Why you should change your coolant

[Dennis Reinhart]

This is as bad as I have seen in years, this truck will allways have coolant issues the radiator needs replaced so does the heater core.

http://web.iwebcenters.com/reinhartautomotive/images/session/00-00-1229823703-IMG_2050_640x480.JPG

http://web.iwebcenters.com/reinhartautomotive/images/session/00-00-1229823846-IMG_2051_640x480.JPG

http://web.iwebcenters.com/reinhartautomotive/images/session/00-00-1229823932-IMG_2053_640x480.JPG

[Blackmobile]

So you're saying there isn't any cleaner/solvant that will clean out the radiator and heater core?

[justbob]

Untill you've had to probe the water jackets with a small screwdriver to remove the rust sludge then you haven't seen anything yet.

[Dennis Reinhart]

Ed the damage is done it ate all the freeze plugs out, under the manifold, so will replace the radiator, then flush the entire cooling system with out the T stat, but the heater core will go next, and the the 2 freeze plugs behind the transmission.

[Blackmobile]

It just reminds me of the commercial of the guy at the auto part store getting his hand slapped (by his inner self) for picking up cheap coolant.

[MitchB]

What year is this truck?

Mitch

[hot-rauder]

How often should one flush out the coolant, or change it?

[Dennis Reinhart]

I would do it once a year

[Bigdogjim]

I agree once a year or every 45,000 miles:) (on higher mileage cars/trucks/SUV's)

[ctrlraven]

What year is this truck?

Mitch
Not sure of the year but it's a F-150 with the 4.9L straight-6 motor that I can tell by the pics.

[Bigdogjim]

Not sure of the year but it's a F-150 with the 4.9L straight-6 motor that I can tell by the pics.


Not sure of the exact year. It was no longer use in the "E" van around 99?

[MERCMAN]

I would do it once a year

Once a YEAR? Would replacement be predicated on mileage,age,or a combination of both? What causes the coolant to be degraded? What guarantee is there that the coolant you are replacing it with is of a "fresher" vintage than the coolant in your vehicle? What is the interval that FOMOCO reccomends?
Do people with low mileage collector vehicles replace their coolant every year? Inquiring minds want to know.:)

[MM2004]

Once a YEAR? Would replacement be predicated on mileage,age,or a combination of both? What causes the coolant to be degraded? What guarantee is there that the coolant you are replacing it with is of a "fresher" vintage than the coolant in your vehicle? What is the interval that FOMOCO reccomends?
Do people with low mileage collector vehicles replace their coolant every year? Inquiring minds want to know.:)

So, in other words, you haven't changed yours as I haven't mine?

:P

We have nearly the same miles on our cars, and I am wondering as well.

The reservoir in mine looks brand spanking new as yours does.

Of course, I am due for a tranny flush, brake line flush so might as well do the coolant??

Mike.

[Local Boy]

I believe, if you have the "Green" Motorcraft coolant...than it's every 3 years...

If you have the "Yellow" Motorcraft coolant...It's every 5 years...

ALOHA

[BODYMAN]

I believe, if you have the "Green" Motorcraft coolant...than it's every 3 years...

If you have the "Yellow" Motorcraft coolant...It's every 5 years...

ALOHA


I never beleive the manufacters guidlines either right or wrong it is once a year! Just my feelings on this I have seen to many coolant problems in the past. I have a 2005 Pontiac in my shop right now for frt end collision upon replacing the radiator it had sludge from the dex-cool in the system so we flushed but as Dennis said the cooling issue still exists thru out the motor. so in short every 12 for me no risk taking here! Just my 2 cents.

Todd

[BlownMerc]

Last year for the venerable 4.9 I6 was 1996, last year of the old bodystyle. 1997 was the first aero body F150 with the 4.2L v6. The 1998 Superduties were old bodystyle, but were carryover 1997's, there were no 1998 Superduties, just early produced 1999's in the new body. And as long as you use distilled water with your coolant flushes, you can stick with the 30K mile mark with the green, and 60-75K miles with the gold (even though factory says 100k, don't like what I see at 100k with the gold, sediment seems to build up in the bottle).

[Local Boy]

Thats a good point BlownMerc...

I always use distilled water...never from the tap...

ALOHA

[Dennis Reinhart]

This was a 94 F150 it took me three cans of super flush to get it to run clear, here is the T stat

http://web.iwebcenters.com/reinhartautomotive/images/session/00-00-1229988622-DSC00017.JPG

http://web.iwebcenters.com/reinhartautomotive/images/session/00-00-1229989036-DSC00027.JPG

[GetMeMyStogie]

Looks like the owner was running sea water! That brown liquid doesn't look like it had any coolant in it at all :wow: That, and the rust all over the place.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

WOW. I think part of the reason you need to change coolant, whether your car has a lot of miles or not, is it loses its ability to protect against corrosion. I wonder if my 300A has ever been done. Probably not

[ckadiddle]

I try to get coolant and trans fluid done yearly at the beginning of spring/summer. We don't put real high miles on them, but both are daily drivers in Orlando area city traffic during very hot humid weather. It's a precaution on my part. Not any one's recommendation.

[Fourth Horseman]

I've been changing my cars every other year. Maybe I'll change to every year. Yikes.