What's the best technique for doing a coolant flush on the 10th gen.?

Just drain the radiator and refill with 50/50?

or

Do the full blown drain the radiator, run water (distilled versus tap) through the system with heater on with cleaner. Drain , rinse and repeat till clear and refill with concentrated coolant 60-70 % / 40-30% water (distilled/tap).

Thoughts?


2001 f150 , 5.4 168k, I'll have to ask the guy I bought it from if he has ever flushed it. If he had flushed it, it was probably a mechanic not him.

Last maintenance item before winter, I think.

 

if its never been done i would do a full flush, just use the garden hose for flushing and then distilled for the final fill, i would also back flush the heater core

 

Seems like @Jbrew did a "how to" that he posted before for the full meal deal. I tagged him, so hopefully he sees it.

 

Cool, thanks white

 

NP. I do know it involves removing at least one plug from the block. It's a much better method if you don't know how long it has been in there. I change mine every 2 years and had record of the PO following the same schedule.... so I haven't ever done a complete flush.

 

Delete copy of post

 

So, white, or others that have flushed their 10th gens. I've done a little research and rock auto has motorcraft vc5 coolant for a good price. VC5 is correct for 10th gen. correct? 3 gallons for complete flush (concentrate) mixed with the distilled water left in engine should be about right?

(Is it worth ordering the motorcraft coolant or would prestone or something similar from auto zone work ust as well)?

When I say complete I mean complete including the engine block clean. I still have to talk to previous owner to how hes done coolant flushes, if any.

If I only do the radiator drain and fill there would be no flushing chemicals, because I would never get all the flush out. I am assuming here.

Just stirring conversation about near future maintenance item. Need to order fluids soon, gonna start to get cooler outside.

Thoughts anyone?

Or just bite the bullet and spend hours, filling and draining after detergent has been added to get clear and clean system. Then add new coolant.

 

I use the Universal stuff. I've used it from NAPA (house brand), O'Reilly (house brand), and the Valvoline MaxLife. All of them have worked absolutely perfect for me. For my Toyota, it takes the Pentafrost, and I was told by Valvoline that their MaxLife is interchangeable with that as well.

 

Update, alright, flushed the coolant system 7 times sunday, still nasty looking. It took forever to get small amounts out of the radiator.

The original owner told me (after I did 7 flushes) it was the original radiator, eh gads....still functioning somehow.

I broke down this morning and took it to my local shop. The radiator was beyond flushing, clogged as hell.

The shop took out the block plugs, took out the thermostat to flush the block. They said it was one of the worst he had ever seen.

Replaced radiator and upper radiator hose, thermostat.

Finally flushed clean and filled. I'll have to keep up with it, since the previous owner coukdnt exactly seem to remember these little maintenance things , geezzz.

 

Damn... what a mess. I assume you got the block and heater core flushed OK? If it's that bad, you might want to consider doing a new pump as well. Usually the pump and radiator look about the same internally.