[Mitch_N]

I have a mystery to solve. I wanted new coolant in the 98 V6 first thing I check the manual and it says 13 Quarts or 12 liters. After parking the car on a flat surface I waited for the engine to get cold (~140F) then I removed the coolant tank cap and open the petcock and then the bleed valve with the heater on maximum. The quantity of coolant collected in the catch pan was of 6 quarts or 12 pints or 6 liters and not at all 12 liters or 13 quarts. I looked in the owner`s manual again and it`s 12 liter or 13 quarts. I went back opened the petcock a few drops came out but not even a cup. Then I assumed that the thermostat was stopping some of the liquid so I tried with the hot engine- same result. The coolant does not have solid debris in it but something that looks like oil film. I used water so many times to flush out whatever was in there but it was coming out having same color as the coolant. After night fall I put 6 quarts of dexcoool 50/50 and let it be. Could you give me some suggestions? Thanks

 

[Mitch_N]

Maybe a Leprechaun?

Any ideas?

 

[elcompaLalo]

I'd just let it be, you did your best to flush the old stuff out and have topped it off with new. Just keep an eye on the level and make sure to add more as needed. Maybe the rest of it is in the engine and the hoses and without the use of one of those machines it will be difficult to get out of there.

 

[ChevyFreak]

Alright I will try and answer this one for ya. I just did a water pump change on my truck this past summer. When I drained the lines I got a lot out but to my surprise it was only about half of what was actually in the system. When I took off the pump to my surprise I had a hell of a lot of fluid rush out of the upper lines and the block. So I am assuming that your is just draining what is left in the radiator which is about half of the fluid that your car takes.

 

[Mitch_N]

Alright I will try and answer this one for ya. I just did a water pump change on my truck this past summer. When I drained the lines I got a lot out but to my surprise it was only about half of what was actually in the system. When I took off the pump to my surprise I had a hell of a lot of fluid rush out of the upper lines and the block. So I am assuming that your is just draining what is left in the radiator which is about half of the fluid that your car takes.

Thank you ChevyFreak, I was kind of confused that the manual does not specify that. I put in a lot of Distilled water and then 50/50 mixture this means that now I am at 25% concentration of coolant so I will have to repeat the flush. I fill it up an flush it several times until clear water comes out and then fill it up with full strength DexCool.

I kept the coolant that first came out, on the bottom of the containers there is something that looks like yogurt.

Thank you again.

 

[Red LTZ]

The last time I changed the coolant in a car, I removed the thermostat housing, and then put my shopvac hose on the exhaust of the shop vac. I then blew lots of coolant out of the block, with my shop vac. I still only got to about 9 quarts out of 12.