6.0 Liter Ford Powerstroke - Flushing the Cooling System with VC9

In this video, I will show how to correctly flush the cooling system using Ford Motorcraft VC-9 Iron cleaner. I show draining the cooling system from the radiator and both engine block plugs. I then show removal of the thermostat to perform the flush procedure.
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[@gbiggar]

I'd probably recommend removing the +ve battery terminals before working around the starter (sorry if I missed this in the video). Otherwise it's an arc welder in waiting.

[@Jbart1989]

An excellent procedure you have documented here! Gosh that starter is a real pain. I found it helps to remove the air filter assembly to get to the thermostat. (To remove air filter assembly I use Diesel Tech Ron's method). I would say to do a vc9 flush correctly takes a moderate amount of mechanic experience but we'll worth it. Good luck yall! Thanks again for the video!

[@automotivesboy9904]

hey man if you didnt know rusty bunn(srmastertech)died earlier this year from cancer RIP srmastertech 01/28/16

[@pointman131]

Do you have any idea how his tools were modified in order to get that passenger side plug out of the block without removing the starter?

[@Jbart1989]

Did not even atempt this plug. But Id say with the starter out of the way should be no problem. I mean what 3 bolts and 2 wires. those plugs can be pretty tight in there. The starter in the way is really troublesome. My decision was based on for some reason my starter was missing one bolt and had a broken flange. so with about 1.5 bolts of 3 holding my starter in place i choose to just not drain from that plug. I didnt want to have to get a new starter just to flush coolant. removing one plug :) was it worth it :) maybe im just a lazy mechanic.

[@automotivesboy9904]

J Br combination extension universal joint.

[@niallcosgrove5596]

​@pointman131 he used and snapon wobble + extension and a hex Allen socket. With a flex head ratchet.

[@yeahno1016]

Thank you for all your videos. Learning as I go as a new 6.0 owner. Why was thermostat removed? New to DIY. Especially diesel.

[@jimcrawford4808]

This is super helpful! Thanks, and keep posting more. We 6.0 van guys appreciate it!

[@2006Ranch]

Thanks for another great video learning tool Sr Master Tech!

[@jtnoodle]

Wow. My 05 t-stat housing is a snap to remove. Two bolts and it's off. I just leave the hose attached.

[@Carnage6.0L]

What would ypu recommend if ypu have oil in your coolant? Yes i know its my oil cooler. I just want to know how would you backflush it knowing it has oil in coolant? Would you still ise vc9 ?

[@SteveRobReviews]

Is this cleaner only for diesels or can we use it on gas engines as well? Well done !!

[@andysahs1599]

No this VC-9 is for the diesels only use VC-1 for the gas engines VC-9 WILL EAT THE ALUMINUM BLOCKS .

[@thorerik678]

Very informative, I find it odd though to find a Master Mechanic who uses pliers instead of proper wrenches.

[@jtopdawg6]

awesome tutorial! you the man.

[@TheCalliesTV]

WAIT! Now if I put a chemical in my 6.0 that helps to dislodge and remove rust and other contaminants, and I run it for 1 hour? Where do you think all that crap is going to end up in that hours time? Oil Cooler?

[@nfpspointblank8023]

We use this stuff when we do oil cooler replacements normally not sure about regular use

[@gavinsandlin6700]

He said remove the starter. I’m out! Just put a new one in a month ago. PIA

[@Grantfur31]

Do I have to remove thermostat when I flush it w/ the cleaner? What happens if I were to leave the thermostat in? Thanks for the help‼️

[@zackstaa7826]

I know it’s a little late, but you could do it with the thermostat in, but to flush properly you’d have to run the truck until it gets to operating temperature and let the thermostat open, so that the cleaner can go from the radiator and flush the rest of the engine and the heater core. When the thermostat is closed, coolant is not going to flow through the engine, so the engine must be warmed up. And then repeat a “drain-flush-run” process over and over, while you’re flushing the cleaner out. Diesel engines take a while to warm up, so that could take all day. It’s typically good maintenance to replace a thermostat every 3-4 years anyways, so I would just remove the thermostat.

