C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Coolant Drain and replace

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-03-2005, 07:27 AM
  #1  
VETGASM58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
VETGASM58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: Stony Brook NY
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Coolant Drain and replace

How often should you drain and replace coolant and simple instructons on the easiest way to do so would be grat i have an 03 vert that I just picked up in July and am not sure when the coolant was last changed

Thanks
VETGASM58 is offline  
Old 09-03-2005, 10:42 AM
  #2  
Patches
Team Owner
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Patches's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2001
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 23,283
Received 889 Likes on 587 Posts

Default

The 2003 Owner's Manual says every 60 months or 150,000 miles, whichever comes forst but I'm sure most here so it more frequently. Here's the drain/fill procedure.


Draining and Filling Cooling System

Caution
With a pressurized cooling system, the coolant temperature in the radiator can be considerably higher than the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure. Removal of the surge tank cap, while the cooling system is hot and under high pressure, causes the solution to boil instantaneously with explosive force. This will cause the solution to spew out over the engine, the fenders, and the person removing the cap. Serious bodily injury may result.

Important
If the procedure below is not followed a low or high coolant level condition and/or vehicle damage could result.

1) Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2) Remove the surge tank cap:
3)Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
4) Place a drain pan under the draincock.
5) Open the radiator draincock.
6) Allow the cooling system to drain completely.
7) Inspect the engine coolant for the following:
Discolored -- follow the flush procedure below.
Normal in appearance -- continue with the next step.

Notice
When adding coolant, use DEX-COOL® coolant. If silicated coolant is added to the system, premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine coolant will require change sooner-at 50 000 km (30,000 mi) or 24 months.

Notice
Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

8) Close the radiator draincock. Tighten.
Tighten the radiator draincock to 2 N·m (18 lb in).
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.
Patches is offline  
The following users liked this post:
Bills03Coupe (06-05-2020)
Old 09-03-2005, 11:35 AM
  #3  
Vette_Fan
Safety Car
 
Vette_Fan's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2005
Location: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Posts: 3,675
Received 55 Likes on 42 Posts

Default

Patches to the rescue. These are awesome instuctions.. Follow them. I did mine exactly like this last week.. Its working great.. Thanks again, Patches..

Just go under the car. On the passenger side, bottom of the radiator there's a white colored plastic drain plug. Stick hexagon driver ranch inside it and turn 1/4 turn anti-clock. Use a plier to pull it out a little, not so hard though... Antifreeze will drain. Fill it up with new water, let the car run while you're doing this, with heater turned on to full. Add water to the plastic container for the water/antifreeze, also on passenger side. When you see the clear water coming out from the bottom, that shows all the old stuff is gone. Stop pouring in water, let it all run out. Stop the engine, tighten the plug clockwise. Make sure its fully tight, you can also use a wide flat head screw driver to tighten it. Once secure, add 50/50 water (distilled if possible, otherwise drinking water) and coolant into the container. Run the car, let it cool down for a couple of hrs. Then check the coolant level in the container. If its below the cool mark, add some more to it.

Thats it. Enjoy...
Vette_Fan is offline  
Old 09-03-2005, 08:57 PM
  #4  
screw991le
Race Director
 
screw991le's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2004
Location: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12

Default

Patches is the man

.......Or, get the power flush for $150 and no dirty hands.
screw991le is offline  
Old 09-05-2005, 11:44 PM
  #5  
MUKAK
Race Director
 
MUKAK's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Menifee CA
Posts: 11,034
Received 34 Likes on 34 Posts

Default

WHATS A surge tank??
IS IT THE OVERFLOW tank?
MUKAK is offline  
Old 10-05-2005, 08:53 AM
  #6  
CoastalRAP
Safety Car
 
CoastalRAP's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2003
Location: Stuck in Paradise
Posts: 3,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Step #7: "follow the flush procedure below."

I only see procedure for refilling.

If you're refilling with something other than DEX-COOL, isn't it very important that you flush to make sure that all the old DEX-COOL is out?
CoastalRAP is offline  
Old 02-09-2013, 09:59 PM
  #7  
El original
Melting Slicks
 
El original's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2008
Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,146
Received 201 Likes on 168 Posts

Default

Do not replace with any other product than Dex cool!!!!
El original is offline  
Old 02-10-2013, 12:00 AM
  #8  
Vette_DD
Team Owner
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Vette_DD's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2004
Location: Southern Middle TN
Posts: 82,197
Received 1,276 Likes on 935 Posts
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24

Default

Originally Posted by El original
Do not replace with any other product than Dex cool!!!!
And please do not revive an 8 year old thread to tell us that.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/foru...s-or-more.html
Vette_DD is offline  

Get notified of new replies

To Coolant Drain and replace




Quick Reply: Coolant Drain and replace



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:47 AM.