Can I flush my coolant without taking everything apart? It seems I remember on my old 7.3 Ford I could hook up a hose and flush away from some contraption that was installed within the heater hose, is that right?

 

Found this on you tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOiGRffSc2s

 

The following link contains the proper coolant flush method.


https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...=COOLANT+FLUSH

 

FWIW, I have never flushed in 167,000 miles. I just drain the radiator and then refill it with a 50/50 mix of Zerex G-05 and Distilled water every 25,000 miles or so (once a year for me). It's not expensive and it's easy to do. It doesn't get all the old stuff out.....only about 4.5 gallons.........but by replacing it often it keeps it like new all the time. Initially I did a couple of drain/refills in a short interval....then got a schedule with it when I do my diffs, 2 micron filter, power steering fluid, transmission filter/fluid etc.etc. Im still on my original water pump too, but im not sure if the fresh fluid is helping that or not.

..

 

Be careful about using the Radiator drain plug, I've read more than one story about people not being able to get them back in properly.

Just as easy to remove the lower radiator hose

 

Actually that references a good way to replace all your coolant but doesn't cover "Flushing" which is also called "Reverse Flushing". My '04 manual covers that and Chemical Cleaning of the cooling system.:

CLEANING
Drain the cooling system and refill with water. Run the engine with the radiator cap installed until the upper radiator
hose is hot. Stop the engine and drain the water from system. If the water is dirty, fill the system with water, run the
engine and drain the system. Repeat this procedure until the water drains clean.
REVERSE FLUSHING
Reverse flushing of the cooling system is the forcing of water through the cooling system. This is done using air
pressure in the opposite direction of normal coolant flow. It is usually only necessary with very dirty systems with
evidence of partial plugging.
REVERSE FLUSHING RADIATOR
Disconnect the radiator hoses from the radiator inlet and outlet. Attach a section of the radiator hose to the radiator
bottom outlet fitting and insert the flushing gun. Connect a water supply hose and air supply hose to the flushing
gun.
CAUTION: Internal radiator pressure must not exceed 138 kPa (20 psi) as damage to radiator may result.
Allow the radiator to fill with water. When the radiator is filled, apply air in short blasts. Allow the radiator to refill
between blasts. Continue this reverse flushing until clean water flows out through the rear of the radiator cooling
tube passages.
REVERSE FLUSHING ENGINE
Drain the cooling system. Remove the thermostat housing and thermostat. Install the thermostat housing. Disconnect
the radiator upper hose from the radiator and attach the flushing gun to the hose. Disconnect the radiator lower
hose from the water pump and attach a lead-away hose to the water pump inlet fitting.
CAUTION: On vehicles equipped with a heater water control valve, be sure the heater control valve is
closed (heat off). This will prevent coolant flow with scale and other deposits from entering the heater core.
Connect the water supply hose and air supply hose to flushing gun. Allow the engine to fill with water. When the
engine is filled, apply air in short blasts, allowing the system to fill between air blasts. Continue until clean water
flows through the lead away hose.
Remove the lead away hose, flushing gun, water supply hose and air supply hose. Remove the thermostat housing
and install the thermostat. Install the thermostat housing with a replacement gasket. Refer to Thermostat Replacement.
Connect the radiator hoses. Refill the cooling system with the correct antifreeze/water mixture (Refer to
LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/FLUID TYPES - DESCRIPTION). Refer to Refilling the Cooling System.

I wouldn't do all of this unless the system is unusually dirty.