[@RockyKnob1]

Are the flushing procedures the same for a 6.4L. I want to do a through flush and refill but was wondering if I could just flush and drain the radiator multiple times after VC-9 cleaning and not remove the block plugs. Great videos, thanks for sharing.

[@jcobra09]

Was told by another Master that... “doing a chemical flush like this could actually dislodge chunks of buildup and create more problems. It’s best to use Gold Coolant and just do a distilled water flush every 45k miles.” What are yalls thoughts on this? I’m doing a flush this week

[@kdub2236]

I know it’s six months later but yes doing a chemical flush will absolutely dislodge all sorts contaminants in the coolant system weather it be from the block, the oil cooler itself or corrosion build up in some of the hoses. After you run any chemical to the clean the coolant system you need to back flush the oil cooler with compressed air and water to really clean out everything that gets dislodged into the cooler that won’t come out unless you apply 45 psi of compressed air and water. The oil cooler can handle a max of 60 psi but I wouldn’t even go that high, start at 15 psi and go up from there in increments of 10 until you reach 45.

[@foxbodyford]

Same boat I'm in. 91K miles on an 05. I know of only 1 time the coolant has been drained.

[@darrelwilson7334]

Thanks for the video. Very well done and helpful. Now I have a 2013 with the 6.7. Any plans on making a video for that?? I have looked for info with no luck.

[@greglysne3260]

He pasted away from cancer a few years back.

[@acokedupmonkey3762]

DONT FORGET TO TURN YOUR HEAT ON FULL BLAST. You will be sorry if you forget if you have crud stuck in the heater core. First time you turn the heat on after the flush you will clog the cooler again.

[@benjaminfisher750]

Why did we have to remove the thermostat again?

[@mahdey]

red elc is good. ANything from Frieghtliner, international, cat or fleetgaurd is good coolant.

[@spud00711]

nice!!! thanks for the vid!!

[@IXXVIXXXIIIXIV]

Good videos

[@maxpaul11]

Why not just use the snap on coolant flush unit? I have used this for years with good results

[@Davidwhat]

yes, this is confusing.. like they forgot about that .. they even stopped selling the white bottled, premium gold which is what you're referring to... now only the red bottle. that is just called gold... something is up.

[@bthorn5035]

Is vc9 safe to use if im not replacing the oil cooler?

[@foxbodyford]

Why use tap water for the refill instead of distilled?

[@xmodrock]

do you have to use VC-9 to flush or can you just be cheap and use on ly distilled water?

[@Mutts1979]

Can you do a video on flushing the coolant on a 6.4 powerstroke.

[@bassfishermanify]

Shouldn't you be using distilled water?

[@cryptosully2357]

if I got the code on the tuck of the oil cooler failure is it too late to do this

[@bigdaddy4429]

So did you remove the CAC tube and air filter system out of the way?

[@oil1252]

Yeah you have to remove the air intake that comes from the intercooler so you can remove the thermostat

[@thenewlife.pt2724]

Hey man I have a 7.3 I just bought. I'm 18 and I'm new to diesel man I'd appreciate the help brother 🤙🤙🤙 so I bought 1 quart of vc9 but it has no instructions. Will the process be similar? Drain all the water ( no coolant ) the people just had water in it. And then use vc9 with water and let it run for about 1 hour ?

[@CaptNaufragio]

Im.about to do oil cooler repair, coolant flush, and replacement on my 7.3 psd. I was recommended 2 quarts of vc9. Yeah i dunno, im just gonna dump them in after a good hose flush and run it like this guy did. Fortunately for me i dont have a thermostat lol.

[@thenewlife.pt2724]

@@CaptNaufragio yeah man I still havnt done it yet brother. Turns out that the radiator hoses crunched when I squeezed them. I'm not sure if at any point diesels got into the coolant and made them break down and that was the black sut in the radiator and coolant system. But I'm guessing maybe a cracked injector cup. So I spent 100 bucks on that vc5 coolant. Stuffs not cheap so I'm go nna have to wait till I repair before I do do all that. I saw a video on diesel tech ron and I'm gonna do the flush like that first. With simple green and tough on grease detergent

[@kevinb.7491]

Hate to be the one to tell you this but this video is incorrect once you get your two bottles of VC9 then new drain your system just like you did here. Then you add the two bottles in there and then you top the remaining system with distilled water only and I mean only then you have to drive the vehicle normal operating temperature for 45 minutes then you come back and you drain everything out again and then you flush it out with distilled water and then you close everything up put it all back together and then put your regular Ford OEM coolant in there

[@landscaperconnection]

Anyone know the good vs. bad vs. ugly using the Caterpillar coolant I'm hearing about instead of the ford gold?

