I did use prestone flush and followed directions but I also flushed it about 4 more times just using the water from my hose. Then I let it sit over night to drain.
Now I have 4 gallons of preston 50/50 mix so I dont need to actually mix it myself.

Ok so I did 1 last flush with the distilled water, then drained the system. I filled with coolant, once the thermostat opened I topped it off.
It definitely did not take the full 12.5 quarts so once the system was full I let it run with the heater on high and drain at the same time while adding fresh coolant. I did this till I used up 3.5 gallons of coolant that I started with. Hopefully by doing this I ended up with pretty close to a 50/50 mix.
Do you guys think thats overkill or the correct way to do it?

 

Yeah, that's probably close enough.

Don't forget to check the level again after driving it. The first couple of heat cycles will help purge any air that you couldn't get bled out during the filling process.

 

I drove a bit not too far and it was full when I checked it. The coolant light finally shut off too ;oD. I think there was too much mud in the overflow tank clogging the metal prongs. Its running much cooler now with the 180 thermostat.
Thanks again for every ones input.

 

 

Sorry to bump this old thread. Since then I have had no leaks but sometimes the temp needle gets close to the 235 mark then goes back down, then up. It never goes up past that but it just goes up to a point that gets me nervous. It dont run at just one temp, keeps changing. I usually only go on short drives so it dont happen every time but it has a couple times.
Im wondering if it has anything to do with the 180 thermostat I used instead of the stock 195 and the fact that i did not drill a hole in it like the stock one had.