Engine Coolant
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 133,592
Likes: 30
St. Jude Donor '11, '16
Deionization runs water through a resin bed to remove mineral content ions from the water. It has no effect upn the hydrogen or hydroxide ions which are the natural content in water. The reader should look up "purified water" on Wikipedia where there is an excelent description of the deionization process, distilled water process, and other means of purifying water.
The process of flushing and refiling the coolant system advocated here by BRIM specifies distilled water which I used. However, to suggest that deionized water is corrosive to cooling systems is: BS . Deionized water is routinely used in the stainless steel coolant systems of nuclear power plants to prevent corrosion processes.
The process of flushing and refiling the coolant system advocated here by BRIM specifies distilled water which I used. However, to suggest that deionized water is corrosive to cooling systems is: BS . Deionized water is routinely used in the stainless steel coolant systems of nuclear power plants to prevent corrosion processes.
However, DI water is extremely aggressive to most metals. The example you cited in the nuke plants is not for corrosion but rather to limit scaling in the pipes.......
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 2
From: Danielsville Georgia
I'd rather just pay a shop with one of the new type cooling system service machines. Then it gets the correct amount and no mess. Other wise this might work. http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Quartz-C...=crystal+*****
Last edited by Ketchum; Aug 11, 2012 at 10:45 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: "Sweet Home Alabama"
I think I would try and wait till 7 years. Go by a dealership and let them top off the fluid and ask if they can test. It should be fine.
Bert
Roll Tide!
Bert
Roll Tide!
I am curious about what you guys think I should do.
My C6 is 5 years old, only about 18,000 miles, mostly driven on the highway. The car is always in my garage.
The engine coolant is a bit low, can I just add some 50/50 coolant/water mix or should I definitely have it flushed out?
My C6 is 5 years old, only about 18,000 miles, mostly driven on the highway. The car is always in my garage.
The engine coolant is a bit low, can I just add some 50/50 coolant/water mix or should I definitely have it flushed out?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 2
From: Danielsville Georgia
I sure would not wait 7 years on Dexcool. It can turn into some nasty crystallized cooling system stopping up mess. I've seen it first hand and have had to deal with it on used G.M. vehicles traded in. There is a reason they call for a 5 year life on it.
Last edited by Ketchum; Aug 11, 2012 at 04:49 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,395
Likes: 189
From: North of Canada
Read your owners manual........for my owners manual.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do
not need to add anything else
Notice: If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle’s cooling system, you could
damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this manual for
the cooling system. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12 for more information
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do
not need to add anything else
Notice: If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle’s cooling system, you could
damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this manual for
the cooling system. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12 for more information
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,028
Likes: 53
From: FEMA District 4
Here are my notes that I gathered from the forum:
Change coolant every 5 years or 150,000 miles, which ever comes first.
Buy 2 gals Prestone Dex Cool (Walmart) and 6 gals distilled water. I used 5 gals of distilled water this year and flushed it twice. I think three flushes would have been better.
1) Drain coolant (drain plug is on passenger side). Approx. 8 qts out of 12.6 qts will actually drain.
2) Refill surge tank to the neck with distilled water. It will take a while to replace the 8 qts or whatever was drained.
3) Start engine, idle 4 min
4) Top off surge tank
5) Rev engine at 2000-2500 rpm for 2 more min. (temp should reach ~200 F)
6) Shutoff engine, cool for 20 minutes
7) Repeat steps 1-6 until fluid drains clear (2-4 flushes)
8) Refill with 6.3 qts Dex Cool (it's a slow process) and then top off with distilled water.
9) Repeat steps 3-5, take test drive, refill as necessary with distilled water.
10) Dispose of your old antifreeze at a recycling center.
Change coolant every 5 years or 150,000 miles, which ever comes first.
Buy 2 gals Prestone Dex Cool (Walmart) and 6 gals distilled water. I used 5 gals of distilled water this year and flushed it twice. I think three flushes would have been better.
1) Drain coolant (drain plug is on passenger side). Approx. 8 qts out of 12.6 qts will actually drain.
2) Refill surge tank to the neck with distilled water. It will take a while to replace the 8 qts or whatever was drained.
