jopper

I am replacing the thermostat and the coolant soon and I have researched this a little on the Forum. Several posts have noted that refilling is slow process through the surge tank. Today I was reading the July issue of Vette where they are installing a ProCharger kit in a Z06. (Cool kit and great result in horsepower by the way) Anyway, they show a picture of the tech refilling the coolant system using 'an elevated hose to bleed air from the system".

Anybody use this method that can provide a little more guidance? The article notes that this is a critical step to prevent overheating and alternative to using the other method of repeatedly warming the car up to 200 degrees to bleed out air and topping off the tank.

The elevated air hose method clearly seems the way to go. i get it that it is an elevated hose attached to the cooling system. But where is it attached? Advice?

CSixDude

I changed my coolant last weekend and it wasn't a big deal. I followed the instructions in the service manual and it went just fine. Yes, I had to poor the coolant in a little slower but it really wasn't a big deal.

LS WON

CH-Z51

Before I install any thermostat I always drill a 3/32" hole in the stat to allow any trapped air to escape. I've found it also helps to loosen the overflow tank and keep it elevated during the filling process.

VET4LES

That's a trick from the old days that's still a good idea.

C8-Vette

After filling the surge tank, let the engine run at 2000 rpm fror at least 2 minutes with the surge tank cover off. This will expell most of the trapped air.

brimee

Same here.

carlrx7

i just got done changing my coolant, to get the air out, you need to fill the surge tank, put the cap on, then disconnect the top return line, place hose in a small water bottle to catch any fluid.

using an air compressor is the easiest(LOW PRESSURE is all you need), i put the air nozzle to the fitting on the top of the resivoir and inject air pressure into the surge tank. the air pressure will force all the coolant into the system, when its empty, refill and repeat until a constant flow of coolant is coming out of the top hose and into the water bottle. then start the car and top off the fluids, this gets about 95% of the air out of the system so you dont need to keep filling the surge tank over and over.

quick and easy.

-Carl

PaulEddie

You are going to try that again. If you remove the upper hose and apply pressure to that fitting, the water will just flow out of the surge tank overflow, won't it?

LS WON

I gather that most Chev. service dealerships don't do it this way?

Little Nut

Carl you're a damn genius. One little pffft with the air nozzle and tank is virtually empty. You've saved me several hours. Thank You.


Tom

PS Sorry about necropost, but I was searching how to refill radiator quickly after draining. Tried Carl's suggestion and it worked beautifully. Figured others in same boat would also find helpful.

1bdvet

Nice trick, I used to put little piece from match, which does the same thing, then it opens and and is bio degradable and it's gone.
Old mech trick.

gsflyer2011

And you may have to do this few times, make sure you fill it up with coolant in between and go back to idle if the temps get over 220. When i did mine this is what happened, it was not as simple as the service manual suggested.

Cherokee Nation

The thermostat should have the hole already in it....