When you drain the coolant system and replace it, you need to bleed the system to purge any air pockets. Air remaining in the cooling system can cause overheating and severe damage to the engine. You can force the air out of the coolant hoses in a few minutes at home and save a large repair bill from a service center to bleed the system.
Park your truck in a flat area. Wait for the engine to cool completely if needed. Loosen and remove the cover from the radiator.
Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches the normal operating temperature. Normal operating temperature will vary based on your specific truck.
Add a 50-50 mixture of coolant and distilled water to the radiator as the level drops. Turn on the heater in the truck's passenger area. Top off the coolant blend if needed. Turn the ignition off and let the engine cool.
Add coolant to the radiator if necessary to top it off after the engine cools. Replace the cap on the radiator and tighten it.
