Coolant drain amount
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 167
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From: South East USA
Coolant drain amount
I know how much the system holds. My question is approximately how much do you get out of the system if you just drain from the radiator petcock? I'm on the way to store for dexcool and distilled water for a drain and refill only.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,030
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
There are always several quarts left in the block. When draining make sure you refill with clear water and run the engine to get the old coolant out of the block. It usually takes a couple of drains and refills to get clear drained water. Once you have done that you can add half the system's capacity in Dex and top off with clear water. It takes a few bottles of water to do the drain flush repeatedly but that is the only way to get the old stuff out. A hose is much easier to use and that is what I use.
Bill
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
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From: Waldorf MD
The system holds around 12 quarts. You can drain all but 2 quarts IF you keep the car level while draining. But you have to use a very short drain pan(s) and empty it (them) several times.
Be sure to "turn on" heater so it can drain.
Be sure to "turn on" heater so it can drain.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I usually get a little over 8 quarts of the 12 quarts out, so I don't worry about flushing the block.
I also never let Dexcool stay in the car over 2-3 years instead of the 5 years that GM claims it should last. If I were pushing the coolant to the limit of its life, I would be more concerned about getting all the old coolant out, or if it looked dirty when I drained it, but mine has always come out clean.
I also never let Dexcool stay in the car over 2-3 years instead of the 5 years that GM claims it should last. If I were pushing the coolant to the limit of its life, I would be more concerned about getting all the old coolant out, or if it looked dirty when I drained it, but mine has always come out clean.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Des Moines Iowa
I usually get a little over 8 quarts of the 12 quarts out, so I don't worry about flushing the block.
I also never let Dexcool stay in the car over 2-3 years instead of the 5 years that GM claims it should last. If I were pushing the coolant to the limit of its life, I would be more concerned about getting all the old coolant out, or if it looked dirty when I drained it, but mine has always come out clean.
I also never let Dexcool stay in the car over 2-3 years instead of the 5 years that GM claims it should last. If I were pushing the coolant to the limit of its life, I would be more concerned about getting all the old coolant out, or if it looked dirty when I drained it, but mine has always come out clean.
I just drained mine a few weeks ago, and then changed the thermostat. Between the draining of the radiator, and changing the thermostat, I got 9-10 qts.
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Melting Slicks
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From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
All I could find at the parts store and Walmart today was 50/50 premix. None of it Dexcool but all the brands claimed compatible with whatever color you had. Why can't I just use the green Prestone 50/50?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,030
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
GM doesn't recommend it for aluminum engines. You also have just a 2 year life cycle Vs 5. Prestone makes an orange Dexcool spec compliant coolant. You don't have to buy it at Walmart. Autozone or Advanced Auto carry the good stuff as well.
From your Owner's Manual:
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant will:
Using coolant other than DEX-COOL may cause premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always use DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
Bill
From your Owner's Manual:
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant will:
- Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
- Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
- Protect against rust and corrosion.
- Help keep the proper engine temperature.
- Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
Using coolant other than DEX-COOL may cause premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always use DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Mar 23, 2009 at 01:50 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Out local Wal Marts have it on straight formula. Prestone is the only one I can find now though (Dexcool) as Texaco went out some time back.
As for losing is protection capability, I thought there was a resistance check you could make. Not sure if you can find it through search which doesn't seem to be working correctly.
As for losing is protection capability, I thought there was a resistance check you could make. Not sure if you can find it through search which doesn't seem to be working correctly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Longview Texas
Texaco was the original manufacturer, but I heard that they were moving their manufacturing out of the United States
, so a lot of companies, including Walmart, quit stocking the brand. Prestone is now an approved supplier, and our local store carries both the concentrated and 50/50 mix. The mix costs the same per gallon, but you are paying for half of it to be water. 
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
The 50/50 is a "paying for convenience" situation, not to mention (very unspoken by the manufacturer of course) the HUGE profit they make selling a little anti-freeze and some water. It's that very large profit margin driving all the many companies now jumping on the bandwagon with THEIR version of 50/50. That stuff is everywhere now. 
I guess I'm enough of a tightwad to still buy the full-strength and dilute with distilled water, not to mention I have control over the mixture concentration if I want.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: South East USA
I guess I'm enough of a tightwad to still buy the full-strength and dilute with distilled water, not to mention I have control over the mixture concentration if I want. [/QUOTE]
Speeking of mixture, in warmer climates, are most of you guys sticking with 50/50 ? I'm in Georgia and went 55 water and 45 dexcool with a bottle of water wetter. I know I could have gone higher on the water based on temperatures here, but I was chicken to go too far from the standard.
[/QUOTE]Speeking of mixture, in warmer climates, are most of you guys sticking with 50/50 ? I'm in Georgia and went 55 water and 45 dexcool with a bottle of water wetter. I know I could have gone higher on the water based on temperatures here, but I was chicken to go too far from the standard.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
........I guess I'm enough of a tightwad to still buy the full-strength and dilute with distilled water, not to mention I have control over the mixture concentration if I want.
Speeking of mixture, in warmer climates, are most of you guys sticking with 50/50 ? I'm in Georgia and went 55 water and 45 dexcool with a bottle of water wetter. I know I could have gone higher on the water based on temperatures here, but I was chicken to go too far from the standard.
Sounds like you're in good shape there in GA, but it never hurts to pay attention to the weather reports each winter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
I'm still hunting the full strength dex. Autozone and Advance only have the 50/50. Tomorrow I'll hit the little guys like NAPA and Central. I fully agree on the rip off charging for water. I live in Florida and maybe see 20 degrees once every 10 years or so. I could water down the 50/50 but I don't like getting screwed, wait I mean I don't like getting ripped off. 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I'm still hunting the full strength dex. Autozone and Advance only have the 50/50. Tomorrow I'll hit the little guys like NAPA and Central. I fully agree on the rip off charging for water. I live in Florida and maybe see 20 degrees once every 10 years or so. I could water down the 50/50 but I don't like getting screwed, wait I mean I don't like getting ripped off.
It's in the silver 1 gal container with the orange cap.
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by TEXHAWK0
The green and Dexcool are not really compatible, plus Dexcool does some things better, like lubricate the water pump.
Texaco was the original manufacturer, but I heard that they were moving their manufacturing out of the United States, so a lot of companies, including Walmart, quit stocking the brand. Prestone is now an approved supplier, and our local store carries both the concentrated and 50/50 mix. The mix costs the same per gallon, but you are paying for half of it to be water.
Texaco was the original manufacturer, but I heard that they were moving their manufacturing out of the United States, so a lot of companies, including Walmart, quit stocking the brand. Prestone is now an approved supplier, and our local store carries both the concentrated and 50/50 mix. The mix costs the same per gallon, but you are paying for half of it to be water.
