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Reading the maintenance section of the manual...

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Old 08-17-2018, 02:54 AM
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joemessman
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Default Reading the maintenance section of the manual...

I see the cooling system fluid is to be changed at 150,000 miles, or 5 years. Which ever occurs first. Not questioning the GM engineers, but doesn't that seem like too much time or miles in between changes?
Old 08-17-2018, 08:36 AM
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Red C8 of Jax
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Check out the antifreeze jug, it shows the same 5yrs or 150K miles.

Last edited by Red C8 of Jax; 08-17-2018 at 08:37 AM.
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Old 08-17-2018, 10:06 AM
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Kracka
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5/150 has been the standard for years with DexCool. Which reminds me, I need to get our Volt in for coolant flushes in both the engine and battery systems. My C7 will be due next spring as well!

Last edited by Kracka; 08-17-2018 at 10:07 AM.
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Old 08-17-2018, 11:19 AM
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Vetteman Jack
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Sounds OK to me. If It concerns you, there is no reason why you couldn’t change it out earlier.

Kind of goes along with the increased intervals for oil changes over the years.
Old 08-17-2018, 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
Sounds OK to me. If It concerns you, there is no reason why you couldn’t change it out earlier.

Kind of goes along with the increased intervals for oil changes over the years.
I'll wait until I get to the 5 years. It was recommended to me by by the service advisor. That is the first time they have tried to screw me. I have a email into them with a WHY? I'll see what they say.

Last edited by joemessman; 08-17-2018 at 11:23 AM.
Old 08-17-2018, 03:02 PM
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Bavaria
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For me 5 years will arrive much sooner than 150k miles, and I feel that's true for many C7 owners. I'm averaging 100 miles/wk, which translates to roughly 26k after 5 years. I'm sure there are those whose mileage averages 30k/yr, but believe they're in the vast minority, especially considering those who store their cars for the winter.
Old 08-17-2018, 03:06 PM
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PatternDayTrader
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Chances are pretty good that something will happen requiring the cooling system to be at least partially drained before the 150k mark. A hose or radiator or something will leak.
Old 08-17-2018, 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Bavaria
For me 5 years will arrive much sooner than 150k miles, and I feel that's true for many C7 owners. I'm averaging 100 miles/wk, which translates to roughly 26k after 5 years. I'm sure there are those whose mileage averages 30k/yr, but believe they're in the vast minority, especially considering those who store their cars for the winter.
I have had my car for 32 moths and have 74,100 miles on it!
Trouble free except a belt tensioner pulley at 37,000 miles.
It has been the best car I have ever had and I might say that the A8 is the best automatic I have had by far. I will probably not be at 150,000 at 5 years based on where I am now. But close. I probably will be in another one then anyway.
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Old 08-17-2018, 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by joemessman
I have had my car for 32 moths and have 74,100 miles on it!
Trouble free except a belt tensioner pulley at 37,000 miles.
It has been the best car I have ever had and I might say that the A8 is the best automatic I have had by far. I will probably not be at 150,000 at 5 years based on where I am now. But close. I probably will be in another one then anyway.

Don't you just love being able to drive year round in the southwest? I do!
Old 08-17-2018, 05:05 PM
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5 years is the operative aspect of that for Vette owners, I suspect. As I recall my C5 is 6 or 7 years, and that's what I've always done with it... nearly 18 years later.
Old 08-17-2018, 05:12 PM
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Nope.....sounds right.
Old 08-17-2018, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Bavaria
Don't you just love being able to drive year round in the southwest? I do!
sure do
Old 08-31-2018, 06:44 AM
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okaythen
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Question in the manual for the maintenance, it only lists miles and not time (years months etc) So if the mileage never gets that high, how long should you change the cabin air filter, coolant, tranny fluid, diff fluid etc? Or just go by the miles and not by time?

How do you check the coolant level? I can't find the thing.
Old 08-31-2018, 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by PatternDayTrader
Chances are pretty good that something will happen requiring the cooling system to be at least partially drained before the 150k mark. A hose or radiator or something will leak.
First of all, very few people will hit 150k in just five years. Second of all, I think only a small % of people will have a hose or radiator leak in the first five years. I had no leaks in the cooling system of my C5 or my C6 even though the C5 was 15 years old (with 133k) and my C6 was 13 years old (with 85k) when I sold/traded them.
Old 08-31-2018, 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by okaythen
Question in the manual for the maintenance, it only lists miles and not time (years months etc)
There are footnotes in the manual for items that need changing based on time as well, for instance there is a footnote for replacing the air cleaner every 4 years if you don't hit the mileage requirement first.

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Old 08-31-2018, 08:49 AM
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5 years is fine, personally I'd do it myself at home at about that interval unless I saw some crud building up in the system.
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Old 09-01-2018, 08:41 AM
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For coolant level I don't see "max" or min anywhere on the reservoir, I do see an arrow and a symbol for manual, I think that's that max level? min level is it harder to see, I didn't see it.

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Old 09-01-2018, 10:12 AM
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ImpliedConsent
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I believe most manufacturers are using the longer lasting coolants. Even my Subaru says 11years, 137k mi. They call it Super Coolant. GM calls theirs Dex-Cool. I've seen this over the years get longer and longer on many manufacturers.
Old 09-01-2018, 01:43 PM
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Bill Dearborn
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Dexcool really works well over a 5 year period. My first car with Dex in it was my 97 Vette and i waited for 5 years before changing the coolant. it didn't look any different than when I took delivery of the car. Same for my 03 C5Z, 08 C6Z and several other GM cars I have owned. I still have my 03 Tahoe and I just had the coolant changed a third time early this year. Still on the same cooling system hoses, water pump and radiator cap the vehicle was delivered with.

Bill
Old 09-01-2018, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
Dexcool really works well over a 5 year period. My first car with Dex in it was my 97 Vette and i waited for 5 years before changing the coolant. it didn't look any different than when I took delivery of the car. Same for my 03 C5Z, 08 C6Z and several other GM cars I have owned. I still have my 03 Tahoe and I just had the coolant changed a third time early this year. Still on the same cooling system hoses, water pump and radiator cap the vehicle was delivered with.

Bill
Bill you know a lot more about this stuff than I do. I wonder how I should address the service writer who recommended the fluid flush for me at 75,000 miles and just 2.5 years? Thanks.


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