Coolant change.. Newbie says sorry
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 79
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From: Germany
Car: 88 TA
Engine: 350ci
Transmission: Always broken 700r4
Coolant change.. Newbie says sorry
*very quiet* This is a REAL newbie question. And I'm askin it coz I don't want to do anything wrong with my car....
How do I correctly change my coolant fluid? I asked my sister about it, she said something about a vacuum cooling system having two hoses leading to the coolant tank, but maybe that's coz her car is a 91, mine's a 89, only has one hose leading to the coolant tank.
Can I still just take the hose off, let the water run out, pop the hose back on and fill new coolant in?
*When should I run the engine then?
*Are there really 17 liters of coolant/water required?
*What else special things are to be done?
TIA, guys... *runs and hides*
How do I correctly change my coolant fluid? I asked my sister about it, she said something about a vacuum cooling system having two hoses leading to the coolant tank, but maybe that's coz her car is a 91, mine's a 89, only has one hose leading to the coolant tank.
Can I still just take the hose off, let the water run out, pop the hose back on and fill new coolant in?
*When should I run the engine then?
*Are there really 17 liters of coolant/water required?
*What else special things are to be done?
TIA, guys... *runs and hides*
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 86
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From: Gassville, AR
Car: 86' camaro s/c
Engine: 357
Transmission: th350
First off this is the big part. If your engine is cold(sitting outside overnight) then you don't have to start the engine. But if the engine is warm(youve been running it at all during the day) then you start the engine before adding coolant. This will keep you from cracking the block. *ask me how i know*
There should be a drain plug at the bottom of your radiator. Put a catchcan or something to contain the coolant and drain it from the drain plug. If you can't find it then just undo the lower radiator hose. Then On the coolant overfill tank undo the hose and let that empty. Reconnect all hoses and/or close drainplug. Now keeping in mind if the engine is hot or cold either start it or leave it alone. If in doubt start it! It wont hurt anything from the time you start it to the time you add a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water because there is still coolant in the block. I'm not sure how much coolant requires as I tend to be alittle forgetful. Once full watch your temp gauge and it will rise. When it starts to drop back down alittle that means your thermostat opened up letting the new coolant into the block and making room for alittle more coolant. Top it off again. Continue to let the engine idle for 5-10 min just to make sure the engine doesn't overheat or thermostat isn't sticking. If no problems then shut off the engine and your done. Dispose of the used coolant. Thats how I do it. Hope this helps out. And the only stupid question is the one not asked!
There should be a drain plug at the bottom of your radiator. Put a catchcan or something to contain the coolant and drain it from the drain plug. If you can't find it then just undo the lower radiator hose. Then On the coolant overfill tank undo the hose and let that empty. Reconnect all hoses and/or close drainplug. Now keeping in mind if the engine is hot or cold either start it or leave it alone. If in doubt start it! It wont hurt anything from the time you start it to the time you add a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water because there is still coolant in the block. I'm not sure how much coolant requires as I tend to be alittle forgetful. Once full watch your temp gauge and it will rise. When it starts to drop back down alittle that means your thermostat opened up letting the new coolant into the block and making room for alittle more coolant. Top it off again. Continue to let the engine idle for 5-10 min just to make sure the engine doesn't overheat or thermostat isn't sticking. If no problems then shut off the engine and your done. Dispose of the used coolant. Thats how I do it. Hope this helps out. And the only stupid question is the one not asked! 
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 292
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From: Lehigh Valley, PA
Car: 1986 Pontiac Firebird S/E
Engine: LG4 TPI Conversion
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 SLP Posi 10 Bolt
Hot antifreeze is no fun.
Here's what I'd do:
Save up to get new hoses and a new thermostat and gasket and pressure cap too. Chances are you need them if you need to change coolant I reccomend Zerex because it's a green version of the orange dexcool for a few bucks less. get 2 gallons. ALways use distilled water, it will not leave calcuim deposits like tap water. Get one gallon of it. It's like 60 cents/gallon at Wal Mart. Once that's done, do this, in this order.
1.) add a bottle of radiator flush to the radiator when it is cold.
2.) Drive around with the heater on for like 15-20 minutes. Get it good and hot.
3.) Park it and let it cool for an hour or so.
4.)The coolant will still be warm when you do this... raise the car, and place it on stands or ramps.
5.)get a big tub, and place it under the lower radiator hose.
6.) remove the lower hose. If it's stuck, get a big channel locks and twist carefully. If that doesn't work, carefully cut a slit in the hose over the places where the clamps were the long way (the length of the hose)
7.)WHOOSH!!! Let it all out.
8.)Let it cool off some more and remove your upper hose, and thermostat neck, as well as disconnect one heater hose.
9.) When the engine is cool to the touch, get a garden hose and run water through the open thermostat hole and hearer hose untill it comes clear.
10.) Replace your thermostat, and gasket. Install the thermostat housing.
11.) carefully replace hoses one at a time with the new ones.
12.) double check your clamps.
13.) refill with half-gallon antifreeze, then half-gallon distilled water.. Mix the remaining of the two together in your antifreeze container and pour the rest you can in the radiator carefully. If it's full, put it in the plastic tank.
14.) Run the car with the heater on again, and top off what you need to in the plastic tank from your second gallon of antifreeze.
It's messy, it takes an afternoon to do it, but you can do it. It will take about 2.5 gallons, or about 8 liters.
Here's what I'd do:
Save up to get new hoses and a new thermostat and gasket and pressure cap too. Chances are you need them if you need to change coolant I reccomend Zerex because it's a green version of the orange dexcool for a few bucks less. get 2 gallons. ALways use distilled water, it will not leave calcuim deposits like tap water. Get one gallon of it. It's like 60 cents/gallon at Wal Mart. Once that's done, do this, in this order.
1.) add a bottle of radiator flush to the radiator when it is cold.
2.) Drive around with the heater on for like 15-20 minutes. Get it good and hot.
3.) Park it and let it cool for an hour or so.
4.)The coolant will still be warm when you do this... raise the car, and place it on stands or ramps.
5.)get a big tub, and place it under the lower radiator hose.
6.) remove the lower hose. If it's stuck, get a big channel locks and twist carefully. If that doesn't work, carefully cut a slit in the hose over the places where the clamps were the long way (the length of the hose)
7.)WHOOSH!!! Let it all out.
8.)Let it cool off some more and remove your upper hose, and thermostat neck, as well as disconnect one heater hose.
9.) When the engine is cool to the touch, get a garden hose and run water through the open thermostat hole and hearer hose untill it comes clear.
10.) Replace your thermostat, and gasket. Install the thermostat housing.
11.) carefully replace hoses one at a time with the new ones.
12.) double check your clamps.
13.) refill with half-gallon antifreeze, then half-gallon distilled water.. Mix the remaining of the two together in your antifreeze container and pour the rest you can in the radiator carefully. If it's full, put it in the plastic tank.
14.) Run the car with the heater on again, and top off what you need to in the plastic tank from your second gallon of antifreeze.
It's messy, it takes an afternoon to do it, but you can do it. It will take about 2.5 gallons, or about 8 liters.
Last edited by 86BirdSE; May 14, 2003 at 04:12 PM.
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