ricrice Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 how do I change the coolant in my 99 SLS. also, any suggestions on what brand of coolant to use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Take off the lower radiaror hose and drain the coolant. Do not flush. Put two pellets of bars leaks goldcolored powder into the lower radiator hose ( you can get them from Wal-Mart or diller), reconnect the hose. If the drained coolant was Dexcool (red one) add 50/50 dexcool distilled water mix. If it was green coolant add similar. Pay attention to the color/transparency of the drained coolant. If the cooling system was maintained properly the coolant supplement (bars leaks) should have been added and the coolant would look kind of rusty. IT IS OK. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 99 had ONLY Dexcool. Dexcool is Orange. Start by removing air filter housing. Reach down and open up the lower radiator petcock and let coolant drain out. Remove top radiator hose and pressurize ends with air compressor to blow other coolant out from block and other places, do not flush. Replace hose after you put in bars leak and close petcock. Replace with pure dexcool in holding tank, half of full capacity then add distilled water until the coolant tank is filled. Start engine and rev a few times to about 3500rpm and recheck coolant level and add the rest of water as needed. Check again after a few drives. I used Texaco brand Dexcool when I changed my dads 96 STS coolant last year, but I have heard they stopped production. I would use prestone's dexcool or the new universal kind they have now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Ben, I knew it would be most likely Dexcool, but who knows what has been done with coolant in the past, say by previous owner if there was one? You discribed the procedure in great detail. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 It is much easier and more accurate to premix the Dex-Cool/ distilled water, then pour it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Ranger-That is not how you are supposed to do it. Factory manual says fill with 100% then fill with water as needed. You need at least 50% coolant, a little more is better than too little. Also, why is it easier to go through all the hassle of mixing between bottles beforehand when you just pour them in seperate when you are ready. Seems harder than doing them seperate if you ask me. And I have done the job a few times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Ranger-That is not how you are supposed to do it. Factory manual says fill with 100% then fill with water as needed. You need at least 50% coolant, a little more is better than too little. Also, why is it easier to go through all the hassle of mixing between bottles beforehand when you just pour them in seperate when you are ready. Seems harder than doing them seperate if you ask me. And I have done the job a few times. The way you are suggesting, you will never know what percentage you have in there. There will always be some residual left so you may not get a 50/50 mix back in. Also you will have half the system filled with 100% "acid" based coolant, not good. I think I recall Guru saying 100% will damage the gaskets. It may take some time to get mixed 50/50 as it is "training" through the system. Where is it gonna mix? The only place is as it slowly gets bypassed from the pump to the surge tank through the vent pipe. Premixing is very easy and dead acurate. I just save my last bottlle of coolant when empty then pour off half of a new bottle and then top off both with distilled water. They are on my shelf premixed ready to go. It is the only way I will do it. I think pouring in 100% is asking for trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Here it is, Now I grant you that this is talking about 100% Dex for an extended period. In your case you will still have slugs of 100% Dex running through the system til it gets thinned out. I don't pretend to know how long that will take but why chance it? I rest my case. Bbobynski "There are also cases where straight DexCool was installed in engines (under the assumption that "pure" coolant was "better" than the specified 50/50 mix...) and the result is almost always broken head bolts. Even though the head bolts are in their own, dry cavity and not exposed directly the coolant the acidic fumes from the undiluted DexCool can and do wick thru the pores in the head gasket and enter the cavity where the head bolts are and cause a stress corrosion failure of the head bolts. This has been examined, documented and proven in a number of cases where broken and failed head bolts were encountered in the field in Northstar engines" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Bob, my owners manual says to do it the way I said. I never read the service manual I have for the coolant. Maybe I am remembering my 94 4.9L manual I read a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschunke Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Auto stores around here (MA) sell only the 50/50 pre-mixed coolant. They charge the same for the pre-mix as the 100% solution at Wallmart. Simply amazing what sheople will pay for a little conveinance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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