3) Start engine, idle 4 min
4) Top off surge tank
5) Rev engine at 2000-2500 rpm for 2 more min. (temp should reach ~200 F)
6) Shutoff engine, cool for 20 minutes
7) Repeat steps 1-6 until fluid drains clear (2-4 flushes)
8) Refill with 6.3 qts Dex Cool (it's a slow process) and then top off with distilled water.
9) Repeat steps 3-5, take test drive, refill as necessary with distilled water.
10) Dispose of your old antifreeze at a recycling center.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,813
Likes: 287
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Not all dealers are honest. If you leave you car for this how would you really know they did it. There are some unscrupulous dealers that will add a bit of coolant to your system and tell you they did a complete flush and fill.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 133,592
Likes: 30
St. Jude Donor '11, '16
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,028
Likes: 53
From: FEMA District 4
Oil temp. 200 - 214
Coolant temp. 190 - 210
Engine temp. 195-210
Last edited by important; Aug 12, 2012 at 05:29 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,989
Likes: 2,691
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Now you've got me confused- what is this "Engine temp" you mentioned that is different from the Oil temp and Coolant temp?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
If you bring it to GM, they'll just drain the radiator and refill the coolant.....my local dealer charges $120 for that.
I just did it this morning, needed 2 jugs of 50/50 dexcool from walmart total cost $22. Drained and refilled. I was also at the 5 yr mark and decided might as well do it.
I just did it this morning, needed 2 jugs of 50/50 dexcool from walmart total cost $22. Drained and refilled. I was also at the 5 yr mark and decided might as well do it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
I'd rather just pay a shop with one of the new type cooling system service machines. Then it gets the correct amount and no mess. Other wise this might work. http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Quartz-C...=crystal+*****
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
A way I have done radiator draining in the past to clean it out (but not yet on a Vette) was to open the insert a running hose into the fill spout, open the radiator valve, start the engine, adjust the hose flow in to the same amount coming out of the drain valve and let the car idle for a bit. Rev the engine if you want to get the water pump really turning. This continous draining should flush all the junk out. Be sure to turn the engine off before letting all the water drain out of the system and then fill as desired with whatever desired.
Remember to clean up any spilled coolant as the fauna and varmits will try to slurp it up and it will kill them. That includes the family dog. Not sure if this is true for Dex Cool.
Remember to clean up any spilled coolant as the fauna and varmits will try to slurp it up and it will kill them. That includes the family dog. Not sure if this is true for Dex Cool.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
I ended up going to the Chevrolet dealer and paying over $200.
The technician had the radiator drip out the old coolant. Then he washed with a hose the reservoir and then he added new coolant. He didn't use a special vacuum some of you mentioned, nor did he flush the radiator.
Also, the GM coolant he used was already premixed 50/50. I believe he only used 1 gallon. Is this correct?
What am I supposed to do here?
The technician had the radiator drip out the old coolant. Then he washed with a hose the reservoir and then he added new coolant. He didn't use a special vacuum some of you mentioned, nor did he flush the radiator.
Also, the GM coolant he used was already premixed 50/50. I believe he only used 1 gallon. Is this correct?
What am I supposed to do here?
This is the way they do it again it's a closed system.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Deionization runs water through a resin bed to remove mineral content ions from the water. It has no effect upn the hydrogen or hydroxide ions which are the natural content in water. The reader should look up "purified water" on Wikipedia where there is an excelent description of the deionization process, distilled water process, and other means of purifying water.
The process of flushing and refiling the coolant system advocated here by BRIM specifies distilled water which I used. However, to suggest that deionized water is corrosive to cooling systems is: BS . Deionized water is routinely used in the stainless steel coolant systems of nuclear power plants to prevent corrosion processes.
The process of flushing and refiling the coolant system advocated here by BRIM specifies distilled water which I used. However, to suggest that deionized water is corrosive to cooling systems is: BS . Deionized water is routinely used in the stainless steel coolant systems of nuclear power plants to prevent corrosion processes.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Tap water is used at Bowling Green. From what I've read, Dex-Cool will neutralize the minerals from tap water (per GM from what I remember & also a sticky in the C-5/C-6 section). For me, although it's much more expenseive, I use Prestone 50/50 pre-mixed, every three years, plus a bottle of Red Line Water Wetter for additional corrsion protection. I go to a fomer GM dealer that uses Wynn machines + Wynn chemicals.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
