How to Flush a Ford V10 Motorhome Radiator

Motorhomes put a unique strain on their cooling systems. While the engine works a bit harder to move all the weight involved in a house on wheels, it generates more heat, which must be carried away by the cooling system. In order to ensure the system does all it can to remove the engine heat, the system should undergo scheduled maintenance on a regular basis. Flushing the cooling system and radiator can be performed by a professional repair shop, or by anyone with some basic mechanical aptitude.

Things You'll Need:

• Catch pan
• Socket set
• Garden hose hooked to water supply
• helper
• 4 gallons of coolant
• 4 gallons of distilled water

1. Place the catch pan underneath the radiator

Place the catch pan underneath the radiator so that it sits directly underneath the bottom radiator hose outlet.

2. Use the socket set to disconnect the lower radiator hose

Use the socket set to disconnect the lower radiator hose from the radiator by loosening the hose clamp and then sliding the hose off the radiator outlet.

3. Lift the end of the hose upward and slide the garden hose into it

Lift the end of the hose upward and slide the garden hose into it. Have a helper turn the water on while you hold the garden hose into the radiator hose. Once the water starts flowing, compress the end of the radiator hose around the garden hose as tightly as you can to prevent water from backing out of the hose.

4. Let the water run until clear water begins pouring

Let the water run until clear water begins pouring from the lower radiator hose outlet on the radiator. Depending on the condition of your cooling system and the length of time since the last service, this may take anywhere from five to 20 minutes.

5. Turn the water off and allow the excess to drain back out

Turn the water off and allow the excess to drain back out of the bottom radiator hose into the catch pan.

6. Reattach the lower radiator hose

Reattach the lower radiator hose in reverse of how you removed it.

7. Fill the radiator with an equal mixture of coolant and distilled water

Fill the radiator with an equal mixture of coolant and distilled water. You will most likely need to fill the radiator through the coolant overflow bottle. Depending on the particular Motorhome’s set up, this could take up to 4 gallons of each.

8. Close the system and start the engine

Close the system and start the engine. Allow it to run for two or three minutes and then shut it off. Top off the system with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water. Recheck the coolant level and add as needed after approximately 20 miles of driving.

Tips

Never work on a hot cooling system. A flush should be performed only after the engine has been turned off for 12 hours or more. Newer Ford V10s run on a different coolant than older ones. Verify the type of coolant you will need based on your specific model year before performing the flush. Never mix different colored coolants as the mixture can become acidic and cause internal engine damage.

Video showing how to do a coolant flush on a Ford:

Helpful comments on this video:

• To all of those who are currently in the process of learning how to do a coolant flush on your vehicle, I would strongly recommend you use distilled water rather than tap water when continuously flushing the system. Makuloco's is a great example of to fully flush the coolant system in a vehicle, and I have learned a lot from it. However, if you are wanting to preserve the longevity of your vehicle (especially if it has a diesel engine), I would strongly suggest you use distilled water to prevent cavitiation in the block.The process of doing a coolant flush with distilled water will take a lot longer, but your vehicle will be a lot healthier in the long run
• Thanks to you, my wife and kids think I'm a car genius. Much appreciated for all your videos, even the old ones :)