Coolant change question

[alms_lefko]

How much coolant is transferred from the radiator to the engine block?

I drained the radiator maybe 10k miles ago and filled 1 gallon.

Did the same today and the fluid was still pretty pink - I expected it to be dirtier maybe?

I have 145k miles on my truck. Is this an OK method or am I really only changing the radiator fluid?

Taking it to the dealer for the dashboard in about a month and planned on them doing the transmission flush at that time. If I should do coolant then too I will.

 

[rooost]

The design of the system doesnt really allow a flush just from gravity at the radiator, there are small drains in the rear of the block one on each side.

Sounds like you should let the stealership handle your maintenance, seems like you have good intentions but not the willingness to do enough research for a through job. Owning a truck with 145+ you might should learn to DIY or your going to spend lots of dough

 

[alms_lefko]

The design of the system doesnt really allow a flush just from gravity at the radiator, there are small drains in the rear of the block one on each side.

Sounds like you should let the stealership handle your maintenance, seems like you have good intentions but not the willingness to do enough research for a through job. Owning a truck with 145+ you might should learn to DIY or your going to spend lots of dough

I did research. Found a thread that detailed exactly what I did... But it didn't seem like enough transferred to the block - which is why I asked

 

[SSt4r]

If you are asking if the 1 gallon of fluid you put in the radiator 10K ago is still in tha radiator, then no. It is all thoroughly mixed by now.
But you only changed about 1/2 (don't have exact number here) of the total capacity by just changing 1 gallon.

 

[alms_lefko]

If you are asking if the 1 gallon of fluid you put in the radiator 10K ago is still in tha radiator, then no. It is all thoroughly mixed by now.
But you only changed about 1/2 (don't have exact number here) of the total capacity by just changing 1 gallon.

Great thanks. That's what I had figured. I assume I'll do this every 5k miles maybe another 2-3 times and that should get enough new fluid in there.

 

[JEL]

TBH if you're doing that every year or so, you're good to go IMO. The pink stuff does a pretty good job of staying fresh and is a nice long life antifreeze, I know when I did mine the same way you did yours, everything inside the radiator and the antifreeze itself looked brand new. I do it yearly that was as well, just make sure you bleed the system so no air is trapped and check the level regularly for a couple days after.

Doing what you're doing is better than 99% of owners who do jack, and they still have no problems.