Coolant System Flush

[BACKRDS]

I've read the posts about installing a coolant system filter and the concern about casting sand or other junk potentially blocking the passage ways of the Engine Oil Cooler and EGR Cooler. I'm assuming that a good power flush of the coolant system would be a good first step, and this should probably be done even if I were not going to install a coolant filter.

Is there a fixed way of doing power flushes? meaning, is there a low spot in the system where it is best to get the sediment out? Also, I have the Espar hydronic flat plate system, so I would think that I need to start that system up as the flush is being done, to allow those lines to be purged as well.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Steve

[saline]

There is a ton of info on cooling system flushes and instructions on how do do it properly over on www.thedieselstop.com
It is an involved process and when I do it I will be switching to ELC, the stuff International uses. There is some recent speculation that the Ford Gold coolant is partly to blame for the clogged oil coolers.

[Ford_6L_E350]

There doesn't seem to be a good way to power flush.

And it is not clear that casting sand is an issue. There is some evidence that the 'sand' is silicates precipitating out of the antifreeze. And it looks like the biggest problems on with engines running hot (F-Series and tuners especially) and overheating the coolant in the EGR cooler.

I've replaced my coolant, but did not flush the system and have had almost nothing collected in the coolant filter.

It is likely the coolant filter isn't needed on a stock van. A van with a tuner or a pickup probably needs one. Mine is just insurance for a long life.

Some pickup owners have switched from the 'One coolant for all' Ford coolant to a diesel specific Extended Life Coolant. And the two coolants are incompatible, so the cooling system has to be completely flushed before changing to the ELC. That involves multiple draining and filling with distilled water before installing the new coolant. If there was a way to power flush the system, these guys would be using it, and they aren't.

Mike

[EMrider]

Coolant and related topics are a very hot discussion topic on the diesel boards.

My understanding is that the flushing process required when switching to ELC is more extensive than a normal flush due to the mixing concerns already mentioned.

I have my mechanic flush and change the coolant every 25-30k miles. Lack of regular cooling system maintenance is a bigger problem, in my view, than whether you use Ford gold (G05) or an ELC coolant.

R

[saline]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

There doesn't seem to be a good way to power flush.

And it is not clear that casting sand is an issue. There is some evidence that the 'sand' is silicates precipitating out of the antifreeze. And it looks like the biggest problems on with engines running hot (F-Series and tuners especially) and overheating the coolant in the EGR cooler.

I've replaced my coolant, but did not flush the system and have had almost nothing collected in the coolant filter.

It is likely the coolant filter isn't needed on a stock van. A van with a tuner or a pickup probably needs one. Mine is just insurance for a long life.

Some pickup owners have switched from the 'One coolant for all' Ford coolant to a diesel specific Extended Life Coolant. And the two coolants are incompatible, so the cooling system has to be completely flushed before changing to the ELC. That involves multiple draining and filling with distilled water before installing the new coolant. If there was a way to power flush the system, these guys would be using it, and they aren't.

Mike

Just to add a bit on the coolant filter on a stock E series 6.0L. I have changed 2 coolant filters so far and the 1st one was a bit un-nerving, there was a LOT of sand-like, gritty material in the filter. The 2nd filter was not nearly as bad but there was some gritty stuff in it.