As posted in another thread, my truck ran a little hotter than usual on the way home towing my camper. This made me wonder if maybe I should change the coolant in the radiator. I had the 15K mile service done by the dealer, minus the oil change, however I didn't know if I should flush and fill the radiator at 27K.

Thanks

Jason

 

Mine's been done once in 103k and you can imagine how hot our summers are down here. Mine never goes over 190*.

 

I try and change my coolant at least once a year. An ex boss of mine had a Taurus that never had the coolant serviced in over 160K miles over 5-6 years. He paid over $3K for a new engine. Ever since then (about 15 years ago) I get mine changed yearly.

 

I guess it depends on how **** you are with servicing your truck. Some people change the oil at 3000 miles and some do it at 15,000 miles. Same thing goes for coolant. I just changed mine for the first time at 100,000 miles. The temps here range from triple digits in the summer to the teens in the winter. Temps more extreme than that would also be a factor.

 

I have always done mine every two years. Just a little cheap insurance with the temps of 100* to -30* here in WI.

 

3-to-5 yrs. max. Use a conditioner/anti-rust to top up in between. Depends mostly on the vehicle and it's environment. If it gets driven every day or near so and has the add replentished with top-up, maybe last forever. If it sits alot and gets topped up with the garden hose you're looking at major repairs pretty soon.

 

Supposedly, this HOAT stuff is good for 5 yrs, or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. I'm at 2 1/4 years now, and 23,000 miles, and my coolant looks good and pink in the reservoir, and I've never had to add any.

My PSD (old green stuff) needed doing every 30,000, with the additive every 15. Don't miss that.

 

Use a hose to gently wash your radiator fins. They may be dirty.

 

A Taurus with 160k+? Was the car even worth $3k at this point? That Taurus must have had some serious sentimental value! Anywho, I say follow the owner's manual recommendations; that way yer covered. And...you don't get a whole bunch of differing opinions.

 

since we are on the topic- anybody heard of this anitfreeze?? or use it??


http://www.evanscooling.com/main23.htm

 

I hav heard that it works well But you cannot have ANY water in the system. it is also very difficult and expensive to do the changeover.

 

When towing in real hot weather on the hills mine will run about 205 so don't worry. I've 58k on mine with the exception of having the fan clutch replaced which of course caused some of the coolant to be replaced and the AC door being replaced which also cause some of the coolant to be replaced. So just make sure that the temp come back down to about 195 every now and then.
Hey just "Drive it Like You Stole It"

 

How hot is to hot on the temp gauge? Lately mine has been running around 200 degrees empty in the Texas heat. But, pulling my 5ver and ATV trailer combo I have been seeing around 210 or so. At what point should I be concerned?

My truck is 2 years old this month and has 45,000 miles.

I am also wondering if the Ranch Hand Front End and winch may be blocking some air flow contributing to it running warmer than before. I may need to backwash my radiator fins to remove some dust/grass etc. too. Any thoughts?

 

Mine ran up to about 210* with 500 miles on it hauling my camper over the pass.& it still runs over 200* pretty readilly when under a heavy load.I'll change mine the begining if the fall hunting season,just to be sure.But I treat my truck like the Space Shuttle.

 

I'm with the change it every year crowd.

Since I was informed that the red fluid is not as good as the green stuff I changed it over!!

Rick