what coolant to use for a vx v6?

[jbangr]

hey guys im gunna give my cooling system a flush first timer so dont know what coolant to use cheers jay

[wortus]

you can use genuine coolant and pellets or you can get Nulon Long Life concentrate. It's a 12 litre capacity so you need 6 litres of coolant.

[edals]

Nulon Long life is good, run it in both he VX and VR, lasts forever, just make a 50/50 mix in a bucket and pour it in, also so you can just top it up as its 50/50. i was told the coolant pellets are a load of crap. but guess can hurt?

[Mick1988]

Even though its a bit more expensive I recommend the red coolant that Holden supply for the V8's and Alloytec motors. It's completely non-corrosive and even though it costs a bit more its better in the long run for your alloy head. Had it in the VX since I've owned it. Never had to top it up ever and it's still its original colour.

[VYMAD]

I have always used Repco concentrate, used to last 2 years, now lasts 3. It says on the bottle "suitable for V series Commodores" I've had it in a couple of commodores over a few years and never had trouble with anything relating to the cooling system.

[jbangr]

ok i recently got back from auto barn i had a chat to a guy there and he recently did his vs v6 and said he used Dr Cool Coolant

[graham7773]

Mick1988, I read somewhere on this forum that the VT and VXs have cast iron heads. Are you saying they have alloy heads?

[wortus]

Even though its a bit more expensive I recommend the red coolant that Holden supply for the V8's and Alloytec motors. It's completely non-corrosive and even though it costs a bit more its better in the long run for your alloy head. Had it in the VX since I've owned it. Never had to top it up ever and it's still its original colour.

Vx V6's have cast iron heads!

[wortus]

I think this is a cheaper type of coolant than the Nulon Long Life.

[WogBoyz]

Mick1988, I read somewhere on this forum that the VT and VXs have cast iron heads. Are you saying they have alloy heads?

The Ecotec has cast iron heads which vt and vx have, the Alloytec funny enough have alloyheads and were used in vz to current

[wortus]

If your flushing the system and not removing the drain plugs you won't get all the water out of the system so you can't pre mix it 50/50 or the result will be a mix that is way too weak. You have to ensure you get 6 Litres ad some out of the system and then add the concentrate then top up with clean water. Otherwise remove the drain plugs and make sure the entire system is empty including the heater if you want to pre mix. Fill the overflow with 50/50 but take it out and give it a good clean to remove any sludge.

[graham7773]

What wortus said. Drain plugs = knock sensors? I got under my VT Acclaim wagon a few weeks ago to look at knock sensors. Need a hoist to do the job comfortably. They look like GMH hates their buyers as the knock sensors are tucked in behind the engine mounts and have a steel shield bolted over them.

[jbangr]

oh ok um apparently there is 3L in the block if you dont take the knock sensors out and how do i get the resevoir tank out of a vx v6 andare you saying i need more then 5 litres of coolant?

[accentstencil]

oh ok um apparently there is 3L in the block if you dont take the knock sensors out and how do i get the resevoir tank out of a vx v6 andare you saying i need more then 5 litres of coolant?

The system holds 12 litres so you need 6 litres to make a 50/50 mix.

[edals]

oh ok um apparently there is 3L in the block if you dont take the knock sensors out and how do i get the resevoir tank out of a vx v6 andare you saying i need more then 5 litres of coolant?

I Just syphoned the old coolant out of the tank as i could not figure out how to remove the bottle in the VX lol

[jbangr]

how did you do this edals lol

[lout]

the bottle is easy to remove, couple of screws inside wheel arch from memory

[jbangr]

oh yeah i think i kniw what your talking about lout ill have ago this w/e see how it goes

[wortus]

The overflow is held in by a couple of bolts and one of those plastic trim clips. You get to these from under the wheel arch and the bottle then comes out from under the car. Give it a good clean with some detergent and rinse it out.

As far as draining the cooling system. After I had drained the coolant and cycled clean water through the car a few times I removed the bottom hose from the radiator and collected the water in a bucket/tray. I measured it. I thin undid a heater pipe near the water pump, the one with the tapered diameter and put a hose in it at light pressure to clean out the core (a lot of sludge came out). From memory I then blew on this and got the water out of the core. I didn't undo the hoses on the heater tap as they are harder to get to and there's a risk of cracking the tap.
Next replace the overflow bottle but do not put the hose from the radiator back in it.
Onced I was sure I had at least 6 litres of water out of the system (after measuring it) I added 6 litres of concentrated coolant. I stuck a gatorade bottle in the radiator cap with electrical tape around the top to seal it and the botom cut off to firstly use as a funnel and to create a head of water above the bleed screw. You have to hold the overflow tube above the bottle otherwise the coolant will come out this tube, If you do it this way with the heater tap open and the bleed screw open you will get 6 litres or close to it of concentrate in without removing the knock sensors easily.
Once the coolant is in add fresh water, when you see coolant coming out of the bleed screw tighten it up (not too tight) then put the overflow hose back into the overflow bottle and any coolant/water left over in the gatorade bottle will flow into the overflow. Next top up the overloow with a 50/50 pre mix and the job is done.

[Hot-Rod]

I would recommend using Holden coolant, with a good flush first of the entire system to remove as much of the old coolant as possible. Another alternative is Castrol coolant made to same specs. Never mix coolants were possible. Can cause electrolysis.

[wortus]

I would recommend using Holden coolant, with a good flush first of the entire system to remove as much of the old coolant as possible. Another alternative is Castrol coolant made to same specs. Never mix coolants were possible. Can cause electrolysis.

From what I have read the Nulon Long life is better than the Holden coolant. It is a different type of coolant and is not as harsh on things like water pump seals and you don't need to use the pellets with it. It also lasts longer and is cheaper.
Also Holden use the same type of coolant on their export models.http://www.nulon.com.au/files/produc...tins/PB-LL.pdf