Newbie Learns Fluids

[FirstSixOh]

I took a chance and bought a 2007 F250 with 220,000 miles. It looks and drives like new and I am very happy with it. Embarassed to say, I did not look at it hard enough, but it seems as though the price I paid made up for a few fixes I should do anyway. I have been looking with great interest at the coolant/egr cooler/oil cooler threads. I picked up a coolant filtration system, and in getting ready to flush I ran into some supply problems. It took most of a day on the internet &telephone just to find Restore, Restore Plus and Delo ELC. None of the auto parts places have even heard of these things. I have read hundreds of posts, articles and procedures. Which brings me to yesterday, when I took the truck to Fuller Ford and had the modules reflashed, which made a noticeable difference in starting and acceleration. Along with a worn out wiper blade, they said I had rust in the coolant and listed egr cooler and head gasket as possible causes. This alarmed me and made my coolant flush my new top priority. I can't analyze with anything but my eyes, nose and ears, but it does appear that my coolant consists of water and disolved rust. I thought antifreeze (old timer here) should be pretty easy to find, but no, it took hours. Finally found it at a wholesaler where I had to get 6 gallons. Then learned that Restore and Restore Plus seem to be available at only one place south of LA, the Cummins shop in El Cajon. With the coolant filtation system, flush and new coolant, I have $300 invested, which I think will be money and time very well spent.
The plan is to drain and thoroughly flush with Restore, then clear water, then Restore Plus; install the filtration system, and charge with the Delo, pronounced Dell-O I learned today. If I get much crud in the filter after 500 miles, I'll most likely flush again. Anybody with thoughts, tips or ideas, please let us all know.
I am in San Diego, and here are my sources:
Delo: Southern Counties Lubricants, 7954 Dagget St, 858-277-3822
Restore: Cal Pacific, 310 N. Johnson Ave, El Cajon, 619-593-3093
6 Delo was $105, Restore was $29.75, Restore Plus was $34.62
I'll post the results of my flush when finished. Oil change is next.

 

[wetnsloppy4x]

You realize that the Ford gold coolant is already yellow, right? It doesn't take much to make it look dirty. Anyways, it sounds like you're on the right track.

I would only make one suggestion regarding the coolant filter. If your filter comes up dirty in 500 miles, I wouldn't be too quick to flush the system again. Throw another filter on it and let it work. My .02...

Have you picked an oil yet? These 6.0s really like Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme 5w-40. It's a full synthetic that helps keep our finnicky injectors happy. The list of "good" oil for a 6.0 is fairly short.

 

[FirstSixOh]

Thank you for your interest, Scott. I'll flush on Thursday. There's nothing yellow about my coolant. It's redish brown. I'm not going to have it analyzed, since I'm flushing with Restore and Restore Plus, I know I'll get it clean, and knowing what was in there has little benefit for the money. I'm going on the assumption that there is very little antifreeze left. Your point about the second coolant filter is well made. My first oil change will be with conventional Rotella T CJ-4, a decision made because I don't know what's in there now. I will wait for the Blackstone results to come back, which may convince me to possibly put off the oil and filter change until later if the oil is in really good shape. I'd still like to run 5000 miles on known oil before shifting to $100 worth of synthetic. I'm in San Diego, so I may not need to go to 5W40. I'd like to stay with 15W40. I've never been much of a believer that 5W40 improves fuel mileage over 15W40. My dad said motor oil is the cheapest thing you put in your truck and it's also the most important. Thanks. FirstSixOh