Self Flushing Coolant Line

Scotty4

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Was taking 1500lbs of junk up to the transfer station just now and whilst hauling up RT 3 to Belfair, the engine got warmer than I usually does. Once stopped at the dump I noticed some steam from the PS exhaust manifold and thought it was the rain. But on the way home she hit the L in NORMAL before I shut her down in the driveway.

Coolant line into the head cracked just before the clamp. She must have known I bought new coolant for it today and tried to help.

Anyone have a part # for the line from the heater core to the head? Or a recommendation for good hose and clamps better than OEM or what Oreilly will give me?

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IDIBRONCO

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Just buy some 5/8" heater hose and make your own. If it's an emergency, you may be able to remove the hose from the head, cut it short enough to get rid of the split and put it back. The reason that this probably isn't a long term solution is that if it's old enough to split out in one spot, then it will probably do it again.
 

Cubey

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Just buy some 5/8" heater hose and make your own. If it's an emergency, you may be able to remove the hose from the head, cut it short enough to get rid of the split and put it back. The reason that this probably isn't a long term solution is that if it's old enough to split out in one spot, then it will probably do it again.

Yep, I did all my RV's heater hose after the lower rad hose sprung a leak, luckily when parked and just idling for vac system testing/diagnostics. I measured all the hoses, added all the measurements together, then addded at least 6 inches (for margin of errror) for the purpose of buying the needed feet. 5/8" worked perfectly.
 

Cubey

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@IDIBRONCO @Cubey Thanks gents. I’ll grab some tomorrow and may look close at other hoses too before putting my new coolant in. May be a good time to add a filter too!

Might be a good idea to replace the thermostat too if you don't know when, if ever, it was replaced. Get Motorcraft only.
 

IDIBRONCO

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Here's something that I like to do. Before you take off the old heater hose, looks at it and note any spots where it has been rubbing. Then, after you put the new hose on, take some of the old hose, slit it in two lengthwise and slip it over the new hose. Hold it in place with some zip ties. That will give you a cushion to keep the new hose from being rubbed through.
 

Scotty4

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Might be a good idea to replace the thermostat too if you don't know when, if ever, it was replaced. Get Motorcraft only.

There a specific temp for these? The parts store guys around here aren’t exactly top notch. Mainly military guys on shore duty who need the extra money.
 

Cubey

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There a specific temp for these? The parts store guys around here aren’t exactly top notch. Mainly military guys on shore duty who need the extra money.

Motorcraft RT1049 is roughly 192F.
 

Scotty4

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Thanks again guys. Just drained the radiator, soaking the block plugs with pb blaster and want to run some water through the system to clean it out. Plan was just to run hose into radiator with tstat removed. Best way?

Radiator gunk. My Cummins tester tabs were white as can be so the coolant wasn’t the best.

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1992 idi 73

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That's probably a big reason my you over heated. I would say you probably want some form of detergent or de-greaser.
 

IDIBRONCO

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If you have the plugs that are brass and take a 9/16" socket, they should come out fine. If they are the kind that takes a 1/4" square plug socket, they may not come out with out a drill and an Easy Out. What I've done in the past is to make a "plug" out of an old, short piece of 5/8" heater hose and put it on the fitting that comes off of the top of the water pump. Then I'll take that heater hose and drape it over the passenger's side fender and run the engine. Be sure to have the heater temp on "high" This way, you can use the water pump to help flush out the old crap inside the cooling system. For the plug, put a bolt in one end of the hose and put a hose clamp on it. I've even folded that short hose over onto itself and put a hose clamp on it to block off potential water flow.
 

IDIBRONCO

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That's probably a big reason my you over heated. I would say you probably want some form of detergent or de-greaser.
That wouldn't hurt either. Although it looks like old coolant sludge to me so you may need the degreaser. Just take some of this and hold your finger under some running water. If it comes off pretty, it's water soluble and you just need water and some detergent if you like.
 
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