Radiator Coolant Flush

[pzero]

Well, it's been 5 years now so thinking about changing the coolant.
Did a search on Camaro 5 forum, but didn't really find anything on how to only what to use.

I can drain the radiator but that's only about half of the coolant being replaced. I want to do a total flush with new fluid. Any tips on how to. Thanks.

Side notes:
11.5 qts of coolant
use Dex-Cool 50/50

Do any of the Z owners DIY or take it to the dealer?

[SIM GhostrdrZ]

Originally Posted by pzero

Well, it's been 5 years now so thinking about changing the coolant.
Did a search on Camaro 5 forum, but didn't really find anything on how to only what to use.

I can drain the radiator but that's only about half of the coolant being replaced. I want to do a total flush with new fluid. Any tips on how to. Thanks.

Side notes:
11.5 qts of coolant
use Dex-Cool 50/50

Do any of the Z owners DIY or take it to the dealer?

I just did both my camaros about a week ago. Both 14’s (lfx & ls7) both did same. Some guys get over technical but keep it simple.
Cold engine- drain radiator(drains on drivers side lower radiator) should get roughly 2 gals out, maybe a bit less. Then fill with distilled water(less than $1 a gal at Wally World) run engine as someone watches and fills radiator at main fill cap, not overflow, and be careful because it will spit water out but it’ll take 10 minutes or less and then Tstat will cycle. Wait until engine cools and then drain radiator. Repeat until you get all clear water out of drain. Then add roughly gallon of concentrate dexcool to mix with roughly gallon of distilled water in engine. Fill the rest with 50/50 mix or your climate mix you desire. Some do 70/30 with additives because they track or just water with additive. But, run it until you get a good mix reading on your cool antifreeze gadget. Some put main cap on and add mixed coolant to overflow. I let it cool and then fill cold, out cap on then run it, checking overflow hot and then cold, then add to overflow if needed.
I’m sure I missed somethings others will chime in on. I always use distilled water and always mix my on coolant. The concentrate is so much less $ and I know distilled water is getting mixed with it, unless Wally World is pulling a fast one.

The drain on the Z is a bit more difficult to get to and requires the lower plastic air dam pan to be pulled off so coolant doesn’t go everywhere. The drain plug should loosen by hand and either slow drains or pulled it completely out for fast drain(messy).

And burp it by squeezing on lower and upper radiator hose while it’s cold. I seemed to get more out of lower but still got some air bubbles from upper hose. I did this with main cap off and once most coolant was installed. I also drove it a few times and then burped and rechecked coolant level.
Good luck

[pzero]

Thanks. That help a lot. That way I can get some DIY ideas and compile all the info.
On my other regular cars I take it to Firestone to do all the services, but the Z hell no.