Hey Guys and Gals,
I'm replacing the radiator, fan clutch, thermostat, serpentine belt and water pump this weekend.
I don't think I really need a water pump or serpentine belt, but I figure since I have everything ripped apart, I might as well right? Plus they are 14 years old.

I'm wondering if there is anything else I should replace as long as I have the whole front of the engine open.

Also, the owners manual says the D takes 17 qt of coolant.
I know I should just believe that, but that seems like a lot.
Can anyone confirm the 17 qt of coolant?

 

You could swap out the idler and adjuster pulleys. They won't leave you on the side of the road, will just get noisy, but they also are front end things that don't last forever.

 

Make sure you get the little bypass hose that goes from the top of the water pump to the manifold.

 

There is no hose at all coming from or to the water pump.

Is it a bad idea to run a sea foam treatment as soon as I'm done with all this? Wondering if i should wait a few hundred miles or something. Truck has 105k miles on it

 

You haven't said which engine, which is pretty important here, but on the 5.2/5.9 there is a little hose that goes from the top of the pump (it's hidden pretty well) to the manifold. There is also the lower radiator hose that attaches to it, so I'm guessing you're talking about the 4.7 since the 5.2/5.9 definitely have hoses going to them.

As for the seafoam, the most I'd do it put it in the gas tank. I've heard of just as many people screwing stuff up as I have heard of people praising it, by pouring it into the intake.

 

Ya, sorry. 4.7, so no hose. I was just wondering if a whole new cooling system needs some time and mileage to acclimate or anything like that.
Got all finished and realized that I boot all these new parts and forgot anti freeze...dumbass!

 

Unless you don't get all the air out, everything should work right away.

 

This was bad. Surprised the truck didn't overheat all the time. It never did