How often should you drain and replace coolant and simple instructons on the easiest way to do so would be grat i have an 03 vert that I just picked up in July and am not sure when the coolant was last changed

Thanks

 

The 2003 Owner's Manual says every 60 months or 150,000 miles, whichever comes forst but I'm sure most here so it more frequently. Here's the drain/fill procedure.


Draining and Filling Cooling System

Caution
With a pressurized cooling system, the coolant temperature in the radiator can be considerably higher than the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure. Removal of the surge tank cap, while the cooling system is hot and under high pressure, causes the solution to boil instantaneously with explosive force. This will cause the solution to spew out over the engine, the fenders, and the person removing the cap. Serious bodily injury may result.

Important
If the procedure below is not followed a low or high coolant level condition and/or vehicle damage could result.

1) Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2) Remove the surge tank cap:
3)Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
4) Place a drain pan under the draincock.
5) Open the radiator draincock.
6) Allow the cooling system to drain completely.
7) Inspect the engine coolant for the following:
Discolored -- follow the flush procedure below.
Normal in appearance -- continue with the next step.

Notice
When adding coolant, use DEX-COOL® coolant. If silicated coolant is added to the system, premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine coolant will require change sooner-at 50 000 km (30,000 mi) or 24 months.

Notice
Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

8) Close the radiator draincock. Tighten.
Tighten the radiator draincock to 2 N·m (18 lb in).
9) Fill the cooling system through the surge tank.
10) Fill the cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL® coolant and deionized water.
11) Start the engine.
12) Allow the engine to idle for 1 minute.
13) Install surge tank cap.
14) Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant temperature reaches 99°C (210°F).
15) Shut off the engine.
16) Remove the surge tank cap.
17) Start the engine.
18) Allow the engine to Idle for 1 minute. Fill the surge tank to 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above the COLD FULL mark on the surge tank.
19) Install the surge tank cap.
20) Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant reaches 99°C (210°F).
21) Shut off the engine.
22) Remove the surge tank cap.
23) Top off the coolant as necessary, 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above FULL COLD mark on the surge tank.
24) Rinse away any excess coolant from the engine and the engine compartment.
25) Inspect the concentration of the engine coolant.
26) Install the surge tank cap.

 

Patches to the rescue. These are awesome instuctions.. Follow them. I did mine exactly like this last week.. Its working great.. Thanks again, Patches..

Just go under the car. On the passenger side, bottom of the radiator there's a white colored plastic drain plug. Stick hexagon driver ranch inside it and turn 1/4 turn anti-clock. Use a plier to pull it out a little, not so hard though... Antifreeze will drain. Fill it up with new water, let the car run while you're doing this, with heater turned on to full. Add water to the plastic container for the water/antifreeze, also on passenger side. When you see the clear water coming out from the bottom, that shows all the old stuff is gone. Stop pouring in water, let it all run out. Stop the engine, tighten the plug clockwise. Make sure its fully tight, you can also use a wide flat head screw driver to tighten it. Once secure, add 50/50 water (distilled if possible, otherwise drinking water) and coolant into the container. Run the car, let it cool down for a couple of hrs. Then check the coolant level in the container. If its below the cool mark, add some more to it.

Thats it. Enjoy...

 

Patches is the man

.......Or, get the power flush for $150 and no dirty hands.

 

WHATS A surge tank??
IS IT THE OVERFLOW tank?

 

Step #7: "follow the flush procedure below."

I only see procedure for refilling.

If you're refilling with something other than DEX-COOL, isn't it very important that you flush to make sure that all the old DEX-COOL is out?

 

Do not replace with any other product than Dex cool!!!!

 

And please do not revive an 8 year old thread to tell us that.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/foru...s-or-more.html