Reverse Flush

[SDR]

:-laf I am now at 126K on my 2000 Dodge diesel 4x2 and the radiator liquid still looks pretty clear, I have been thinking it might be time for a reverse flush and new 50/50 mixture. Have had no problems with over heating and have changed the oils on the recommended intervals.



Think that the reverse flush should be done anyway ?

 

[Mundgyver]

If you want to get a good flush without spending allot of money on the so called good stuff, just use a coupe of scoops of Electrosol Powder Electric Dishwashing soap. IT work great and is only about . 50 cents for your expense.



When I did mine, I wanted to use the Fleetguard 650,000 mile pre mix stuff. I drained down the system, removed the heater hose to the head and back flushed the head/motor and the heater core from that spot. I also had the thermostat removed. Once I got clear water, I reassembled everything, topped off and started up untill everything got warm and then put in the Ecectrosol. Went for a 40 mile drive and came back and drained down and rinsed as described before twice. Drained down one last time, used my compressor to blow out the heater core and radiator, installed a new thermostat after filling the block up to the thermostat housing with new Fleetguard, topped off the radiator and then went for another drive. Came back added 1 more quart and we were done.



The electrosol makes everything look new. The tip of using it was given to me by the Cummins Mechanics up at Cummins Northwest, said they use this method vise the $9/15 dollar bottle stuff and it works better anyway.

 

[rbattelle]

I drained down the system, removed the heater hose to the head and back flushed the head/motor and the heater core from that spot.

Did you just use a garden hose for the flushing?



-Ryan

 

[EricBu12]

AutoZone has a kit that goes to the heater hose, you use a garden hose to flush... . Then I used a air hose to blow the water out as much as possible... Then I put in the pre-mix coolant in... .

 

[SDR]

drain Plug

If you want to get a good flush without spending allot of money on the so called good stuff, just use a coupe of scoops of Electrosol Powder Electric Dishwashing soap. IT work great and is only about . 50 cents for your expense.



When I did mine, I wanted to use the Fleetguard 650,000 mile pre mix stuff. I drained down the system, removed the heater hose to the head and back flushed the head/motor and the heater core from that spot. I also had the thermostat removed. Once I got clear water, I reassembled everything, topped off and started up untill everything got warm and then put in the Ecectrosol. Went for a 40 mile drive and came back and drained down and rinsed as described before twice. Drained down one last time, used my compressor to blow out the heater core and radiator, installed a new thermostat after filling the block up to the thermostat housing with new Fleetguard, topped off the radiator and then went for another drive. Came back added 1 more quart and we were done.



The electrosol makes everything look new. The tip of using it was given to me by the Cummins Mechanics up at Cummins Northwest, said they use this method vise the $9/15 dollar bottle stuff and it works better anyway.

I can certainly do all of that, I was looking at the petcock today and I recall reading that you turn 1/4 and then it pulls out ?



I looked in my $125 RAM 2000 shop manual that I bought and didn't find that subject covered. Does the petcock come completely out or just out far enough for water to come out the wheep hole ?

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Does the petcock come completely out or just out far enough for water to come out the wheep hole ?

It all depends how hard you pull on it. I started to drain mine and I thought it wasn't coming out fast enough so I pulled a little harder and it came all the way out. Had to shove it back in as it was spraying all over me. :-laf

I'd recommend getting a piece of hose and put it on the nipple under the petcock. That way, the fluid will drain exactly where you want it to go and not run all over the truck and onto the ground. Mike

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Here's an old thread on how I change out my coolant - https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19740 . Really easy and changes out about as much as you'll ever get out of it.

 

[Mundgyver]

Garden hose works very well on the heater connection at the head. You can flush one way into the heater core and then go the other way into the block. I removed my thermostat and had the nose of my truck pointed down hill in my drive way. Start to finish I spent about 3 hours. This includes the driving also.



My last drain down I used the air compressor with the regulator set to 10 psi to blow the line clear. Let the truck drift down to level ground and filled the block up to the top of the thermostat and then installed the thermostate and topped off the radiator. At this point you have to start up and take it for a quick drive and then come back and you will be down a quart or two. The heater core fills up.



Electrosol is great and it is cheap to use. Just make sure you rinse at least 2 times. 3 is prefered than drain down completely before servicing up.

 

[The patriot]

Is there any perticular type electrosol to use?

There's a bunch to choose from.

Eric

 

[Mundgyver]

I just use the original powder type that come in the box. Works very well

 

[The patriot]

Hummm ... ... ... ..... I didnt see any that didnt have a "flavor".

Got to look again.

Thanks!

Eric

 

[WyattEarp]

Thanks Steve for finding this for me... .



I picked some up this morning but could only find lemon, orange flavor, i got the orange, no regular stuff even had a spot on the shelf.

I do know that when you fill fill back up, make sure to use distilled water, regular well water over time will rust and has mineral deposits that we don't need in our radiators.

I think the system holds 6gallon, pick up 3gal of your choice coolant and 3gal of distilled water. Or go with the premix, that was what i used the last time when i changed. I guess a guy could go either way on the filling back up process.

 

[RT66DOC]

AutoZone has a kit that goes to the heater hose, you use a garden hose to flush... . Then I used a air hose to blow the water out as much as possible... Then I put in the pre-mix coolant in... .

Is that the Prestone (or something) kit that you splice into the hose and leave in place?

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Hummm ... ... ... ..... I didnt see any that didnt have a "flavor".

Maybe they should start making a diesel "flavor. " :-laf :-laf



Jim

 

[The patriot]

Man... I looked everywhere, in every store.

Guess I'm going to have to get the lemon or orange stuff too.

Eric

 

[rbattelle]

Get lemon scented and start running straight veggie oil... you'll smell like a weird salad going down the road. :-laf



-Ryan

 

[The patriot]

I went to the electrasol website, there aint no "plain" flavor.

 

[Mundgyver]

OK, I made a mistake by saying plain Geeessse, you guys are as bad as my wife :-laf What flavor I grabbed the old bucket and it was this one I used Should not realy matter though cause I got lemon too



Just make darn sure you rinse all of it out by filling, driving, draining and repeat at least twice.

 

[WyattEarp]

Yeah i figure the orange might clean a little better, but who knows. I am going to make sure my system is clean im sure there is some junk in there, but then again i could be wrong, didn't see anybuild up when i changed last time.

 

[WyattEarp]

He Buys Them Thar Big Buckets LoL :-laf