Thread: Question about the coolant capacity.

Define fill. Was it completely empty? Did you do a flush? Did you change out the radiator? Change the thermostat? The amount of coolant needed depends on what you did. I think from completely dry it takes roughly 2 gallons of fluid, do not quote me on this as it has been a long day and my brain is to tired to think.

Did you let the water drain out?

Did you bleed it, there might be air in it. IIRC to properly bleed the system you remove the rad cap let the car run until it is at operating temp with heater on hi, then open the bleeder screw on top of the thermostat housing until straight fluid comes out, then close the bleeder and put the rad cap back on.

Doesn't the owners manual give capacities?

Originally Posted by BrandonHall10

Doesn't the owners manual give capacities?

I don't remember.

the rad alone is one gallon, the block and heater core hold another 2 gallons.

Specs:

Cooling System Including Reservoir
3100 V6 (Code J) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.0 quarts (10.4 L)
3800 V6 (Code K) . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.2 quarts (10.6 L)
3800 V6 Supercharged (Code 1) . 11.2 quarts (10.6 L)

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.

garden hose goes to the open radiator.

ive used tap water for like 25 years with no issues. some are into using distilled water, (its recommended in the manuals) your call. but you'll need a 3 or 4 more gallons to flush with.


i typed it for the last time a year or two ago lol its saved and i copy paste it now a days.

**** me if I am wrong here, but don't the fans turn on at 212*?

They're supposed to. Mine come on at like 204 ish lol

it dont take long 10 to 15 minutes most of the time for the fans to kick on. its cold out now, maybe a bit longer.