Thread: About how much for a new coolant system?

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  1. #1 About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    Im taking a venture into reviving my 07 grand prix with a different engine and transmission. One huge problem previously was a disgusting muddy coolant system with brown nasty sludge build up in radiator and hoses. I def dont want to reinstall this radiator and components back into this newer engine. Besides the radiator,hoses thermostat and water pump, what else should i buy to insure im starting brand new with the coolant system, im sure im missing a few things. I am trying to keep costs down so anything decent will do around how much coin will this cost?
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  2. #2 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Turbo is the way to go. Fivefingerdeathpunch's Avatar
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    Backflush the heatercore and that's about everything covered.

    The brown sludge was the dexcool coolant. Likely you never serviced it and it came in contact with lots of oxygen/air at some point and cause the reaction to take place. Dexcool and air in the cooling system do not like each other and thus the sludge.

    I would change over to universal green/yellow coolant when you do this work.

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  3. #3 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch View Post
    Backflush the heatercore and that's about everything covered.

    The brown sludge was the dexcool coolant. Likely you never serviced it and it came in contact with lots of oxygen/air at some point and cause the reaction to take place. Dexcool and air in the cooling system do not like each other and thus the sludge.

    I would change over to universal green/yellow coolant when you do this work.
    thank you i will def be making the switch. Would buying a new heater core be too much?
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  4. #4 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    its not the cost of a new core, its the job to swap it, 3-4 hrs easy. just flush it. same with the rad, flush it out its fine.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  5. #5 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Turbo is the way to go. Fivefingerdeathpunch's Avatar
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    Have fun changing it if you really think you have to swap it.

    I've done coolant flushes on some nasty cars before and using a hose to backflush the heatercore both ways has always worked for me. If it's not leaking, it's not worth replacing.

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  6. #6 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    I thought it might be over kill. Just worried about whatever may not be washed out. I remember doing so many radiator flushes and it never helped, the nasty sludge would stick like glue
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  7. #7 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    buy some prestone flush, let it sit int he rad and core for a day. if the rad is out of the car now, if its ion still, run the flush int he whole system,


    then.

    how to flush coolant.

    remove the t stat, put the t stat housing back on, take the upper hose off the radiator, then push it down to the ground to a bucket or let it fly.

    get your garden hose out, put it in the rad turn it on, then fire up the car, let it run till clear water pumps out the top hose.

    then turn the hose off, run the car till no more water comes out the upper hose. then turn it off.

    put your t stat back in, with new gasket, the upper hose back on.



    now take 1 gallon of full strength green antifreeze, not the 50/50 crap. ( parts store cheap green is fine to use) dump the whole gallon in the radiator, fire up the car, fill the rad with hose water till its full. top as needed till its ready to be bled of air. it will burp and take coolant as the water in the block warms up the t stat opens up for a few seconds till cold coolant hits it and it shuts again.

    now to bleed the air out, let it idle rad cap off till the fans turn on, (when the fans are on the temp is over 195 deg, the t stat is wide open) then open the bleeder screw on top the t stat housing a few turns till a steady stream of coolant comes out the hole, shut the screw, top off the rad. cap it.

    done.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  8. #8 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    I used prestone flush a few time unsuccesfully i even left it in the car for a whole week. Sure i drained the nastiest sludge ever and flushed till clear water came out but one week later it was back to same bs. The radiator cap that had just been clean was back to thick build ul in the inside just a week later. I even got oxalic acid(main ingredient in older prestone flush) that helped but nothing ever took it all out
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  9. #9 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scottydoggs View Post

    get your garden hose out
    ive heard using this kind of water is bad. Im so paranoid with this ill probably be using holy water.. Di or distilled will do
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  10. #10 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Who is this guy? SubwayGuy's Avatar
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    Garden hose is fine. Distilled is preferred as there are no impurities. But hose water is good for flushing.

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  11. #11 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    as long as it flows coolant or water its fine, you'll get brown boogers for a while, its all stuck inside the engine too. takes time and a flush once a year for a few years.

    mine quit the boogers and slime after 3 years of running green and a few flushes.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  12. #12 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by steelholder View Post
    ive heard using this kind of water is bad. Im so paranoid with this ill probably be using holy water.. Di or distilled will do

    ive been running nothing but hose water since the 80's, never had a issue.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  13. #13 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scottydoggs View Post
    ive been running nothing but hose water since the 80's, never had a issue.
    Lol well alright then ill take your word. Ill probably just buy a new radiator and hoses to be sure none of that crap will ever have the chance of making it in the new engine. I think i understated the cond of my cooling system it looks like a thick paste same color as the typical clay pots. Thicker than vaseline under the rad cap, real nasty stuff itd make my stomach turn everytime id see it form after busting my ass flushing system.
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  14. #14 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    thats what old ass dex coolant looks like...pure crap. and the brown slime.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  15. #15 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    I really wonder how much that crap contributed to the downfall of my prix...i know it clogged my dam thermostat a few times causing mild over heating but im sure that was the least of the damage it caused.
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  16. #16 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
    Turbo is the way to go. Fivefingerdeathpunch's Avatar
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    With regular coolant like dexcool or green/yellow coolant, regular water is alright.

    If you were using some super special volkswagon/audi or BMW and mercedes coolant, then distilled coolant is the only stuff you can use. That blue coolant in some mercedes cars is some high dollar stuff and the motors and parts alone are 3-5x the cost of ours.

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  17. #17 Re: About how much for a new coolant system? 
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    No fancy stuff at all but a good unhealthy mix different types of coolants and long periods of neglect by me, which now im paying greatly for. I just hope its not all a waste.
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