2003 f150 5.4 v8 4x4 with 160xxx

I just moved to south dakota from Tennessee, that being said im going to do a coolant flush and replace my coolant overflow reservoir (mine has a leak) i also wanted to add a block heater to it as well.

question 1. The coolant that's been in my truck is green, the manual calls for motocraft gold. Is it ok to switch back to motocract coolant now?
question 2. Is a block heater necessary in south dakota? Truck will be kept outside.
question 3. Any tips for the coolant flush? I plan to drain the radiator and remove the plug from the block and drain it also.

 

I would just stay with the green since that's what is already in it, but if you want to switch that's fine too, just make sure you get most all of the green out.

 

Flush it good and put right thing in. Coolant is critical to these cooling systems mixing iron with thin aluminum parts. Coolant is high higher tech than most think. Maintained well, you will never have an issue....neglect it.... All kinds of bad stuff happens

 

My 2 cents worth.
Shouldn't need to flush it UNLESS the coolant was allowed to get weak and turn into water....that's bad.
Weak coolant will cause the aluminum heads to pit. Eat it right up and rust the block.
Just drain and add new every 5 years.
I've always used cots at Walmart, usually Preston and NEVER had a problem for 28 years....same truck. Same thing with oil/fuel filters....cots. Never a problem.
But, if you are not confident with your maintenance skills then do exactly what the manufacturer says.
How cold does it get where you are at now?
Park inside or outside?

 

Drain and refill should be fine, if the coolant is not rusty
You said it's green, so just drain it
You WILL NOT get the block drain plugs out
You just leave that old coolant in the block
That is one reason to stay with green coolant and I would stay with green on yours
Your 03 probably did come with gold, I'd use green at this point

 

the reason im wanting to flush and add new is bc im not sure what mix was in it prior to me owning the truck, I bought it with 149xxx miles and im at 160xxx miles now. Truck will be kept outside, and the temps can get down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill.

 

Block drain is on the drivers side. Never found one passenger side. However, really no need to get at it for flushing the block. Run either city water or distilled through the degas bottle truck running with drain **** valve open for about 10 minutes. Clears it right up.

 

Since the radiator holds about 1/2 the total system volume on my truck....2.5/5 gal.... I usually drain the radiator and refill with distilled water, drive it around 10 minutes . Drain it and refill it again with another 2.5 gallons of distilled water. Keep repeating. Doesn't have to be done the same day can be done on successive days in warm weather.

You go 50%-->25%, -->12.5%, -->6.25%, -->3.125%, 1.6%, 0.8% concentation. With 5-6 drains you're at 1% contaminated glycol..... And your system is full of distilled water. Then I just add back in 2.5 gallons of concentrated motorcraft gold coolant. I do this every 3 years. Even though the life of the coolant is supposed to be 5.

This is my way of flushing the old coolant. I don't have to worry about having an incompatible coolant in there though.

 

This has always been the DIY method I have used. Never had any issues. Also may help to park on a hill with the nose elevated and let the vehicle run with the bottle open to let any air work out of the system just in case some may have gotten in. I had an Altima one time that had that happen. Only vehicle ever had to do it and it was a common problem with the 05 altimas.

 

doing it this way, am I still going to remove all or most of the old coolant? Leaving the valve open, and the truck running, run water through the degas tank for 10 min then refill with coolant?