I ended up just changing out the fluid in my radiator. I have a 4.7 and it took exactly 1 gallon of coolant and 1 gallon of water to bring the level back to normal. I also noticed right off the bat that the engine temperature was below the usual level I had previously.

 

The G-05 meets the Dodge spec, It's fine to use. And yes, three gallons is all you will need. Don't forget the distilled water too.

 

Changing out less then half the coolant is like changing less then half the engine oil. Your just putting new coolant into a system with past it's service life coolant.

And unless you are crimping off the bottom radiator hose, how are you only changing what is in the radiator?. If you opened the drain **** on the radiator and let it drain untill nothing else came out, you also drained part of the block.

 

I used a suction gun and then flushed it with clean water but on my last Ram, i used a Shop Vac to get everything out. Much easier then unbolting the whole thing.

 

Yeah I drained it at the drain ****... I couldn't locate the cylinder block drain plugs. So that is what I meant when I said I only drained the radiator. Hopefully this was enough, but I would rather have a full drain of course.

 

I don't have a FSM and really don't want to go buy one just to tell me how to flush a cooling system, if it's not that technical a procedure to begin with. So, is the procedure to drain the radiator at the drain plug and then drain the block? Is/are the block plug(s) easily accessible and removeable?

 

Actually, they are fairly accessible, but they can be a PIA to get out. If you do a good flush a couple of times until you get clear water, you should be good, if you do decide to pull the plugs, get a couple of petcocks and replace the plugs. They're only a couple of bucks, make sure you use a little pipe dope on the threads or teflon tape.

Basically, the drain procesure has you just drain the entire system through the radiator drain without doing anything with the overflow until it is drained out, then you pull the pressure cap, then remove the block plugs to finish

 

I'm fine with flushing out the system until it appears clean. But, if I flush with water and don't drain the block, and then add a 50/50 mix to the radiator and overflow, isn't the water left in the block going to over-dillute my 50/50 mix to the whole system?

 

you can always download the manual for free from the links in my signature

 

No, for a simple reason.

Drain the system and flush with water till it runs clear. You have now flushed any trace of coolant out of the block and what is left in the block is just water.

Next, pour in the required amount of Coolant for a 50/50 mix. With an 18.7 quart total capacity for the system, that breaks down to be 9.35 quarts of coolant. Or 2 whole gallons plus 1.35 quarts. Once you have put in the required amount of coolant, all you need to add is water to top it off and you have the correct ratio since you already have some water in the block. That is how i did mine. It's simple.