Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Radiator flush

[Randy]

I am going to flush my radiator system and I have a couple of questions. How do you get all the old coolant out of the engine, radiatior and heater? The second question is about the coolant. I was going to put Shell's Rotella coolant that is pre-mixed and they claim it good for upto 600,000 miles if you add their additive, and 300,000 miles if you don't use the additive. What do you think? Is this a good product? Thanks. Randy

 

[jwilliams3]

Open radiator drain cock.

Pull spring clamp up from heater hose connected to the head, also pull hose off water connection at head, some coolant will leak.

Use female garden hose fitting to install in a piece of heater hose approx 2 feet in length that is the same diameter as your garden hose.

Push new heater hose over water connection at the head, install the female water hose adapter and screw in water hose turn on water and flush until the draining fluid is clean.



--Justin

 

[socal_rattler]

Here's a link with pictures and instructions:



http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/cooling-sys/antifreeze.htm

 

[boomtown]

JW- you've got the right technique, but I'd like to make one safety recommendation. Just to remove all possibility of siphoning any anti-freeze into your source water supply, I'd recommend putting an anti-siphon coupler between that garden hose and the head heater hose. Preston makes a great little 'flush' kit that includes this anti-siphon coupler and a nice tee fitting to insert on the ol' heater hose.



As for the 'long life' anti-freez's I'm sure the do what they say, however at my 20-25K miles a year we would be talking about 12+ years to hit that 300K mile rating:--) . I sleep better changing the regular life low-silicate stuff every other year.

 

[Whitmore]

I am ready to flush mine too but am concerned about the quality of my citys water, the water does pass all tests to be accepted as drinking water but on my swamp cooler I always get a build up of calcium deposits, I am very concerned about using this water... ... ... ... . and tips ?



cheers, Kevin

 

[PSL53]

Flushing system

TDR issue 35 had a great article on doing this and should answer all these questions.

Psl53

 

[The patriot]

Whitmore, try to find someone in the neighborhood that has a softener.

This will get the T. D. S. down, and should significantly lower the chances of scale and buildup.

Eric



PS Be sure to check to see if the softener supplies their hose spout. Most do not.

 

[gitchesum]

I just bought a few gallons of distilled water from the grocery store.

Make sure it's distilled and not drinking water or spring water. Not sure if it makes that big of a difference but that's what I was told.



Funny thing is, I'll drink water out of the tap but I won't put it in the truck. Talk about your priorities.

 

[Randy]

Thanks for the information. I used Preston the last time I changed the coolant, so I was not worried about the mix as much. With the pre-mixed stuff you are already at 50/50 and any water left in the system after a flush will reduce that ratio. I am not sure if going the pre-mix is the route I should go. The Rotella ELC meets the coolant requirments for CAT, Detroit Diesel, Cummins, etc. so I think the stuff is good. Good point about not reaching the 300-400K very soon. But changing out the coolant is a pain in the butt. Thanks again. Randy

 

[jsnyder]

No tap water here!

The only water I'll put in my radiator is distilled. It's less than a dollar a gallon, pretty cheap insurance in my book. Three gallons is plenty to flush the radiator with.



Jason

 

[jhawkins]

I have been using the Rotella pre mix stuff and I just got through changing my heater core after it developed a leak. I can't say the coolant was the cause but I have only used the Rotella stuff since I drained the original coolant.

Jim

 

[mimprevento]

Coolant

Mine was just flushed ( with a Fleetguard flush) and refilled with Fleetguard Compleat ( that is how it is spelled) at Cummins Atlantic. The tech used hose water and said they have never had an ISB with any cooling system issues. The heavier duty diesels are more particular and surprisingly more susceptible to internal corrosion from bad coolant. I have heard that Xerex Extreme is a great product and has a 600,000 mile guarantee. Good luck.