Question regarding adding coolant - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

bigwayne3000 · 05-19-2015, 10:03 AM

I want to do a coolant flush but had a question. When I checked the overflow reservoir, the coolant level was just barely over the minimum line. I assume I need to fill the coolant AND the overflow tank? If so, where do I fill the overflow tank? To the max line? Minimum line? In between ok?

Avenging Orange · 05-19-2015, 12:25 PM

Add to the reservoir only. Between min and max is fine.

bigwayne3000 · 05-19-2015, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

Add to the reservoir only. Between min and max is fine.

So I shouldn't add any to the radiator itself, just the reservoir? How about adding distilled water for a flush, only to the reservoir as well or can I add that to both?

Avenging Orange · 05-19-2015, 09:06 PM

In layman's terms, the radiator will pull coolant from reservoir as needed. If you are wanting to add distilled water...then I would prob flush the system and start fresh.

bigwayne3000 · 05-20-2015, 10:25 AM

That is what I am planning on doing, just wasn't sure if I should add distilled water to both locations or just the reservoir and let it pull from there...

Rock-It Man · 05-25-2015, 08:42 AM

If you are flushing the radiator, you need to fill it directly, not through the surge tank.

You have to run the engine with the radiator cap off to avoid trapping air. Then, when radiator level has stabilized, you put the cap on and fill the surge tank.

bigwayne3000 · 06-19-2015, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

If you are flushing the radiator, you need to fill it directly, not through the surge tank.

You have to run the engine with the radiator cap off to avoid trapping air. Then, when radiator level has stabilized, you put the cap on and fill the surge tank.

This is what I needed to know, thanks!!! Have you done this before? Is it easy to pop out the surge tank to clean it out?

Russell James · 06-19-2015, 08:45 AM

To burp the air out after refilling, grab a helper that can hold the throttle open while you fill and watch.

Rad/resovoir cap off. Fill with coolant/distilled 50/50 to the full cold mark. Start the engine cold with the cap off. After a couple mins have the helper hold the throttle at 1500 - 2000 for a few minutes, as you keep topping it off. Repeat, let idle, raise throttle, keeep topping off... After a couple time of this the thermostat will have opened and pretty much all the air bled out. Try to end up with the coolant level between cold and hot full.

Take a drive. Then the next day, check where the coolant level is should be at the cold level or a bit above. Then take a long drive and see if it comes up near the full hot level.

The helper comes in real handy when burping out any air pockets. Need that RPM up a bit with the cap off and you'll get enough flow to get rid of all the air pockets.

TooCool5 · 06-19-2015, 12:22 PM

I just did a drain and re-fill on my LS. Took 2 weeks to get all the air out.
The cap on the engine block is too far from the reservoir.
I burped it, re did it a few times, and kept adding and topping off the overflow for 2 weeks.

liabeokgm · 07-04-2015, 08:02 AM

you are flushing the radiator, you need to fill it directly, not through the surge tank.

05-19-2015, 10:03 AM	#1
bigwayne3000 Drives: 2011 Camaro LS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 1,917	Question regarding adding coolant I want to do a coolant flush but had a question. When I checked the overflow reservoir, the coolant level was just barely over the minimum line. I assume I need to fill the coolant AND the overflow tank? If so, where do I fill the overflow tank? To the max line? Minimum line? In between ok?

05-19-2015, 12:25 PM	#2
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	Add to the reservoir only. Between min and max is fine. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

05-19-2015, 09:06 PM	#4
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	In layman's terms, the radiator will pull coolant from reservoir as needed. If you are wanting to add distilled water...then I would prob flush the system and start fresh. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

06-19-2015, 12:22 PM	#9
TooCool5 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LS 3.6 LLT V6 325 HP Join Date: May 2009 Location: LS Posts: 4,242 View My Garage	I just did a drain and re-fill on my LS. Took 2 weeks to get all the air out. The cap on the engine block is too far from the reservoir. I burped it, re did it a few times, and kept adding and topping off the overflow for 2 weeks. __________________ 2010 Camaro Auto, Inferno Orange, Titanium Interior, Gearhead Wheels AIRAID CAI

05-20-2015, 10:25 AM	#5
bigwayne3000 Drives: 2011 Camaro LS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 1,917	That is what I am planning on doing, just wasn't sure if I should add distilled water to both locations or just the reservoir and let it pull from there...

05-25-2015, 08:42 AM	#6
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	If you are flushing the radiator, you need to fill it directly, not through the surge tank. You have to run the engine with the radiator cap off to avoid trapping air. Then, when radiator level has stabilized, you put the cap on and fill the surge tank.

06-19-2015, 08:45 AM	#8
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	To burp the air out after refilling, grab a helper that can hold the throttle open while you fill and watch. Rad/resovoir cap off. Fill with coolant/distilled 50/50 to the full cold mark. Start the engine cold with the cap off. After a couple mins have the helper hold the throttle at 1500 - 2000 for a few minutes, as you keep topping it off. Repeat, let idle, raise throttle, keeep topping off... After a couple time of this the thermostat will have opened and pretty much all the air bled out. Try to end up with the coolant level between cold and hot full. Take a drive. Then the next day, check where the coolant level is should be at the cold level or a bit above. Then take a long drive and see if it comes up near the full hot level. The helper comes in real handy when burping out any air pockets. Need that RPM up a bit with the cap off and you'll get enough flow to get rid of all the air pockets.

07-04-2015, 08:02 AM	#10
liabeokgm Drives: camaro Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: CA Posts: 4	you are flushing the radiator, you need to fill it directly, not through the surge tank.