Radiator refill

[RPosey]

Are there any secrets to refiling the radiator?

2003

I changed the water pump and can only get about 2/3 of the fluid back in.

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

take of the thermostat housing and burp the system. that's the only way i could get the air out of mine.

 

[RPosey]

Refill

Is that going to let the fluid pour out?

 

[Bill Weber]

No secrets. If you drained the radiator and are trying to put the fluid back in and it won't fit, then there is some air still in the block. It should bleed off if let to set awhile. Make sure you have filled the o'flow bottle with the old fluid. Or, you could start the engine and run it for a minute then shut it down and there should be room as this will help bleed off any air in the system.

If you are replacing the fluid then be aware you can't drain all the old fluid. There will still be around 2 gal left in the block (there is no block drain). So, you can only put about 5 gals of new fluid back in.



Bill

 

[RPosey]

I have just replaced the water pump, so no new fluid will be added. I ran the engine about 30 minutes and that didn't help. I was going to wait for it to cool and see if it will suck some out of the o flow bottle. . The o flow bottle is as full as I can get it. I am not in a hurry, so I can wait over night to see if it works. I will bleed the thermostat tomorrow if I have to.

 

[WCPoe]

When I flushed mine I found the same thing. I had flushed and refilled one day and checking the next day when it had cooled off it was down in the radiator a couple of inches.

I had to top up the over flow bottle a couple of times but it eventually refilled the radiator up to the neck and the level in the overflow tank stabilized as well. It just takes a couple of cool downs for the radiator to pull enough out of the overflow tank.

Just keep plenty in the overflow and the system will eventually bleed out the air and refill the radiator completely. Just my 2 cents.

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

It's only 4 bolts. I had the exact same thing happen to me. Popped thermostat housing off, filled from there . It purged the air and I was good to go after putting the 4 bolts back.

 

[NIsaacs]

Just loosen one of the pipe plugs on the top of the head near the t-stat housing to bleed the air out.



Nick

 

[RPosey]

refill

I will know in the morning. I ran it till the temp was over 200 ° and put it in the garage for the night. I will try the pipe plug in the morning. I had hoped there was a plug on the thermostat housing. I don't have a gasket or o-ring for the stat housing.

 

[NIsaacs]

No secrets.

If you are replacing the fluid then be aware you can't drain all the old fluid. There will still be around 2 gal left in the block (there is no block drain). So, you can only put about 5 gals of new fluid back in.



Bill

I guess I am confused. This is the second time this week I have seen this on TDR. If the water inlet on the block is the lowest point on the system, why will it not drain completely? Can someone please explain? Thanks



Nick

 

[SierraRam]

I have always turend the heater to max and idle the engine, seems to help get the air out quicker.

 

[DUBLR]

Loosen one pipe plug on top of block and you are done

 

[NavyDood]

Pop this hose off when refilling.

#ad

 

[Bill Weber]

I guess I am confused. This is the second time this week I have seen this on TDR. If the water inlet on the block is the lowest point on the system, why will it not drain completely? Can someone please explain? Thanks



Apparently the water inlet is not the lowest point because only 5 gals drains from a 7 gal system.



Bill

 

[MAshley]

Ok ... so how is a person suposed to do a collant flush?

 

[NIsaacs]

I guess I am confused. This is the second time this week I have seen this on TDR. If the water inlet on the block is the lowest point on the system, why will it not drain completely? Can someone please explain? Thanks



Apparently the water inlet is not the lowest point because only 5 gals drains from a 7 gal system.



Bill

The engine blocks cooling system flow chart I posted from my Cummins repair manual clearly shows the inlet as the lowest point... .



Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

I attach a garden hose to one of the pipe plugs on the top of the head, several of them enter the cooling system. I let the engine idle as the water overflows out the top of the radiator. When it is clean, I drain the system and add new.



Nick

 

[PWong]

It takes 3 fill-ups!!!

Are there any secrets to refiling the radiator?

2003

I changed the water pump and can only get about 2/3 of the fluid back in.

I filled mine in three fill-ups.

1. Fill the the radiator slowly until it's full and close the cap before start the engine.

2. Start engine, at max heat on, run it at high idle until the thermostat opens (around 190F). Now check the upper radiator hose. It should be HOT and pressurized.

Open the cap slowly, fill up the radiator slowly with the engine running. Close the cap.

3. Drive the truck for 15-20 minutes. Then shut down and let it sit cool down for 4-6 hours. Fill up the radiator again and fill up the overflow tank to the proper level. That should be it.



May be you want to check the overflow tank again after you drive it HOT and coolant down again a couple more time to make sure.



Three times work for me.

 

[TBartlett1]

It helps to have the front of the vehicle higher than the rear, this helps the air in the system work up to the radiator.

Use a pressure tester to check the system. If it takes only 2 or three pumps to build pressure the system is full, if it takes several pumps or more to build pressure in the cooling system there is still air in it.

With the pressure tester attached and with 4~7 psi in the system starting the engine for a minute or two will also help work the air out.

Don't be in a hurry!!



Tim

 

[sevobuck]

This is how I did mine... https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/5-9l-engine-transmissions-2003-2007/218402-coolant-flush-3rd-gen.html