Last night, we flushed the coolant outta the block and radiator, and tossed in some of that cleaner and neutralizer additive. We did it step by step and I know we did everything right. After flushing the system for the 3rd and last time w/ a garden hose to get all the cleaner/neutralizer out, it was time to fill the system. We added 2 gals of coolant and 2 gals of distilled water and then it would take no more. The owners manual says it holds 6 gallons. We ran the truck (heater on), allowed it warm up to 190*, waited for it to cool and then I could barely get a 1/4 of a gal back in to top it off. So what I have left over from this ordeal is a gal of coolant and a gal of distilled water (only added 4 gallons to a 6 gallon system). Any ideas?

Ps. I know we didn't get all the water outta the block before we added the coolant, it was late and we didn't feel like waiting for every last drop to come out. But I'm 99% sure there wasnt 2 gals left in the system before we started adding the mix.

 

Yeah it holds about 4 1`/2 to five. The autos hold a little more.

 

i ran into the same situation. my problem was vaporlock. i had the luxury of time on my hands at the time. i managed to do this over the course of two days. not the answer you want to hear but it "eventually" worked its way out.

 

I guess I will keep checking it/ filling it til I know that it cant possibly hold anymore. Thanks for the info guys.

 

When I replaced the coolant in my 2000 with some long life additive, I flushed the system out then took off the lower radiator hose and jacked the rear of the truck until the engine was a little past level. When I added the coolant (which was 50/50 premix ) it only took about 4.75 gals. My suggestion would be that if you want a 50% mix in your truck is to drain out a gal. and add 1 gal of straight antifreeze. That would get you close.

 

Whats the recommended change interval? I have about 72K on my truck and with heading into winter I wonder if I should change it out? Not to mention I would imagine it's the original.

 

If you have the green coolant, the interval is every 2 years or 30,000 miles. I changed mine in my 2000 at that interval until I switched to this.

click here

I did it for the increased change interval which is 300,000 miles then test, good to 600,000 miles total.

 

This is a good reason to mix you coolant and water before you pour it in. I did the same thing the first time and ended up have a 70/30 mixture in the engine. Needless to say it ran on the warmer side until the next change. I've got a 1 gallon jug that has a mark at 64 Ozs. so all I got to do it fill to the line with coolant and then fill the rest of the way with water. Give it a good shake. Then pour the mixture in the radiator. This time it about as close as I can get to 50/50 now. Runs much cooler. The little water in the block is easy to take care of... When you refill the reserve tank on the side use straight anti-freeze in it. That about quart worth of extra that will bleed into the system.

I used the new extended life prestone mix with any color. So far so good!

 

If you are using the same type of coolant, my thinking is if you flush it and get ready to add new coolant and want a 50/50 mix, our trucks take 6 gals. So if you add 3 gals. of antifreeze FIRST then top off with water you will always be at 50/50 no matter what you drain out.

 

When I did it, I poured 1 gal of coolant, then one gal of water into the block. The next gal of coolant went into the radiator, followed by one gal of water. Then it was full. So far, I've only added maybe a quart of coolant and water (mixed together). That means that my system is 50/50 but only holds 4 gals and some change. Weird.

 

No, the system holds 6 gallons . If you added 4 gallons, and 3 of them would have been straight antifreeze then you would be at 50%. As it is now you are at 33% if my long ago High School math still serves.

 

Thats the point of this thread. The system only took 4 gallons TOTAL. Two of them were coolant and 2 were water.

 

Mine was done with the truck rear end jacked way up... So I know that I got most off all the coolant/water out of the block. Rear-end was up almost 3 feet extra...

Still only got about 4 Gallons and some change in it...

 

Let me try this another way. The system on these trucks when at the factory and dry will need close to 6 gals to fill it. When you drain and flush you system and can only get 4 gals. out of it, that means there is still 2 gals. or so still in it. Even using the Cummins reccomendation of draining which includes taking off the lower radiator hose at the engine and raising the rear of the engine I was only able to get about 5 gals out of both of mine. After a flush the 2 gals. thatyou had left will be mostly water. If you only add 2 gals. of antifreeze and 2 gals. of water and its full, you effectively have a 33% mix in the ENTIRE SYSTEM. If you are after a 50% mix then you still need to add 3 gals. of antifreeze then top off with water.

 

Not to argue but my truck with the engine dry (out of the truck) and the heater blown out, will hold less than 5 gallons, not six. Auto's will hold a little more probably with the cooler.

the only way to do it is pour half of the distilled water into another container. then refill it with anti-freeze. then pour the 1/2 you took out of the distilled into the anti-freeze container. That is two gallons of 50/50. Do it again, and you have four gallons.

You are using distilled water aren't you? If not drain it and never put regular water in a cooling system except to flush. With distilled your radiator will always look new inside.