I have a closed coolant system on my 1999 F150, 4.6. Is there an easy way to get more than a quart of coolant out of the overflow tank and coolant system, so I can add about a half gallon of antifreeze to this previous Texas truck for Colorado weather?

 

Try radiator drain ****.

 

The drain **** is on the bottom of the radiator on the left (Pax side) of the radiator. That bottom radiator hose is relatively easy to remove and I would recommend removing it to drain most of the fluid since if you just bought the truck you probably don't know how long the fluid has been in there. Then add the amount you have drained back into the system. If you want to get real ambitious you could take out the drain plug in the block and drain most of it then flush the system and refill. You could also take it in to Meinke of some other shop with a fluid flush machine. As I recall this will cost you about $200 and the folks at Meinke did a real good job with it when I did it about 5 years ago. The fluid last a long time but eventually looses the rust inhibitor properties that protect your cooling system, heater, and water pump. Back 50 years ago you had to change the fluid every year because it wouldn't last and the folks who didn't change it would start overheating their vehicle and causing big time engine problems as their system rusted up (usually after about 3 years). The stuff now last at least 5 years and beyond and is a big improvement but it still only cost about $8 to $10 a gallons and continues to be cheap maintenance. That why I say just drain and add a couple of gallons if you system is not showing signs of rust.

One thing that hasn't change is the fastest way to trash your engine and become a supplier of LKQ pick your part is to over heat your engine from a bad cooling system or failing to change your oil so a little over maintenance of your vehicle has been a plan that I stick with because I keep my vehicles for a long time but I don't want them breaking down or running bad when I use them. Something the Army drilled in me when I was in the Cavalry during the Vietnam war. A breakdown in the field was a whole lot worse that than a piano quitting in the middle of a recital or even a organ quitting in the middle of a piece.

i probably told you a lot more than you wanted to hear and I hope you won't hold it against me too badly. Good luck with the truck and i hope it gives you a lot of dependable service in the future.