Jim Lane

Part -1


Cooling system flush, Southern California Style.

How to backflush your cooling system.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=208530

Several years ago I installed a bypass style coolant filter on my truck, some people could not understand why I would want to filter my coolant.

Here is my article on how to install the filter.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=209772


So today I am going to replace my upper and lower radiator hoses, water pump and flush out the block and then add new coolant.

But I have extra parts on my truck since then so I will have to find a new way to get fresh water into my cooling system, I removed one of the hoses leading to the coolant filter from the top of the thermostat housing and added a female hose connector.




Now by adding a simple ball valve shutoff you can get at your local hardware store you can now control your back-flush without having to run to the faucet when it blows like Old Faithful



First of all let me tell you, this last year has really flown by and I have not replaced my coolant in probably 2 years now so I am not knowing what to expect.

So on a COOL engine I slid my big 3' square aluminum pan under the truck to catch as much of the old coolant, removed the radiator cap and turned on the water, and to my surprise the only thing that gushed out of the radiator was clean green coolant, wow no ugly brown muck from the block like last time.



Then I start the engine and run it at a fast idle and within seconds the only thing coming from the radiator was clean clear water so I removed the drain pan and let the rest of the flush into the driveway



With the engine running it is putting up a spray from the water hitting the cooling fan.



After I was satisfied that it was clean enough.

I stopped the engine and removed the lower radiator hose and gave the block a good clean-out backward against the flow to remove and sediment that might be remaining in the block

Again, nothing came from the block but clean clear water, I owe this all to my coolant filter.



Then I removed my old coolant filter, I had a problem breaking the rubber seal but I got it off with a bit of muscle. see where the gasket stuck to the filter base.

After I was satisfied that everything was clean, I removed the flushing water hose adapter, and drained as much water that I could from the block using compressed air (I would not recommend you do this if you are not sure of yourself), after the radiator was drained out then I replaced the water pump, upper and lower radiator hoses and anything else I might have taken off.



This is what I am going to use to refill my cooling system,

2 -Gallons of Shell Zone Low Silicate Concentrate
2 -Gallons of Arrowhead Distilled Water



I added the coolant and Distilled Water through the radiator slowly purging the air from the system through the yet disconnected coolant filter hose that leads to the thermostat housing, after about 2 gallons I started the engine and let it come up to temperature so the thermostat would open and allow me to add the remainder of coolant/ distilled water.

Jim Lane

Part - 2

To the empty cooling system I started by adding the coolant and then distilled water until it was to the top of the tank, then I started the engine and let it circulate through the engine block, by venting the air from the thermostat housing I was able to get more it without having to let the thermostat open.



I still could not get all of the coolant/ distilled water mix in so I filled the overflow tank and then went for a drive.

I was also replacing my A/C compressor at the same time.



It took about 2 cycles of filling the overflow tank until it would not take any more and I called it full.



Now remember I had just back flushed my entire cooling system when I installed the coolant filter so there should haven't of been anything left.

So I cut open the filter housing to see just what had been filtered out of my supposedly clean system.

Yuck, what crud hides inside my engine.



Sick, chunks of what could it be?



This is what got filtered and removed out of my engine block, the leftover casting sand and muck,

I have always had good mixture of coolant and no air so there was no rust.



I am happy to know that this filter is doing something to prolong the life of my engine.

If you ever wonder if a coolant filter is a good addition to your engine, I have hopefully answered your questions.

Note to self, change your coolant filter more often

Jim