flushing the radiator

[shendren]

well i !@#$ed up again and took my truck in to the dodge dealer here near my office. i told them to flush the entire engine and radiator. $52. they used 3 gals of fleetgard!! so i guess i'll have to do it myself... ...



can someone tell me where to look for the radiator drain? which side? from the link on the diesel index it doesn't say. thanks in advance for all of the help.



scott.

 

[Mackie007]

Ummm... 3 gallons of concentrate sounds like the correct amount. I just did mine & used 3 gals. Not sticking up for the dealer but what do you suspect they did wrong?



Mac,

 

[crabman]

Scott,

When facing the engine, the radiator drain is located on the lower right side(inside engine comp).

If you are going to be working on your truck the best thing that you can invest in is the service manual from Chrysler Corp. This manual will save you heaps of time and greef.

If your truck is a 96,

Manul No. 81-370-6108 $90. 00+Shipping & Handling.

Covers 1500-3500 2 wd & 4 wd.

Phone # 1-800-890-4038 Mon,- Fri. 8-4:30 E. S. T.

Fax # 440-572-0815





Crabman

 

[shendren]

nope, this was not concentrate. this was the fleetgard 50/50 mix.



i already have a manual ordered. thanks for the numbers.



i only bought the truck because of the cummins 12v. the dodge part of this truck is falling apart. including the paint!!

 

[Cooker]

Scott,

You have become a maintence freak You haven't even had the truck a month and you already have changed nearly every fluid on the thing Don't forget brake fluid, power steering fluid, and the front and rear diffs. Seriously though it sure seems like us Cummins drivers do take great care of our rigs.



As far as the antifreeze goes, I think it is pretty difficult to get all of the 6 (or 5 1/2) gallons of old freeze out. I was able to get 5 out of my truck.



-I jacked the rear of the truck up

-Drained the radiator, about three gallons

-Pulled the lower radiator hose off the water pump (this was about 1 gallon)

-Pulled the heater hose off going into the heater core and blew air into the hose, this pushed some coolant out of the water pump

-Flushed the heater core with water through the heater hoes I removed until clear out of the water pump

-Flush the heater core with coolant (John Deere Cool Guard 50/50 pre-mix) until coolant came out of the water pump

-put it all back together and fill with coolant. I actually used closer to 5 1/2 than 5 gallons to refill, but I figure some was lost in the flushing process, so I estimate about a 5 gallon change



Don't forget to check again after several miles/days of dirving. It take a while for the last bit of air to get worked out of the system.



I hope this helps,

Ryan

 

[shendren]

thanks cooker!



yes i have become quite the maintenance weenie. i just like to have a reference point from which to start. i don't know what the previous owner did/did not do.



i am very disappointed in all of the dealers' abilities that i have been to. this board has a lot of knowledge on it including yours. thanks. scott.