Correct Coolant system mixtures?
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 364
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From: Princeton, IN
Correct Coolant system mixtures? What is the best summer coolant mix?
What if I put less dexcool vs. water like a 25/75 mix?
What about adding water wetter? The more water the better with ww, Right?
With more water will it hurt my water pump/radiator?
I want to run as cool as possible and be safe.
What if I put less dexcool vs. water like a 25/75 mix?
What about adding water wetter? The more water the better with ww, Right?
With more water will it hurt my water pump/radiator?
I want to run as cool as possible and be safe.
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? You can go go 80/20 water/dexcool in the summer, just get it out before winter. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Wetter Water or RP ICE are both decent additives. Some here run a higher percent of water, but I like having a bit of a safety margin.
Are you FI? It's rare for a NA car to have cooling issues with 160 T-Stat and 60/40 water/dexcool mix.
Are you FI? It's rare for a NA car to have cooling issues with 160 T-Stat and 60/40 water/dexcool mix.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 364
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From: Princeton, IN
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? It’s NA, I put a 160t in a few weeks ago and I don’t see a bit of difference at 60/65mph, before I was running about 190/195 with the stock T but with the 160 I get about the same. If I run the fan in town it helps.
Last night I drained the radiator and filled it with just water and drove it now I stay around 170 with the fans off going down the hiway. I was happy with that I just did not want to kill my pump or eat a hole in the radiator. Mind you there is still dex-cool in there. The water is still red so I would say there is a good amount of dex-cool still in the system.
What would be the best? 25% dexcool and add WW? WW would cut down on corrosion right?
does gm sell test strips of some kind?
<small>[ May 31, 2002, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: dissonance ]</small>
Last night I drained the radiator and filled it with just water and drove it now I stay around 170 with the fans off going down the hiway. I was happy with that I just did not want to kill my pump or eat a hole in the radiator. Mind you there is still dex-cool in there. The water is still red so I would say there is a good amount of dex-cool still in the system.
What would be the best? 25% dexcool and add WW? WW would cut down on corrosion right?
does gm sell test strips of some kind?
<small>[ May 31, 2002, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: dissonance ]</small>
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? Prestone makes a coolant tester that tells you the percentage mix. Costs less than $10 at any parts store.
Changing the fan setting is key to getting results from a 160 T-stat.
I think WW has some corrosion inhibitors. I used RP ICE when I was FI.
Changing the fan setting is key to getting results from a 160 T-stat.
I think WW has some corrosion inhibitors. I used RP ICE when I was FI.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 191
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From: land of the 4" bore.
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? I know that snap on sells a coolant tester where you can put some of the coolant on a piece of the instrument and then hold it up to the light to see ther status.
Quick question, on the SS's where is the drain for the radiator? bottom left or bottom right?
Quick question, on the SS's where is the drain for the radiator? bottom left or bottom right?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 364
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From: Princeton, IN
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? i think i will try running 25% dex-cool and 75% in the summer. i would change it in the winter. i dont think there has been a -34 here in my day. 7665 day = 21 years <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
i might add some ww just in case. <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />
thanks for the help guys
<small>[ May 31, 2002, 02:30 PM: Message edited by: dissonance ]</small>
i might add some ww just in case. <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />
thanks for the help guys
<small>[ May 31, 2002, 02:30 PM: Message edited by: dissonance ]</small>
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,340
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From: Fort Worth,TX
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? Distilled water with 2 bottles of water wetter or purple ice. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> When winter comes then put some dexcool in there.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 57
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From: Jupiter, FL
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Quick question, on the SS's where is the drain for the radiator? bottom left or bottom right? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Passenger side, bottom rear. Should be the same as a Z.
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Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? Ls1 382ci SS, if you are facing the car from the front, the drain plug is lower left. If you're in the car, the drain plug is lower right.
Either way you look at it, passenger side bottom.
Man, I'm dizzy... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Either way you look at it, passenger side bottom.
Man, I'm dizzy... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 364
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From: Princeton, IN
Re: Correct Coolant system mixtures? The Booker man is that what you run in the summer? I just don’t want any ill Effects done to the water pump.
One more thing how do I get all the dex-cool out of the block? Pull the hose from the bottom of the block?
I have a 98 and I know the gauge is a little more accurate on the 98 but what do you guys temp gauge register at 60? Today it was hot like 85 and the temp just did pass the 1st line before 210. Is that normal? I did not autotap it so I do not know the real temp.
One more thing how do I get all the dex-cool out of the block? Pull the hose from the bottom of the block?
I have a 98 and I know the gauge is a little more accurate on the 98 but what do you guys temp gauge register at 60? Today it was hot like 85 and the temp just did pass the 1st line before 210. Is that normal? I did not autotap it so I do not know the real temp.
