How Much Coolant?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Memphis, TN
How Much Coolant? I am about to do a head swap on my car and I was wondering what the capactiy of the radiator/overflow was (the cooling system in general). I think that I read somewhere that it is around 12 quarts, but that seemed high to me. Especially since the average jug of coolant is only 1 gallon (4 quarts).
Thanks in advance for your responses!
Thanks in advance for your responses!
I dont know exactly how much it takes but the last time I had my heads off I bought 2 gallons of dexcool and used both of them. Then toped the rest off with water. I'd say I probly used 10-11 QT's of total liquid.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Memphis, TN
How Much Coolant? I am about to do a head swap on my car and I was wondering what the capactiy of the radiator/overflow was (the cooling system in general). I think that I read somewhere that it is around 12 quarts, but that seemed high to me. Especially since the average jug of coolant is only 1 gallon (4 quarts).
Thanks in advance for your responses!
Thanks in advance for your responses!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Memphis, TN
When I do the head swap, the radiator has to be drained and I am chosing to take off the water pump. So I am probably going to be losing most of the coolant in the entire system.
Anyone know for sure? Because I was going to make one last trip up to the store to get everything I need before I start the swap?
Anyone know for sure? Because I was going to make one last trip up to the store to get everything I need before I start the swap?
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Launching!
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Memphis, TN
Originally Posted by 6spd
if yer gonna do a head swap, I think you are going to want to drain the coolant from the freeze plug at the bottom.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Memphis, TN
Okay so I bought 2 jugs of coolant and I hope that is enough... BUT I cannot believe that no one on this section of the forum knows the capacity of the cooling system on the F-Body...
You will not need to remove the radiator, or the freeze plug (wtf?). The water pump will come off with the radiator still in place pretty easily. When you remove the water pump and heads, some water will run out, but not very much. After you fire it, make youself a 50/50 mix and start adding untill its full again. You should not need 2 gallons of coolant.
BTW - when you remove the heads, water will run into the bolt holes. I used some clear plastic 5/16" (i think) tubing attatched to my blower nozzle to blow all the water out (put on your scuba mask
). Do this after you scrape the block clean because debris will come out easier if there is some water in the holes already. I opted NOT to stick rolled up paper towels into the holes for fear of one ripping and getting jammed in there. I also used a factory bolt with 2 sides ground off as a sort of cleaning tap to clean the threads (see ls1howto.com's explaination if you haven't already)
BTW - when you remove the heads, water will run into the bolt holes. I used some clear plastic 5/16" (i think) tubing attatched to my blower nozzle to blow all the water out (put on your scuba mask
). Do this after you scrape the block clean because debris will come out easier if there is some water in the holes already. I opted NOT to stick rolled up paper towels into the holes for fear of one ripping and getting jammed in there. I also used a factory bolt with 2 sides ground off as a sort of cleaning tap to clean the threads (see ls1howto.com's explaination if you haven't already) 
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,012
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From: Beaumont, TX
In answer to the question of what the total capacity of the LS1 cooling system is, it's 14.5 liters (15.3 quarts) for a car with manual transmission, and 14.3 liters (15.1 quarts) for a car with automatic transmission. 
Edit: It seems this was wrong!
See below: https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....9&postcount=15
Edit: It seems this was wrong!
See below: https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....9&postcount=15 Last edited by ACW; Jan 2, 2006 at 11:22 PM.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Beaumont, TX
Originally Posted by MrEddie
The owners manual and the Haynes manual both state 11.9 quarts for the coolant capacity. The Helms manual however states the 15.3 quarts. I'm not sure which is correct....
I almost checked in the owners manual also, but didn't bother because I thought they'd be the same. You're right, the owners manual does say, "Cooling System for 5.7L V8:
With Manual Transmission - 11.9 quarts (11.3 L)
With Automatic Transmission - 11.8 quarts (11.2 L)"
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Beaumont, TX
Aha! They corrected it in the Helms manual in later years (think I was looking at 1998 earlier). So what it says in the owners manual is correct. Sorry about that...
Correct numbers:
Engine Cooling System
5.7 L V8 With Manual Transmission - 11.3 L (11.9 qt)
5.7 L V8 With Automatic Transmission - 11.2 L (11.8 qt)
Edit: Just realized what happened... Those higher numbers were the LT1 quantities! Those numbers are there in the 1997 manual, and apparently they forgot to fix that page for 1998.
Correct numbers:
Engine Cooling System
5.7 L V8 With Manual Transmission - 11.3 L (11.9 qt)
5.7 L V8 With Automatic Transmission - 11.2 L (11.8 qt)
Edit: Just realized what happened... Those higher numbers were the LT1 quantities! Those numbers are there in the 1997 manual, and apparently they forgot to fix that page for 1998.
Last edited by ACW; Jan 2, 2006 at 11:28 PM.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Houston, Tx
I was confused when I first saw that....I thought for sure the Helms had to be right. I finally decided the 2 out or 3 rule and went with the owners manual/Haynes when doing my flush - adding 6 quarts (50%) of pure coolant after flushing....glad to hear the Helms is for the LT1.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Stuck in traffic
A completely DRY LS1 F-body cooling system will take 15.1 - 15.3 quarts depending on the tranny. Keep in mind thats total system capacity and not just Dexcool.
Pure Dexcool will freeze at 0 degrees F. and will not offer the corrosion protection the system needs.
Pure Dexcool will freeze at 0 degrees F. and will not offer the corrosion protection the system needs.
