Coolant Change

[KHabie]

How much pre mixed coolant do I need to flush and replace the coolant in my 2017 V10?

 

[craigav]

Flushing is a bit subjective as you can flush a little or a lot.

A quick check on the internet tells me that an F53 V10 holds about 8 gallons of coolant (31 quarts\7.75 gallons).

I will add that I have changed the coolant in many vehicles and I have never found that the quantity of coolant specified was the amount I was able to add back. In other words if it says the capacity is 8 gallons and I drain all I can, then maybe I can add back 4~5 gallons.

This is my procedure and a point to note is that my water here has a very low mineral content and I wouldn't do this if I had hard water (in such a case I would purchase distilled water which is fairly cheap anyway). When I want to drain, flush, and refill then I drain all I can into a deep pan and then I inspect it for contaminants. If there are any contaminants at all (such as rust, crud, etc.) then after draining all I can, I refill the radiator with fresh water. Then I repeat this over and over and run the engine between each drain/refill (long enough to get back up to temp so the thermostat opens with the heater on to flush it as well) until the water being drained is just as clear as the water being added. Shouldn't take much, perhaps a single flush on a vehicle that doesn't have more time or miles on the coolant than recommended. Then I add full strength coolant back (not prediluted) and test the coolant with a coolant tester to get back to the 50/50 ratio. You cannot get back to 50/50 by using prediluted coolant unless you can somehow drain out 100% of the coolant out of the engine, heater, hoses, etc. (or choose not to flush the system). I would only recommend pre-diluted coolant for whenever additional coolant is needed to be added such as if you had to change a hose or similar but not for draining and flushing the entire system.

Also to note that here in the South I will hear many people say you only need enough coolant to keep the coolant from freezing and in fact most of the antifreeze containers will say that to protect down to ~10 degrees that you only need (???) this much (something less than 50/50 mix). However the freezepoint is just one aspect and if it was only the freezepoint that was a concern then you wouldn't really need to ever change the anti-freeze. The reason to go back to 50/50 instead of something less is to have enough additives to prevent corrosion and keep the water pump lubricated (and it does a few other things that I can't recall right now). ~CA

 

[youracman]

I changed the coolant in my old WBGO at about 7yrs (bought it used.) I caught the old coolant in a large pan and poured it via a funnel into gallon jugs to measure it. It was a long time ago, but as I recall it was (like Craig says) about 4-1/2 or 5 gal. I bought genuine Ford concentrate at the Ford dealership and added distilled water for the 50/50 mix ...... a considerable savings.

The old coolant looked clean, etc.; I changed it mainly for the corrosion-fighting feature ...... to protect my aluminum radiator and heater core. Coolant has an ingredient that "gets used up" over time I have been told.