I am new to the LS3 engine can someone please give me a DIY on how to change out the Thermastat? What coolant to use, do I need any special gaskets, O-rings, silicon, etc?

 

no one has any response to this at all?

 

I haven't done this mod but you may want to try youtube.

 

There is not much to explain. remove 2 bolts, swap old t-stat with new, put bolts back on, add the coolant that spilled all over and hope you don't have air in the system. I did

 

That is what I want to know! What is I do get air in the system, what do I do. Should I even drain the system at all? Or should I just do a real quick in and out with the new Therm and hope I do not lose all of the coolant out of the block?

 

Here's how I did mine;

You need a new t'stat, 1 gallon of Dexcool and 1 gallon of distilled water.

Jack the front of the car high enough to give access to the drain fitting on the passenger side bottom of the radiator. Attach a short hose to the drain and drain 2 gallons of coolant into empty 1 gallon containers, close the drain.

Then remove the 2 bolts holding the t'stat housing the the engine and remove the housing and t'stat. You'll spill a small amount of coolant onto the ground. Remove the old t'stat and replace with the new t'stat making sure you align the tabs correctly. Bolt the housing back to the engine. Remove the jack stands.

Add 1 gallon of Dexcool to the overflow tank with the engine running, then add distilled water from a new 1 gallon jug until it stops taking water. Let the engine run till the temp gets to 200° or so then shut it off and leave it set for 5 minutes. restart the car and add more distilled water until the jug is empty, the coolant should be at the full line on the overflow tank.

Put the cap on the overflow tank and let the car idle until the t'stat opens then shut the car off again. Flush the driveway with fresh water to dilute the coolant that spilled when you removed the t'stat housing.

 

Thank you!

 

If you get air in the system you'll know it. It will overheat. You then remove a small hose. Can't remember which one... and blow into the coolant resevoir. Fixed mine immediatley

 

A simple technique to purge the cooling system of air…. Fill the coolant reservoir. Put the cap on and tighten it. At the front of the reservoir there is a rubber line (1/2”-ish) that runs along the top of the radiator and terminates in a T fitting about center of the radiator. Remove this hose from the T. Blow into the hose and the fluid will transfer from the coolant tank to the radiator/engine. When the coolant tank is empty fill it again and repeat. Within 3-4 cycles you’ll get fluid at the T fitting. DONE! I’ve done this dozens of times and it works perfectly.

It goes without saying you do this with the engine off and cool.

 

 

That is how I did mine no issues at all. Very easy.