ill do that in the morning.

 

What I did was get some liquid degreaser and pour it over the lower radiator then after a while flush it off with a hose. Using air is ok but not a compressor with high pressure, I used a small vacuum and reversed the air to blow into the radiator to clear old stuff..It's gentler and won't harm the radiator. I'd also use some "Never Seeze" on the fan shaft and I wouldn't hit the wrench with a hammer, too harsh. Just a snug push.

 

well i do have a shop van i can use to blow air past the radiator then.

what about that condenser / coil cleaner spray they sell at home depot for ur A/C units on houses? would that work well with this application? or is it going to ruin the radiator?

 

The rotation of the engine tightens the fan.

Just turn it until the belt slips.

 

I use a degreaser. I think the ac stuff at home depot or lowes is more geared to dirt and mold.

 

first fill i was able to get just about a gallon of my supertech 50/50 in there(some in the expansion tank, and the rest in threw the bleeder hole in the T fitting). started up the truck and pored another half gallon in. put the cap back on the expansion tank and let it get up to about 195 then shut off the engine. let it cool a little and noticed the expansion tank was a little lower so topped that off, cracked the bleeder open and a little air came out. started up again and let it rise to like 204 before the thermostat finally decided to open and i could feel heat come threw the vents in the car and the temps went back down below 200. turned off the engine and let it cool again.

added more fluid to the expansion tank(just about 2 gallons into the system now) and with out side temps of 65 today, i did a run down the highway and temps were bouncing between 186 and 188. at the stop lights it did rise up to 203 for a moment then went back down to 199. got in the garage and let it idle for a good 10 mins and it sat steady at 197. my local walmart didn't have any water wetter, but will get some of that in there soon. will keep an eye on the expansion tank this week and add as needed.

thanks for all the help from you guys. id say the worst part of the job is the hose clamps can be a little difficult to get at at times. and that water pump hose with the plastic piece is a bit of a pain too. but the water pump looks easy to get to and the fan and shroud and all that comes off easily too. also the hoses that pull off all the metal fittings on the system i ended up cutting off with a knife blade but im sure if you wanted to save the hoses u can wedge around a flat blade screw driver and pull at the same time and wiggle them off.

 

i didn't see anywhere on the box for the new thermostat or markings on the thermostat for its temp, anyone know for sure what the start opening temp and the full open temps are on the 180 solid gray stat? or can i just look up the Td5 in the manual for that info?

 

It should be 180 if it is solid gray and a genuine thermostat. The td5 (soft spring) version is definitely the one to get.

 

well topped off with the remaining second gallon of coolant and went to Costco for gas and lunch and back and no temps over 197 at lights and stop signs, highway still at 186. so happy with the results