[@rollinlowford]

Dont forget it also gets rid of all the sand not just the rust lol

[@garyh106]

I am also wondering if all the crap is going to end up in my oil cooler?

[@troynelson9026]

Yes. Do this if you are going to already replace cooler if not just flush through the degas. And refill

[@1112223333111]

will this work on a 390?

[@TheOldoutboards]

What about refilling the coolant? I saw a post on youtune that said "absolutely do not use ethelyene glycol coolant you WILL ruin your 6.0 deisel!!! You must use Motorcraft Premium Gold Propelyne Glycol based coolant" Well I just bought Ford Gold Coolant and it is Ethelyne based. Really confused. Can you clear up anything here?

[@MrMichael1701]

Fill with CAT ELC coolant not water right?

[@justinwaggoner2105]

Michael Turner Correct, any ELC-1 rated coolant will work.

[@jackmeyers-hoops7258]

Do you haft to remove the engine block plugs? Or can you just have the truck run with regular water for a little then drain the water and repeat that a few times.

[@IXXVIXXXIIIXIV]

Can you do a video of a 6.4l flush

[@gavinsandlin6700]

Same thing really

[@yeahno1016]

Sorry just read comment below

[@justinbaldwin1981]

how much does just the radiator hold?

[@acenyy9651]

It is important to remove the thermostat in your vehicle before you do this, because it could be closed when you go to flush the system.

[@xLong_Johnson]

the thermostat is built into the housing on the 6 liter, you cannot remove the tstat and run the housing.

[@johnvan8852]

I am using Delo ELC from chevron. I would not use ford gold coolant unless it was a chevy of someone I don't know. Siliates means break down and clogs.

[@xmodrock]

cause its cheaper

[@TM-tz9rr]

Modified tool?? Lol you mean a wobble socket with an extension

[@jimdavidson5208]

OR just use citric acid. Much much cheaper.

[@becumfreeky]

This seems like it would be an ordeal to follow this procedure on an Econoline 6.0l.

[@oil1252]

It would be a nightmare

[@tiggfigg]

My friend told me to do a gas tank flush, now my car won't start.

[@wbormn570]

why i didn't like this video there was anti freeze left in top of the engine and was flushed out contamination to the ground.

[@1stinsonguy]

W Bormn has a legitimate claim about running coolant out onto the ground instead of catching it! I hope EVERYONE makes an effort to catch chemical waste and dispose of it properly.

[@Quesnel4X4]

take off the starter to drain coolant? great idea Ford. sure makes me want to buy a Ford. why wonder these trucks are worthless

[@jared2807]

Brad Hough it's not a Ford motor it's a Navistar motor, jeez, people kill me because they think the engines are from Ford but really they're from Navistar they blame everything on Ford when it's really Navistar fault

[@Quesnel4X4]

+Jared Biggs in deed. it was Ford's idea to partner with a company who made a shit engine. Like dodge decided to get in bed with cummins. One idea was good, the other was retarded.

[@jared2807]

what you got to think every car manufacturer pushes to get new cars out and the new 6 liter since it had to meet EPA regulations needed to run at high temperatures for lower emissions

[@cdyoude]

First off smart guy you don't actually have to remove the starter to drain the coolant. That's just a method this guy used. Second, of all the trucks that Ford put on the road with these Navistar engines they were bound to have an issue every now and then just like all the other manufacturers. As far as Dodge and Cummins getting together I agree that was very retarded of Cummins to do.

[@willystevenson7932]

They do that so anyone can't do it and a trained professional has to do it to ensure that the customer doesn't fuck up thier powerhouse. Most diesel info is proprietary and talking it to a professional is easier.