I've read the GM procedure for changing out the coolant. That's fine and dandy if you want to mix the good with the bad. What's the best (and cleanest) way to get most of the 12 quarts out of the system. Each time I open the tank **** I get 3 quarts.

 

This should help

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ain&forum_id=1

 

I got all but 2 quarts out of mine ! Did you pull drain plug and take off coolant recovery cap? Also car needs to be level when draining.

 

Here's what worked for me. I had the car parked with the nose on a slight downward incline, Got nearly 2 Gallons of fluid out each time. Ran distilled water through three times before water ran clear. (Distilled waters cheap) Hope this helps.

Items to Purchase: 2 Gallons DEXCOOL Anti-freeze.
2 – 12 oz. bottles of Redline Water Wetter.
8 Gallons Distilled Water (Publix)

Note: Replacement Radiator Drain Plug Part # Dorman 61133. Available at Advance Auto. (just in case you snap the pin on yours)

1. Spray radiator drain plug with Penetrating Lubricant.
Let it work for 5 minutes or so.)
2. Using a ¼ inch drive ratchet, insert a 6” extension and using the square end of the extension insert it into the drain plug, make sure it is seated all the way.
3. Turn the ratchet 90 degrees Counter Clockwise. Any more and you will shear the pin on the drain plug. The anti-freeze will begin draining. This takes about 20 – 30 minutes.
4. Once it has stopped draining, close the drain plug, turning it 90 degrees Clockwise and fill the Surge tank with 2 Gallons of DISTILLED WATER .
5. Put the cap back on
6. Run vehicle until temperature reaches 210 degrees with heater on. This opens the Thermostat.
7. Open the drain plug again … let fluid drain again.
8. Follow steps 4 through 7 until the fluid runs nearly clear. (You’ll need to do this 3 times so you’ll need 6 Gallons of distilled water for just the Flush)
9. Once the fluid is running clear, close the drain plug.
10. There will now be about 4 quarts of water in the block.
11. Fill the surge tank with 6 Quarts of Non-diluted DEXCOOL Anti-freeze.
12. Empty 2 bottles (12 oz. each) of Red Line Water Wetter into the Surge Tank.
13. Empty 2 Quarts Distilled Water into Surge Tank.
14. Run vehicle until temperature reaches 210 degrees with heater on to circulate/mix fluids.
15. When engine cools, check Surge Tank and top off with Distilled Water if needed to top of Full Cold mark.

 

I did what Ron did... worked fine.

 

I just completed this last weekend and i got 10 1/2 qts out of mine.

I opened the drain **** and let it drain for 3 hours with the cap off the res. tank (level car) i also took a old rear diff lube pump and pumped out all of the old from the res. tank and ended up with about 10 1/2 qts out of the system.

 

Hmmm? It must be the incline that get that much fluid out. I opened the radiator ****, left it open for 10 mins. (until it stopped flowing) and got 3.5 quarts.

 

Just did mine couple days ago. Found that jacking the rear so that tires were about 6" off ground allowed considerably more coolant to dump out of the block. Was able to drain out at least 8 qts. every time. Once confident that system was mostly distilled water, just added a bottle of Red Line, 6.3 qts. of Dex-Cool, and topped off with distilled.

 

Hi Ron222,

I thought your coolant change instructions were great. This insures that all the dexcool will be removed. I was wondering how you supported your vette? I plan on using the 56" race ramps from Brute Industries. You can drive right up on them without the front valences hitting. Then I use my floor jack to jack the rear end up. I support the car on the cross member & support it with with 2x4s & two jack stands. Its not a good idea to run the car with the rear end on jack stands as it could vibrate off the floor jack stands. I have a 2001 vette with 11,900 miles on it & it is a one owner. All fluids are original from the factory except the engine oil. I plan on putting the car back down on the ground, then running it to 210 degrees Fahrenheit to fully open the thermostat. And then raise the car and re-drain. What is your opinion?

Thanks for the tip on turning the drain plug only 90 degrees. I'm from the old school where you usually turn the drain plug all the way out. Here's a tip for you: Are you aware that the 2001 corvette shop manual tells you to change the water housing inlet and the thermostat as a complete assembly? Meaning you cannot just change the thermostat by itself. I plan on changing the housing & thermostat as it would be convenient at this time. I'm thinking about using a 160 degree thermostat as the summer's in central PA get pretty hot.Not sure how the pcm will be affected as the pcm controlls the cooling fans. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. By the way, I see you are in FL. What does your water temp. usually run at on a hot day? Mine runs between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot day. What is the normal temp. supposed to be? Are you using the stock 190 degree stat.?Other forum members comments greatly appreciated. Thanks.