LariatDude

Would it be a good idea to use a chemical flush for the first flush cycle or not even bother with it...

Eric Kleven

Wait, the crossover goes under the alternator... not hard to remove.

Looks like the crossover can come right off when the alternator is out.

so, are the gaskets removable or not?

Especial86

iTrader: (1)

I thought you were talking about this this black tube under the intake manifold.


Your taking about the bypass tube (jumper), where your T stat mounts..
Both are considered bypass/crossovers really..

Good time to change the T stat while system is drained, but still an arbitrary procedure to pull the whole bypass/Xover off..
unless your gonna paint it while it's out.

But yeah alternator has got to come out to get at it.. Hell at one point you might as well just pull the heads if your dead set on getting the coolant passages ridiculously clean..
Not trying to be a dick here, just trying to save you some time and money from what sounds like an "overkill" situation..

But yes the water crossover gaskets are reusable.. T stat gasket is an 0 ring if remember correctly. Factory T stat is a 195

FrozenTundraGuy

Yes, ran it for 10-15 mins, Yes, had the heater on full heat setting. Yes, used concentrated Motorcraft coolant since the block was full of clean distilled water. Hope this answers your questions.

LariatDude

Yessir thank you!!!

Eric Kleven

Trying to do it as deep as I can get for the least work I can put in. After pulling the water pump and flushing my mountaineer with a garden hose a couple years ago, and seeing all kinds of black garbage come out of the engine passages when I stuffed a hose up either/both sides from the t-stat housing, I'm a believer.
But can't do to the 5.4 what we could do to the 302 with that goofy-*** t-stat housing ford put on.

Four bolts later, that crossover comes out and the coolant passages from the head are front-n-center. With the water pump off, there will be all kinds of junk flying around. Then, I can stick a funnel down the head and flush out the city water with a jug of RO water and get all the minerals out.

Yeah, man, I'm picky about my maintenance; especially on a 10 year old truck I've had for a year and it didn't get any maintenance before me. I'm also lazy, those heads are staying on as long as there's gaskets and pistons under 'em, and oil pressure inside.

Eric Kleven

Oh hey! coolant crossover gaskets at Rock Auto for like $6.89. That answers that question.