Help Needed - Ecotec Coolant

[WyldOne]

Hey all,

Now before you tell me, yes I have searched all over the internet, but haven't found anything helpful unfortunately.

My coolant needs replacing in my 97' 3.8L Ecotec VT wagon, but I'm a little unsure of what coolant I need, how to flush the radiator and what sort of chemical flush.

I want to know what coolant everyone uses in their Ecotecs, how they flush their cooling system and what brand of chemical flush they use.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[11gothevt11]

Hey all,

Now before you tell me, yes I have searched all over the internet, but haven't found anything helpful unfortunately.

My coolant needs replacing in my 97' 3.8L Ecotec VT wagon, but I'm a little unsure of what coolant I need, how to flush the radiator and what sort of chemical flush.

I want to know what coolant everyone uses in their Ecotecs, how they flush their cooling system and what brand of chemical flush they use.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

I also need advice on this?
What i do to flush coolent undo your bottom radiator hose....Run the hose into the top of your radiator until water turns clear...
And i use 50/50 mix...
This is just what i do don't know if it correct??

[aazn]

i wouldnt use a rad. flush,

drop the bottom rad. hose, and let all the water out... put your hose into the top of the radiator and put your heater on full (full speed and full heat) keep letting the water flow untill the water is clear...
replace hose.

i use coolant concentrate (the green stuff), pretty much any brand will do... use one that says "makes up to 10L", pour it into the radiator (all of it) and fill up with water...
let it run for a while (leave heater on) (thermostat will open up), and when the water drops keep topping it up. when it wont take anymore... pull the throttle cable and the coolant will drop by 50-100ml, quickly fill it up while holding the throttle and replace the cap.

then pour about 1L of water into the overflow.

hope that helps

[11gothevt11]

i wouldnt use a rad. flush,

drop the bottom rad. hose, and let all the water out... put your hose into the top of the radiator and put your heater on full (full speed and full heat) keep letting the water flow untill the water is clear...
replace hose.

i use coolant concentrate (the green stuff), pretty much any brand will do... use one that says "makes up to 10L", pour it into the radiator (all of it) and fill up with water...
let it run for a while (leave heater on) (thermostat will open up), and when the water drops keep topping it up. when it wont take anymore... pull the throttle cable and the coolant will drop by 50-100ml, quickly fill it up while holding the throttle and replace the cap.

then pour about 1L of water into the overflow.

hope that helps

That explains it very well this is exzatly what i do

[aazn]

just reread what i wrote and i used the word "hose" too many times.... you should be able to work it out.. hose and tap hose..

and i forgot to mention "remove the radiator cap" ahh you should be able to work it out.

[wortus]

you need a 50/50 mix and I think the cooling system has a 12 litre capacity so you need 6 litres of concentrate and you need to bleed the air out of the system while filling it there is no need to start the motor if you bleed it properly.
The hardest part is getting 6 litres or more out of the system before you add the concentrate.

[aazn]

12? i only got about 8L in mine..

[pablo]

If you don't remove the 'knock sensors', one in each bank, less than half the 12 liters of coolant will drain when only the bottom radiator hose is removed!

[ss350chev]

I take the radiator to a radiator shop and get them to flush it out as they pull the thing apart and they run a rod thru all the banks making sure they are unblocked and clean and solder the radiator back together.
Coolant make sure they are for a alloy head.Remember what you pay is what you get.

[wortus]

I take the radiator to a radiator shop and get them to flush it out as they pull the thing apart and they run a rod thru all the banks making sure they are unblocked and clean and solder the radiator back together.
Coolant make sure they are for a alloy head.Remember what you pay is what you get.

The VT V6 radiators are aluminium with plastic tanks so can't be soldered, if there that blocked ther einexpensive to replace with a new one. Engine is also cast iron not alloy. Best coolant is Nulon Long life Green.

[graham7773]

This is as brief as I can make the description from the VT service manual

GET 3 RADIATOR PELLETS FROM HOLDEN
GET 7 LITRES OF NULON LONG LIFE COOLANT/CORROSION INHIBITOR
PUT CAR ON RAMPS

REMOVE THERMOSTAT AND REPLACE HOUSING

REMOVE KNOCK SENSORS FROM EACH SIDE OF BLOCK

REMOVE RADIATOR LOWER HOSE AT ENGINE FRONT COVER CONNECTION (WATER PUMP)

REMOVE TOP RADIATOR HOSE AT RADIATOR

PUT WATER HOSE IN TOP RADIATOR HOSE AND FLUSH UNTIL WATER COMING FROM BOTTOM CONNECTION (WATER PUMP) IS CLEAR

PLACE WATER HOSE IN BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE AND FLUSH UNTIL WATER COMING FROM UPPER HOSE IS CLEAR

PLACE WATER HOSE IN LOWER RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTION AND FLUSH UNTIL WATER COMING FROM TOP CONNECTION IS CLEAR

REMOVE COOLANT RECOVERY RESERVOIR AND RINSE CLEAN

REINSTALL ALL HOSES AND THERMOSTAT AND PLACE THREE COOLANT PELLETS IN TOP HOSE
PUT SOME SEALANT ON THE 2 KNOCK SENSOR THREADS, REFIT

ONCE IT IS ALL BACK TOGETHER, PUT 6 LITRES OF COOLANT IN RADIATOR

NULON LONG LIFE? THEN ADD WATER UNTIL FILLED. BLEED SYSTEM. ADD 1 LITRE 50/50 COOLANT MIX TO OVERFLOW BOTTLE