Cooling system fill

[mmkkpro]

Hey guys, I just wanted to post a quick solution to filling the LT5 cooling system. This is a air lift/test tool, it works off your air compressor. It creates a vacuum in the cooling system and sucks coolant back into system. I was worried about having a trapped air pocket so I bought this and it works great. Hope it helps someone. I have a little YT channel where I post a little about it under my name, Michael Proulx.

[Ccmano]

That’s cool, haven’t seen one of those. How exactly do you use it?

I have found a cooling system fill funnel to work very well. It allows the thermostat to completely open expelling most of the air and not making a mess of spilled coolant. If I suspect an air bubble I use a cooling system pressure tester to pressurize the system and move the bubble out as in the latest Haibeck method.
H

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks for sharing and taking the time to do a video. It’s always nice to hear of options. I’ve been doing the jack up passenger side method all these years. On my 90 I modified the plumbing with a bleed valve at the highest point in the system and it worked well. Who is Leroy!! [emoji38] Thanks again!


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[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by Ccmano

That’s cool, haven’t seen one of those. How exactly do you use it?



I have found a cooling system fill funnel to work very well. It allows the thermostat to completely open expelling most of the air and not making a mess of spilled coolant. If I suspect an air bubble I use a cooling system pressure tester to pressurize the system and move the bubble out as in the latest Haibeck method.

H

Thanks Hans! And yet another cool method I might have to try.


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[mmkkpro]

Hi guys,
First drain coolant, close petcock.
Choose proper grommet for where radiator cap goes, insert tool, tighten, close coolant fill valve.
Connect air hose at 90 lbs to vacuum side of tool, make sure vacuum valve is closed. With shop air attached open vacuum valve, draw system completely down, mine went to-26inhg,shut valve, allow a couple minutes to see if system holds vacuum. It will collapse hoses. Remove shop air hose.
Fill 5 gal bucket with fresh coolant, have more than you need. Insert coolant hose of tool into bucket, take care to remove any air bubbles from hose. With hose in bucket open fill valve, it will draw coolant back into system, you can watch the Gauge on the tool drop to zero, done.
Remove tool, it will be full.
Seemed to work great, I had 4.5 gallons of coolant in the bucket, more than I needed. I have seen guys do it straight from 1 gal coolant jugs, but I was afraid of introducing air into the system while switching jugs. It sounds like a lot of work but actually went pretty fast.
I watched several YT videos on the process, before I bought the tool. I figure I can use it on other projects also.

[Ccmano]

Originally Posted by mmkkpro

Hi guys,
First drain coolant, close petcock.
Choose proper grommet for where radiator cap goes, insert tool, tighten, close coolant fill valve.
Connect air hose at 90 lbs to vacuum side of tool, make sure vacuum valve is closed. With shop air attached open vacuum valve, draw system completely down, mine went to-26inhg,shut valve, allow a couple minutes to see if system holds vacuum. It will collapse hoses. Remove shop air hose.
Fill 5 gal bucket with fresh coolant, have more than you need. Insert coolant hose of tool into bucket, take care to remove any air bubbles from hose. With hose in bucket open fill valve, it will draw coolant back into system, you can watch the Gauge on the tool drop to zero, done.
Remove tool, it will be full.
Seemed to work great, I had 4.5 gallons of coolant in the bucket, more than I needed. I have seen guys do it straight from 1 gal coolant jugs, but I was afraid of introducing air into the system while switching jugs. It sounds like a lot of work but actually went pretty fast.
I watched several YT videos on the process, before I bought the tool. I figure I can use it on other projects also.

I’m going have to add that tool to my arsenal. Sounds like it should eliminate the air bubble problem areas around the water pump since your basically evacuating the system of air before your fill. Very cool. Where did you get it?
H

[Ccmano]

Originally Posted by HAWAIIZR-1

Thanks Hans! And yet another cool method I might have to try.


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FYI, I still jack that side of the car up while using the funnel. It works very well. I’m going to buy this other tool, it sounds like it might be the perfect solution.
H

[mmkkpro]

Harbor Freight 63.00 bucks with 20% coupon.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks Michael and Hans! Yes! I agree this is a pretty sweet method!


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[secondchance]

Way I change coolant is, I jack up the car using factory jack on the passenger side, slide in a large 6” high plastic storage container I bought at Bath and Beyond under the thermostat housing, unbolt thermostat housing (I had it heli-coiled many years ago), separate the housing, drain coolant, disconnect at heater hose by the coolant tank, back flush with water hose, bolt back thermostat housing, two gallons of coolant, top it off with distilled water while still jacked up.
Fill over-flow reservoir with distilled water drive for about 10 minutes and add more distilled water as needed.
Never had any issue with trapped air.