Truck owners hate spotting fresh fluid under the engine bay. The factory plastic parts on modern diesel trucks inevitably degrade over time and cause serious headaches for daily drivers. Thanks to the Pusher HD upper coolant tube, many builders can now fix those notorious leaks. This heavy-duty metal upgrade replaces the weak factory components on all 6.7-liter Powerstroke Super Duty trucks built from 2011 to 2026.

Prepping The Truck For Surgery
Before grabbing any tools, laying out the supplied hardware ensures a smooth process. The first major step involves draining the radiator through the driver-side petcock valve. Since the work happens at the highest point of the engine, draining 2 gallons into a bucket provides plenty of clearance. While simple, this step prevents a massive mess when disconnecting the primary hoses.

Tips For The Pusher HD Upper Coolant Tube Installation
Removing the factory lines requires releasing a clip at the radiator and pulling a hidden retaining loop near the thermostat. After pulling the old hose away, an important preparation step helps prevent future diagnostic headaches. Jacob Allenbaugh of Pusher Intakes shared: “One little extra step I like to take is try to get as much coolant out of the thermostat housing as possible prior to taking it off.” By soaking up the remaining drops with a paper towel, mechanics start with a completely dry engine valley to easily spot any real leaks later.

Assembling The Heavy-Duty Hardware
The actual assembly begins by seating a new seal inside the billet radiator adapter and locking it down with the factory clip. To make the bulky metal parts slide together effortlessly, applying a thin coat of silicone spray to the joints works wonders. Allenbaugh noted: “It just helps everything adjust super easily and allows me the ability to just move everything around and get it perfect.” Drivers then bolt the thermostat housing back onto the block and connect the silicone couplers before securing the stainless steel tube with clamps.

Wrapping Up The Build
Buttoning up the engine bay simply involves pouring fresh fluid back into the reservoir, allowing the cooling system to naturally “burp” itself. As the engine reaches operating temperature and opens the thermostat, trapped air will automatically bleed out. Upgrading those brittle factory plastics to solid metal components brings incredible reliability for anyone hauling heavy loads. Ultimately, finishing the Pusher HD upper coolant tube installation completely eliminates the most common failure points hiding right on top of the block.
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