I need to replace my block heater. The coolant in the truck currently is of unknown brand/type. I didnt really want to totally drain/refill, just drain enough to replace block heater.

After reading, I'm afraid of adding coolant to the system that may be incompatible with what is in it currently. Thoughts or comments on this? Ive read where the coolant should be of a HOAT type (zerex, etc) but without knowing whats in the truck, I'm unsure it has a HOAT type or not?

As always, thanks for any insight...

 

The coolant on a 2000 truck is supposed to be the standard green stuff. They never came with extended life coolant until the common rail engines in 2003. If it was me, I'd consider this a great time to change the coolant if I had to drain at least half of it to replace a part.

And if you're not sure what's in it, give it a good water flush after you drain it. Also I've never seen any compelling reason to 'upgrade' a vehicle to extended life coolant if it came with standard coolant originally.

 

If you are in a pinch top it up with distilled water, or drain the existing coolant off into a clean bottle and re-use it..

If you top it off with distilled water check it for freezing level before trusting it this winter.

 

Thanks for the replies. I guess I read too much into the hoat type huh? I didnt really find anything definitive in the manual, one way or the other, as far as which coolant to use.

The coolant in it currently is best described as "brown", so I'd say its definitely time to replace. Will most likely drain, flush, replace with regular old green coolant.

Seeing other comments about fragile drain petcocks, I will probably just drain from the lower hose.

Any thoughts on the petcock? If it's like any other piece of plastic on the truck, it will break as soon as I look at it!

 

The petcock turns about 1/4 then you pull it straight out.
Most overturn it and break it.

Make sure you use ethylene glycol coolant. Its called out in the Cummins specs.

 

oopsie, double post.sorry

 

What sixslug said...

I was stressed about the petcock also but no problem once I figured out how it worked. Just dont go all neanderthal on it.

 

That's some golden advice right there!!

 

My 2001 HO came with G05.

Amazon has it with free shipping -

http://www.amazon.com/Zerex-ZXGO51-G.../dp/B0033QNZZ0

 

Go to Geno's website. He has an amazing read on coolant selection from the Turbo Diesel Register. It is well worth the understanding.

 

Another good thing to do is remove heater hoses and flush the heater core independent of the entire system.