Coolant type for a 4.0 SOHC?

[Mike65]

I tried to do a search here with no luck on an answer so here goes. I have a 99 Sport w/the 4.0 SOHC engine, next weekend I will be changing the thermostat, the upper & lower radiator hoses, & replacing the coolant. I was told by someone that the SOHC engine should only use the yellow coolant, is that true, or should I be using something else?.

 

[chefduane]

Regular old green antifreeze. I used Prestone.

 

[swshawaii]

Chef Duane is correct with green, appears the change to yellow happened in 7/02. The first two listed on the second link should be correct, not the "specialty" green coolant shown lower on the page. (G = Green-colored engine coolant meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A)

FCSD Chemicals and Lubricants

https://www.fordparts.com/Products/Chemicals-EngineProducts-Coolants.aspx

 

[swshawaii]

Oops, your 1999 Sport should be "GY". (See Usage Notes from first link)

My concern is removing the remaining tap water from the engine block after flushing. I would estimate at least one gallon remains after draining. In the past would blow compressed air through the radiator cap to expel block water through the lower hose, don't know if that still works. There are several methods of getting the preferred 50/50 coolant to water ratio but those Prestone coolant testers are cheap and easy to use.

 

[koda2000]

Oops, your 1999 Sport should be "GY". (See Usage Notes from first link)

My concern is removing the remaining tap water from the engine block after flushing. I would estimate at least one gallon remains after draining. In the past would blow compressed air through the radiator cap to expel block water through the lower hose, don't know if that still works. There are several methods of getting the preferred 50/50 coolant to water ratio but those Prestone coolant testers are cheap and easy to use.

It's easily a gallon that remains. Really no way to get the water out of the block. I guess you could do a couple of flushes with distilled water before adding antifreeze, but I couldn't worry about it too much.

I use Prestone or Peak 100% antifreeze, whichever is on sale. Don't dilute the first gallon you put in and you'll be pretty close to a 50/50 mix. When done, run the engine with the radiator cap off or loose to help expel trapped air, which can be difficult to do on the SOHC engine. I install the antifreeze slowly via a small syphon hose. This also seems to help expel any trapped air.

 

[XLTrunner]

If you want to get an opinionated discussion going, mention using distilled water with your antifreeze. Some are adamant in stating it should never be used. Others, say it's okay. Regardless, virtually everyone agrees that hard tap or well water should never be used.

I use Prestone concentrate and dilute it 50/50 with bottled drinking water that has been processed using reverse osmosis (not distilled) as our city's tap water is very hard. I agree with Koda in that I just add a gallon of non-diluted when doing a flush beforehand and don't worry about it.

 

[Mike65]

Thanks everyone for the answer to my question.

Apologies for my silly rant to you yesterday in the new members sub forum.
I was out of line and it definitely won't happen again. Glad it was deleted.

swshawaii, no harm, no foul. Apology accepted, but not necessary.

 

[koda2000]

Thanks everyone for the answer to my question.



swshawaii, no harm, no foul. Apology accepted, but not necessary.

I'm surprised swshawaii didn't just post a link to a rant... LOL

 

[chefduane]

It's easily a gallon that remains. Really no way to get the water out of the block. I guess you could do a couple of flushes with distilled water before adding antifreeze, but I couldn't worry about it too much.

I use Prestone or Peak 100% antifreeze, whichever is on sale. Don't dilute the first gallon you put in and you'll be pretty close to a 50/50 mix. When done, run the engine with the radiator cap off or loose to help expel trapped air, which can be difficult to do on the SOHC engine. I install the antifreeze slowly via a small syphon hose. This also seems to help expel any trapped air.

That's pretty much the procedure I used. Drain radiator, refill with distilled water (I also used Prestone Radiator Flush) and bring up to temp and run a while with the heater on. Let cool and drain radiator again. (At this point you could do another distilled flush and fill if you want.) Then fill with 100% anti-freeze and top with water. Bring the engine back up to temp again and 'burp' the radiator, then top with a 50/50 mix. That's it. Watch your temp idiot gage for any strange fluctuations in the next few days and then check the level again. Should be good to go.

 

[2TimingTom]

Why not just fill with 50/50 from the start?

Doing it the other way you could end up with too much coolant. Coolant doesn't cool nearly as well as water.

 

[koda2000]

Why not just fill with 50/50 from the start?

Doing it the other way you could end up with too much coolant. Coolant doesn't cool nearly as well as water.

Because after flushing and rinsing you'll have an engine full of water, which is roughly 50% of the cooling system's capacity. If you just add 50/50 mix you'll only end up with only 25% antifreeze. Not enough for protection.

 

[chefduane]

Why not just fill with 50/50 from the start?

Doing it the other way you could end up with too much coolant. Coolant doesn't cool nearly as well as water.

You could fill it with 50/50 from the start if you like. You could fill it with soda pop if you want. I was simply relaying the process that many use, including myself. Seems to work just fine. 200k miles and no problems. I really don't think its rocket surgery.

 

[swshawaii]

It's easily a gallon that remains. Really no way to get the water out of the block. I guess you could do a couple of flushes with distilled water before adding antifreeze, but I couldn't worry about it too much.

Because after flushing and rinsing you'll have an engine full of water, which is roughly 50% of the cooling system's capacity. If you just add 50/50 mix you'll only end up with only 25% antifreeze. Not enough for protection

Agree 100%. One gallon is a LOT considering the TOTAL coolant capacity is 3 to 4 gallons, depending on which engine.

 

[koda2000]

Agree 100%. One gallon is a LOT considering the TOTAL coolant capacity is 3 to 4 gallons, depending on which engine.

Actually I did mine the exact same way as described by chefduane, adding 1 gallon of 100% and finishing off with as much 50/50 mix as necessary to fill it (which wasn't very much). Worked out just about perfect. No reason to overcomplicate the procedure.

 

[FordJimbo]

Excellent information, thanks for sharing.