We would like to replace our anti freeze for less than $150 dealership cost.
3 years old, clear and clean.
Proceedure for draining and refilling is the objective.
If you could help with suggestions we would be most gateful.

Thank You
Ron & Jodi

 

Just a thought....$150 bucks doesn't sound too bad.
You don't have to do it very often...and it is a messy job and you have to dispose of the old coolant properly as it is very toxic.(lot of it in the Cummins)
I used to do this service myself on other vehicles and it dawned on me that it was just not worth the hassle IMHO.
By the time you buy your own antifreeze and distilled water, you would be lucky to save $100 bucks.(a hudred bucks is a hundred bucks...but still a messy job)
BTW I don't think it has to be done for 5 or 6 years...not sure tho..check your manual.
Cheers...Ted

 

you can change it out for about $35 or less

you'll need 3 gal of coolant (not the 50/50 crap) the green stuff (not the orange crap according to dodge)

you'll need 3 gal of distilled water

the system holds 7 gallons, but you won't get 7 gallons out of it because some will stay in the engine

you'll need two 5 gal buckets w/lids preferrably (I had to tap plastic over my buckets cuz I couldn't find any dang lids to transport the coolant to the recycle facility) or just put the old coolant into the empty jugs you fill the system with and then take it

remove the radiator cap (cold....not hot) open the petcock on the drivers side bottom of the radiator and drain all the coolant out into the 5 gallon buckets....close the pet ****

I also put a syphon on the overflow tank and sucked it dry too, but I suppose it's not necessary

dump in two gallons of antifreeze and two gallons of water

poor half a gallon of antifreeze into one of the newly empty antifreeze containers and fill both the half full jugs of antifreeze with a gallon of water (this gives you an easy 50/50 mix to top off the system. )

Top off the coolant system with the 50/50 mix

Start the truck, and run it for a few minutes.

Shut down the truck and then check level

Check it the next day or two to make sure it's topped off in the radiator and it's at the "max" line on the overflow tank.

Very simple, will take 1/2 an hour and will save you some money to dump into the tank.


I don't understand how people will spend hundreds of dollars to try and get an extra 1 mpg out of their truck, then blow another wad of money at their dealer to do something they could easily do themselves.

$100 is a free tank+ of fuel

I'd bet money that the dealer grease monkeys finish the coolant change in under 15 minutes.

 

Not only that you think there going to do it better than you can?? I bet most (and again not every dealer is like this, some are true blue workers) they empty 3 gallons and put some in, doubt they replace it all.

 

I'd like to give them a bit more credit than that.....but nothing would surprise me.

 

The Powerstroke I had before I got my Ram had two pipe plug, one on each side of the block. Taking these plugs out drained the block. Does the Cummins block have drain plugs?

 

Take it to a good radiator shop and have them do it. They will use air and water to flush it and it will be alot cleaner. They will get allmost all the antifreeze out with air pressure. Fill with new antifreeze. It cost me about $75.00, no mess.