Cannot Complete Coolant Fill Procedure...Help!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Once was God's Country
Cannot Complete Coolant Fill Procedure...Help!
I have tried to do the coolant fill procedure per the service manual:
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.
When I get to step 17 to start the engine again, my coolant temp is still 210ish and rising. My car never cools off enough to allow me to finish the procedure!
I have replaced the thermostat twice (OEM replacement) and the waterpump. Neither helped...
-It seems like I drained way more coolant than I have put back in but the tank is still full?
-I can pull the top radiator hose off @ the waterpump and squeeze the lower hose and coolant passes through the radiator, so I know it's not blocked.
-I can squeeze the lower radiator hose and hear/see coolant moving around in the surge tank...
-When the car gets up to 225ish my coolant tank fills itself to the brim...
I'm completely lost as to what my next step should be...
EDIT: My car is a 2002 Z06 with 100k miles.
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.
When I get to step 17 to start the engine again, my coolant temp is still 210ish and rising. My car never cools off enough to allow me to finish the procedure!
I have replaced the thermostat twice (OEM replacement) and the waterpump. Neither helped...
-It seems like I drained way more coolant than I have put back in but the tank is still full?
-I can pull the top radiator hose off @ the waterpump and squeeze the lower hose and coolant passes through the radiator, so I know it's not blocked.
-I can squeeze the lower radiator hose and hear/see coolant moving around in the surge tank...
-When the car gets up to 225ish my coolant tank fills itself to the brim...
I'm completely lost as to what my next step should be...
EDIT: My car is a 2002 Z06 with 100k miles.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 239
Likes: 2
From: Georgetown TX
When you remove the surge tank cap, do you hear/feel pressure being vented? If not, then you need a new cap. Is the serpentine belt routed properly? Any radiator hose collapsing while running up the rpm? Are the hoses the originals? That's about all I can think of. Someone else will have more/better ideas. Good luck! 
Dennis
Dennis
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
From: California
I think you have air in system. You need to vent it out. I had same problem on my 02 Trans Am. I found a very small hose near throttle body and removed it. Added coolant till it came out there. Put hose back on and added till full. That did it. Maybe someone else can answer better. Hope that helped.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Once was God's Country
When you remove the surge tank cap, do you hear/feel pressure being vented?Yes, but it seems as if the air is being sucked into the tank vs. coming out (maybe it's just me). If not, then you need a new cap. Is the serpentine belt routed properly? Yes. Any radiator hose collapsing while running up the rpm?No hose collapse. Are the hoses the originals?Yes. That's about all I can think of. Someone else will have more/better ideas. Good luck!
Dennis
Dennis
I think you have air in system. You need to vent it out.[I agree that I have air trapped.] I had same problem on my 02 Trans Am. I found a very small hose near throttle body and removed it.I have heard something about a hose on the throttle body, but no information to back up/justify removing it yet... Added coolant till it came out there. Put hose back on and added till full. That did it. Maybe someone else can answer better. Hope that helped.
It isn't like the car just ramps up and goes into overheating. Once the car gets up to 190' it seems to take a while to get over 220. I have even watched it cool from 220 down to 214...then right back up. But, if I follow the procedure in the service manual by revving the car up, it goes up fairly quick and doesn't stop. I need to figure out a way to add more coolant because I know more came out than I have added back so far!
Thanks for the inputs so far!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 16
From: Anchorage Alaska
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Not sure if it could be this simple, but I did this procedure a couple months ago. Followed it to the letter.
When I got to step 17, I was still reading the temps you are. But I went on anyway. The next step calls for eventually adding more coolant and then more cycling. After I was through with that my temps were back down again. Presumably the cold stuff I just added mixed with the hot stuff that was already in there. But anyway in my case, each time I added coolant I saw the temp drop soon afterwards and when I was done, my temps were right on the money and my coolant level exactly where it should be.
Just my two cents based on my experience.
When I got to step 17, I was still reading the temps you are. But I went on anyway. The next step calls for eventually adding more coolant and then more cycling. After I was through with that my temps were back down again. Presumably the cold stuff I just added mixed with the hot stuff that was already in there. But anyway in my case, each time I added coolant I saw the temp drop soon afterwards and when I was done, my temps were right on the money and my coolant level exactly where it should be.
