Hi, not long ago I sold a 89 6sp c4 and was in search for a later model one and ended up with a 95 a4 and loving every minute I'm in it! I just joined but gathered info on here before I bought and this site really helped me find the perfect vette for me so just wanted to check in.

Oh I do have a question. After checking through this 95 I found that the coolant needs changed etc. When I opened the cap there was signs of rust and when I opened it some of it fell into the coolant because it turned the coolant at the top brownish not bad but I need to change it.

So I went to walmart and I pick up some prestone flush, 2 gallons of antifreeze and 4 jugs of distilled water and I get to thinking I really don't know what exact type of antifreez etc I need so I just put it back (wasn't a special trip to get it so wanted to be safe)

So what all do I need? I'm guessing probably exactly what I had right? some preston flush, some green prestone antifreeze (how many gallons), and some jugs of distailled water (how many should I get) and mix it 50/50 ratio.

and they had premixed stuff there never used this so if I go with the premix it already has 50% distilled water in it right or is this stuff not recommened.

hate to start off first post with a long question but want to get this out of the way it has me worried.

 

What does your owner's manual recommend? Wasn't this about the time they came out with the orange coolant? If it has green in it now then stick with it. If it has orange then do not put in green! They do not mix. When I changed mine I just went to the local Jiffy Lube and they had a machine there that flushed out the entire system to include the heater core. No mess, no fuss, just hand them your plastic and drive off!

 

It is green

 

Welcome to the Forum! My 96 takes the Dex cool. I would check your owners manual to make sure which one they reconmend for yours.

 

When I bought my '89 I had it flushed and filled. The overflow thingie (tank?) had this cosmic green sludge inside. Didn't look good. Figured better safe than sorry.

Welcome to the Forum!

 

Your system has a 3.8 gallon capacity. I don't care what it came with, if you do a thorough flush, you can use the green which I will use until I see proof that there's anything better. If you change it every two years as you should then who needs to pay extra for long life, Dexron, etc? Buy two gallons of good antifreeze, two gallons of distilled and do a complete flush including removing your knock sensors, which are in the block drain location. You can flush with tap water because you will drain it all out before refilling. Add one pint of Pencool 3000 when you're finished (available from most REAL parts stores) and forget it until next time when you should only need to drain and refill.

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Welcome Aboard

The primary difference between green antifreeze (ethylene glycol) and orange antifreeze (propylene glycol) is environmental risk factor. Dexcool is a brand of the latter. Among the environmental factors is the poison risk to pets from ethylene glycol.

Its best if you just stick with the original coolant provided with the car, IMHO. The service manual says that adding anti leak pellets will turn the coolant brownish, and there's no problem with this. Some folks think it clogs the system, but that is inaccurate, and in my case with an L98 engine, its called for the the service manual. In fact, my system leaked until I added something. However, since your 95 has a different engine, I would recommend researching the answer before adding anything.

 

I also went to Jiffy lube for a radiator flush and a transmision flush. Both went very well.

 

Just a quick Welcome to the forum.
Good Luck.

 

Welcome to the Forum. IHMO, stay with what the baby came with. Stay away from the pre-mixed stuff. If you'll check the price you'll find that, pint for pint, it costs twice what the full-strength stuff costs.
Doesn't make any sense, and maybe it was mispriced, but for the cost of half distilled water and half full-strength anti-freeze, you'd think it would be cheaper by the gallon than full-strength anti-freeze.

 

howdy! Enjoy your new ride and welcome!

 

Welcome Newb!

 

Welcome!

 

Thanks for the nice welcomes and the great advice!

I didn't see anyone comment one the flush stuff though. If there are a tiny bit of rust deposites I can see on the bottom of the cap etc should I just this prestone flush? It also has a bit of "sludge" in the tank too so I thinking I should use it when I do the flush with distilled water unless it hurts the system if it's too strong, any thoughts?

2 gallons of (non premixed green prestone coolant)
2 gallons distilled water
1 prestone flush

1. drain old coolant.
2. fill with water and add the 1 bottle of flush and bring to operating temp and run heater. (do this until it is clear when draining.
3. fill with 50/50 mixture of distilled water and prestone green collant.

those steps are all I need to do!? easy enough just let me know about the flush if I really need it or not and also about the "PELLETS" I have no idea what those are and where to get them and if they're really needed.

 

The pellets are used on my 94 to seal the aluminim head. My manual says to add them at every change of anti-freeze. So far no leaks.
The pellets contain ground up nuts and spices and are brown in color. I put in three pellets at each change. When I change the anti-freeze it looks brownish in color, I believe this color is from the pellets. I have changed and flushed two times in 13,000 miles of driving.
My definition of 'brownish' is green anti-freeze with a tint of brown in it.

 

need pic's

 

I agree with all the above but the manual calls for 6 of the pellets I THINK.....so check on that before just adding 3.

I don't think anyone answered your questions on the flush but I heard it wasn't advised unless the system is REALLY bad off...but maybe someone will give you some advice on it that has experience with it.

oh ya.. welcome!

 

 

Exactly this is what your seeing, not rust.

It's best to crush them up to a powder before adding them. Helps disolve them. It's a tough thing to do, dump all that ground up powder into fresh new antifreeze mix and seeing it turn to mud.

I think the one's available from GM have discontinued one part number and the new pellets are much larger and take I think just two. Come in a pack of 5 I believe. Available from either your local Chevy parts person or online GMPartsDirect.com.

Use whatever coolant type the manual calls for. If its green stay with that. It should be a mix of 50/50. You can buy it that way now. Doesn't seem any cheaper though.????

Be sure to bleed the coolant from the two bleed screws on the throttle body and thermostat housing.

The drain is just below the lower passenger side hose. Its a plastic wing type screw. It doesn't need to come completely out but if your completely draining then its ok. When its drained the screw just presses back in then tightens. If your doing this I'd recommended looking at all the hoses, and consider a new hose set too. Might as well while you have it drained.