06-06-2019, 04:26 PM | #1 |
Thank you Al Oppenheiser!
Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 4,992
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Check your coolant levels!
Public Service Announcement!
3 times in the last 3 days I've seen folks post pictures of engine bays with low main coolant tanks. The primary coolant tank on our cars is the top tank. The surge tank is beneath it. The top tank should be completely full to the top all the time. It seems like a lot of folks either overlook it, never ReadTFM, or are assuming our cars are like all other cars they've ever owned and think it's a surge tank and 1/2 full is normal. Well folks, I'm here to tell you that half full is not normal. For example, see this post for a perfect example of a "DON'T" along with the relevant owner's manual page showing both the correct setup as well step by step instructions for how to correct a low coolant condition: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...51&postcount=2 It's Summer. It's Hot. And if the top tank goes dry, your engine is in a world of hurt. Don't be That Guy. With much and ... Your Friendly Neighborhood Coolant Cop |
06-06-2019, 04:35 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: May 2019
Location: South Florida
Posts: 438
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Is there an appropriate off the shelf coolant that can be used? Mine is a little low.
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06-06-2019, 05:03 PM | #3 |
Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,374
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Well you know the post you linked into this thread..... they acknowledged your concern and said they know it should be full. Since that picture was just a staged picture for the build they were doing.....
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06-06-2019, 05:07 PM | #4 |
Drives: Several... Join Date: May 2009
Location: New York-South Florida
Posts: 443
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06-06-2019, 05:40 PM | #5 |
Drives: 2018 Hyper Blue ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: CA
Posts: 1,360
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If people's cars are eating coolant, they have a problem. It's a sealed system and coolant should not disappear or be consumed (like oil may due to blow-by), if it is you may have a head-gasket issue or leak in the system.
Old cars can lose coolant due to head gasket, and other leaks. Modded cars can lose coolant due to head gasket, and other coolant system leaks created during the messy modifications process. I'm surprised so many people are losing coolant, my guess is they have mods that involved disconnecting coolant lines that didnt fully seal up after, or are allowing air into system somehow. |
06-06-2019, 06:51 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Scranton pa
Posts: 305
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I almost feel like I’m watching an infomercial here. What are you trying to sell us? Lol seriously though, The line between full and low is what? Maybe a quart? The coolant system probably holds close too 12 quarts or more. I really doubt this is as catastrophic as your making it sound. But thanks for the concern.
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06-06-2019, 07:14 PM | #7 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 5,815
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I don’t think Gunkk is doing a infomercial with this post. Just making people aware of a possible bad situation that may develop if the coolant level goes too low. If yours is fine then no worries but I keep a check on the oil and coolant levels in mine frequently! Thankfully mine is okay too.
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ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.
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06-06-2019, 07:54 PM | #8 |
Drives: '16 Garnet Red 1SS Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: College Station, TX
Posts: 3,450
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Just checked mine. Top tank was half empty and the bottom looked bone dry. Bought some Dex-cool from Walmart, created a 60/40 DIH20/coolant mix and refilled both.
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'16 Camaro 1SS
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06-06-2019, 08:40 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: IN
Posts: 59
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06-06-2019, 08:46 PM | #10 |
Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mechanicsville, VA
Posts: 6,813
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Typical system will lose a little coolant over a year's time due to evaporation, etc. I have run mine harder than most here and have only had to add about 12oz. to the lower tank in 2 years.
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'21 ZLE A10 Wild Cherry PDR 2:00.78 VIR Full 10.68@131.69 1.68 60'
'17 ZL1 A10 Mosaic Black PDR/Nav 2:03.08 VIR Full 11.003@129.2 1.75 (sold) '15 Z/28 #325 Black a/c & stereo. 2:10.1 VIR Full (sold) '12 ZL1 A6 Black 10.52@131 1.55 60' 2:13 VIR Full (sold) |
06-06-2019, 09:37 PM | #11 |
Drives: Wild Cherry LT1 Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,929
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Thanks Gunk...Good info.
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06-06-2019, 10:16 PM | #12 |
Drives: SW 1SS 1LE / Jeep XJ Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: WPB,FL
Posts: 799
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You could top off with Coolant but if it's a small amount DI water is fine. I live in FL so it's no issue for me if needed to top off since it doesn't get to freezing here. Total system capacity for V8 is 12+ quarts so a small amount of top off water is fine.
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06-07-2019, 09:10 AM | #13 |
Drives: 2019 Camaro ZL1 (manual) Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: GA
Posts: 44
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I took out like 2 quarts out of my system, the dang upper tank was full to the rim! From the factory!!! You'd think GM would get their S*&^ together by now.
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06-07-2019, 12:14 PM | #14 |
Drives: all sold, getting another soon.. Join Date: May 2019
Location: South Florida
Posts: 282
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OP is correct. Top tank supposed to be full, lower is half full.
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