Awesome job and thanks for sharing this great information. The only thing I might question is the turning of the HVAC temperature control **** in the cab to hot. On older vehicles, this used to allow coolant to flow into the heater core - which you want to do.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't many of the newer vehicles used a blend door on the air side of the HVAC system to regulate heat instead of a liquid valve on the coolant side? That would say you're getting coolant flow through the heater core all of the time - regardless of the ****'s position. In either case, it's not going to hurt you though. Thanks for sharing!

 

Great work, lovely interaction... any comments on the choice of Amsoil coolant? I've used their oils and lubes for years but JUST started to consider their coolant in my F-150 '97.
190K on the engine and going well so far... Anyone else use Amsoil antifreeze? Thanks.

 

Great post by Temp1!!!
Thank you to Temp1 as well to those that added their 2c in the discussion.

I have a 1998 F150, 4.2L V6 manual transmission that needs to have the coolant changed.
When locating the engine drain plug, mine does not look like the one in the Pic that Temp1 posted. I'm attaching the pic of what I suspect may be my engine's coolant drain plug.
I wonder if anyone can confirm this for me. I hate to loosen this and get a nasty surpirse.
Thank you in advance for your input

 

Also, I'm wondering what type of coolant my truck came with from the factory.
As per owner's manual, it either had
1- Ford premium engine coolant GREEN IN COLOR
2- Ford extended life engine coolant ORANGE IN COLOR

The truck is 1998 F150, 4.2L V6 manual transmission manufactured in July 1998 in the Kansas plant. it still has the original coolant in it with 74k miles.
Due to this age, I can't tell what color is the coolant...it now looks like a grayish color.
Except, the radiator drain plug has a spatter of orange color on it (see Pic attached), which I think may have been put at the factory to indicate the color of coolant.
I wonder if someone has any opinion about this.

Thank you.

<a href="http://s361.photobucket.com/albums/oo54/sk123usa/?action=view&current=1998FordF1504X242LV6ManualTra nsm-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo54/sk123usa/1998FordF1504X242LV6ManualTransm-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

That would depend on where you live. Having the correct mixture is important for several reasons.

The name "Anti-freeze" is there for a reason. If the temperatures in your area have the potential of reaching -30 degrees, then you will need at least a 50/50 mixture to maintain the anti-freeze protection of the coolant.

Anti-freeze/coolant has several purposes. It keeps the water in your cooling system from freezing. It raises the boiling point of the coolant fluid. It provides lubrication for your water pump.

 

Is this the same for 04+ trucks?

 

Changed my coolant yesterday , the engine block drain plug was a 5/16 hex . I drained all the coolant out of the radiater and block (about 3.75 gallons) . I filled the truck back up with exactly the same amount , to the line on the degas bottle . Why does my manual say that my 2001 5.4L holds 23 quarts of coolant ? Thats almost 6 gallons . Did I not get all the old coolant out ?

 

Yep the block drain plug on my 1999 has a 5/16 hex as well but for some reason I can not screw out the plug. I tried twisting it (from under the truck) towards the front end, no budge, and tried towards the back end and nothing at all. What are some options on how to remove this annoying plug?

 

Hi, I just purchased a 1999 F150 V6/standard. I'm getting ready to change its coolant, and found this thread, along with several others.

When I was younger, in the 1980s, I would to a flush'n'fill with a kit from the auto parts store, cutting the heater hose, inserting a tube, tie that to a garden hose, and flush the system that way with the engine running. It was supposedly the only way to get all the coolant out. Have things changed? Is draining the radiator and engine block sufficient now?