V10 coolant change

tarnold wrote:
Got to say that in all my years, I've never seen a coolant filter. Looked at youtube and saw several installs, but only on diesels. Where did you mount the base? How hard to change filter as needed?

X2

Got to say that in all my years, I've never seen a coolant filter. Looked at youtube and saw several installs, but only on diesels. Where did you mount the base? How hard to change filter as needed?

The only thing that I ever added to my 1997 Ford motorhome for 10 years was distilled water. I did change the coolant filter regularly, as it would plug up over the summer, and the heater stops working while plugged with debris. The new filters came with SCA's, and that treated the water.

At 10 years old, I changed the upper and lower radiator hoses, and all the coolant for the first time. Since 2006, I have only added distilled water as needed when the reservoir was a little low.

The coolant filter that I installed in 1996 is a NAPA #FIL 4070 filter and kit #FIL 4019 holder that has 5/8" fittings for the heater hoses. #FIL 4071 has SCA's built in. Instructions say to replace the filter every 3 months or 25,000 miles. I hardly have 45,000 miles on the RV in nearly 20 years of service!, but expect the water pump and radiator to stay clean on the inside for many more years!

Fred.

Rinse with 20 to 30 gallons distilled water, drain all you can, add 15 or 16 qts coolant, top off with distilled water.
Did I mention to only use distilled water?

This is also a good time to replace radiator and heater hoses if anything is still original.

Just make sure you buy the correct coolant. I did not know that they use a particular type.

It's really a large system.

If you measure the amount you drain, you will discover you are well short of getting all the fluid out.

Which is why I follow the instructions and flush with clean water, several times. Get every last bit of the old stuff out. Which is even more important if you are switching from one type (standard) to another (universal-long-life).

When you are done you might find you can -just- get 15 quarts of straight fluid in (ie DON'T buy pre-mixed)

As I recall Ford does NOT recommend Long-Life fluid in that engine, I would use either Standard or Universal-Long Life.

Plan for 30 quarts but you can always return the unopened container(s).
What do you do if you are short in your plan?