C5 antifreeze changing procedure
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,149
Likes: 6
From: NCCO Oklahoma
It depends on how involved you want to get, really.
* I drove my car up on ramps, then raised the rear end to make the car level.
* I drained the radiator using the lower plug, then removed the lower hose.
* I removed the thermostat and drained the block.
* I reinstalled the thermostat and reconnected the lower hose.
* I filled the radiator reservoir with radiator flush and distilled water from my local grocery store.
* I started and ran the car for 5 minutes or so until I came up to operating temperature, then shut down the car.
* I added more water until the reservoir was full, then started the car.
* I ran the car 20-30 minutes at normal operating temperature to circulate the radiator flush chemicals.
* I shut the car down and let it sit for a little bit... then I got a bucket and placed it under the radiator drain.
*** This next part is DANGEROUS. ***
* I opened the lower radiator drain and watched as the water came SHOOTING out of the radiator into the bucket.
*** I do not recommend that you do this... you could really hurt yourself. ***
Anyway...
* I filled the car back up with clean water and ran it again for 20-30 minutes to allow the water to circulate and help dilute the chemicals from the radiator flush.
* I drained the radiator again, then removed the upper and lower hoses and thermostat.
* I removed and replaced the water pump.
* I installed a new thermostat.
* I installed new upper and lower hoses.
* I filled up the reservoir with new coolant.
* I ran the car for 5-10 minutes, then shut it down.
* I let it cool down a bit, then I topped off the coolant.
* I took it for a short drive, then parked it.
* I cleaned up the mess, then returned to the car where I topped off the coolant again.
I didn't need to 'burp' the cooling system at all. I was concerned that I might have to do that, but that wasn't the case for me.
Be careful, and good luck.
Mark
* I drove my car up on ramps, then raised the rear end to make the car level.
* I drained the radiator using the lower plug, then removed the lower hose.
* I removed the thermostat and drained the block.
* I reinstalled the thermostat and reconnected the lower hose.
* I filled the radiator reservoir with radiator flush and distilled water from my local grocery store.
* I started and ran the car for 5 minutes or so until I came up to operating temperature, then shut down the car.
* I added more water until the reservoir was full, then started the car.
* I ran the car 20-30 minutes at normal operating temperature to circulate the radiator flush chemicals.
* I shut the car down and let it sit for a little bit... then I got a bucket and placed it under the radiator drain.
*** This next part is DANGEROUS. ***
* I opened the lower radiator drain and watched as the water came SHOOTING out of the radiator into the bucket.
*** I do not recommend that you do this... you could really hurt yourself. ***
Anyway...
* I filled the car back up with clean water and ran it again for 20-30 minutes to allow the water to circulate and help dilute the chemicals from the radiator flush.
* I drained the radiator again, then removed the upper and lower hoses and thermostat.
* I removed and replaced the water pump.
* I installed a new thermostat.
* I installed new upper and lower hoses.
* I filled up the reservoir with new coolant.
* I ran the car for 5-10 minutes, then shut it down.
* I let it cool down a bit, then I topped off the coolant.
* I took it for a short drive, then parked it.
* I cleaned up the mess, then returned to the car where I topped off the coolant again.
I didn't need to 'burp' the cooling system at all. I was concerned that I might have to do that, but that wasn't the case for me.
Be careful, and good luck.
Mark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
My procedure is 1. drain it, and 2. fill it.
I change my antifreeze every couple of years, so I just do a refresh by draining as much as I can from the radiator drain plug, then refill with a 50/50 mixture of Dexcool and distilled water. It seems like you can get about 2 gallons out just by draining.
I change my antifreeze every couple of years, so I just do a refresh by draining as much as I can from the radiator drain plug, then refill with a 50/50 mixture of Dexcool and distilled water. It seems like you can get about 2 gallons out just by draining.
