Changing coolant: Anything special procedurewise??
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Changing coolant: Anything special procedurewise??
I'm heading out in a little bit to have my coolant changed. I'm dubious about the shop that will be doing the work on Vettes, but I can be at their side supervising while they do the work. Anything special I should know about?
Thanks in advance.
P.
Thanks in advance.
P.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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I would do it myself. It's seriously not hard. And if you have a Shop-Vac with blower capability, you don't even have to remove the knock sensors to get all the coolant out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
In my 86' I have to "pack" the radiator to keep the "low coolant" light from coming on.
Here is what I do after I have finished the initial coolant fill with the motor off:
1) Start the cold motor with the radiator cap off.
2) Add coolant as necessary as the temp comes up.
3) When the thermostat opens, have a second person bring the motor up to 2,000RPM. The coolant level will drop significantly.
4) Top off the radiator and replace the cap while the motor is being held at 2,000RPM.
P.S. - I also usually have the car up on ramps so the radiator is at a higher than normal point reletive to the engine.
HTH!
Here is what I do after I have finished the initial coolant fill with the motor off:
1) Start the cold motor with the radiator cap off.
2) Add coolant as necessary as the temp comes up.
3) When the thermostat opens, have a second person bring the motor up to 2,000RPM. The coolant level will drop significantly.
4) Top off the radiator and replace the cap while the motor is being held at 2,000RPM.
P.S. - I also usually have the car up on ramps so the radiator is at a higher than normal point reletive to the engine.
HTH!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 68
From: Hewitt NJ
Originally Posted by 93JetJocky
You don't say what year or engine.
If its LT1 be sure that they bleed the throttle body and thermostat coolant bleed screws.
If its LT1 be sure that they bleed the throttle body and thermostat coolant bleed screws.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 377
Likes: 1
From: Redmond Wa
Originally Posted by onedef92
I would do it myself. It's seriously not hard. And if you have a Shop-Vac with blower capability, you don't even have to remove the knock sensors to get all the coolant out.
It's a simple procedure and the shop vac works great for getting all the liquid out. I just hooked my shop vac hose up to the exhaust port of the shop vac and then placed the end of the hose over the radiatior fill hole. It forced the coolant out of the lower radiator hose which I had removed from the radiator side.