Just my two cents based on my experience.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Once was God's Country
Not sure if it could be this simple, but I did this procedure a couple months ago. Followed it to the letter.
When I got to step 17, I was still reading the temps you are. But I went on anyway. The next step calls for eventually adding more coolant and then more cycling. After I was through with that my temps were back down again. Presumably the cold stuff I just added mixed with the hot stuff that was already in there. But anyway in my case, each time I added coolant I saw the temp drop soon afterwards and when I was done, my temps were right on the money and my coolant level exactly where it should be.
Just my two cents based on my experience.
When I got to step 17, I was still reading the temps you are. But I went on anyway. The next step calls for eventually adding more coolant and then more cycling. After I was through with that my temps were back down again. Presumably the cold stuff I just added mixed with the hot stuff that was already in there. But anyway in my case, each time I added coolant I saw the temp drop soon afterwards and when I was done, my temps were right on the money and my coolant level exactly where it should be.
Just my two cents based on my experience.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Once was God's Country
Once I start driving it the temps will keep going till I turn it off...Yes, both fans work properly and at the correct temps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Do a pressure test to see if you have a LEAK internally, check with test strips like I said before-a head gasket leak can let exhaust into the cooling system causing quick overheating. You can also test the pressure cap to make sure it pops at the correct pressure. The other possibility is the temp sensor is lying. Did it overheat before you tore into it?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Once was God's Country
Then you have figure out why Do a pressure test to see if you have a LEAK internally, check with test strips like I said before-a head gasket leak can let exhaust into the cooling system causing quick overheating. You can also test the pressure cap to make sure it pops at the correct pressure. The other possibility is the temp sensor is lying. Did it overheat before you tore into it?
Do a pressure test to see if you have a LEAK internally, check with test strips like I said before-a head gasket leak can let exhaust into the cooling system causing quick overheating. You can also test the pressure cap to make sure it pops at the correct pressure. The other possibility is the temp sensor is lying. Did it overheat before you tore into it?I don't have the equipment nor time to get much more involve...
I really didn't want to. lol
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,103
Likes: 7
From: Sandy Ego Ca.
FYI...
The dealerships use a pressure fill method... they put a vacuum on the system while they have an extra vessel for coolant... once they have the correct vacume pressure they then open a valve to the extra vessel which andhe vacume pulls THAT liquid into the car...
The dealerships use a pressure fill method... they put a vacuum on the system while they have an extra vessel for coolant... once they have the correct vacume pressure they then open a valve to the extra vessel which andhe vacume pulls THAT liquid into the car...
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Once was God's Country
I got it running now. Hell if I know what I did though?
I pulled the small coolant hose off at the throttle body, started the car and instantly saw coolant coming out so I put it back on.
The next thing I did was turn the A/C on full blast with the heat blowing at 90'F and revved the engine a couple of times.
After those two steps the car started cooling off and I have drove it a lot since then and it has been fine
I pulled the small coolant hose off at the throttle body, started the car and instantly saw coolant coming out so I put it back on.
The next thing I did was turn the A/C on full blast with the heat blowing at 90'F and revved the engine a couple of times.
After those two steps the car started cooling off and I have drove it a lot since then and it has been fine
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Here is the deal
Its hot in Georgia... when you shut down the engine and stop the water pump... the coolant temp goes up because the internal combustion temp is much hotter than the coolant.. so the coolant in the motor gets hotter because its drawing that supper hot temp off the motor's internals and thus is harder to disipate... Some procedures are way over kill and cause more grief than their preciseness is worth..
220F is not a panic temp by any means... when the op disregarded the procedure and went with his logic, he turned on the ac which turned on the fans which drew in air to transfer heat...via the radiator.
The car then started to act normal.
220F is not a panic temp by any means... when the op disregarded the procedure and went with his logic, he turned on the ac which turned on the fans which drew in air to transfer heat...via the radiator.
The car then started to act normal.
