure. I will now be on my third lift pump and the truck has 45K on it.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by Diesel Gunner

The overflow tank is easily removed from the mount by looping a dog leash or nylon rope under it and pulling up quickly.

That sounds brutal

Easy way- push in on the retaining button on the bottle where it attaches to the radiator support while pulling up.

 

[CRSmith]

This would have been good to know 2 nights ago when I changed coolant. I used a plastic tube and siphoned it out after 20 minutes of trying to remove the tank by pushing from under the truck. I did the St. Laurent method of flushing out the green with distilled water via the thermostat port. Then added 3 gallons of SoopaTek Walmart brand antifreeze, and topped off with distilled h2o.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

It may sound somewhat brutal, but you know, I spent about 20 minutes trying to push/pull up on it, use a block of wood and a dead blow hammer, etc. to no avail. It actually popped up very easily after I tried the dogs leash on it. Of course, it was disconnected from the radiator. This made it very easy to wash out and wipe down. Give it a try next time.



Even after I had it out I did not find any retaining button. It appeared to just snap into place on the radiator support. Next coolant change I will give it another look, though.

 

[illflem]

The "button" is sort of hard to explain and I don't have a picture. Easy to see though, the button is really just a bump on the middle of the reservoir side towards the rail it slides on, about the size of a quarter. Once you find it you'll wonder how you ever missed it.