i just got mine fixed up, so its empty. do i need to fill it from the radiator cap or anything? or just make sure there is enough in the container. while im on the subject, i mix the coolant with water 50:50?

 

Yes fill it from the radiator or you will seriously damage your engine.. The radiator doesn't use the coolant in the resivoir to fill itself, it is an overflow and works exactly the opposite of that. When the radiator heats up the coolant expands and the excess gets pit in the resivoir, when it cools it sucks the fluid back in... YOu want to use a 50/50 mix or whatever is appropriate for your area, i live in ca and use a 30/70 mix, use distilled water not tap water your radiator will last longer.

It will probably fill up really quickly, let it sit a few minutes and put your hand on the upper radiator hose you should feel some bubbles going through. Once you fill the radiator to the top and you can't feel any bubbles you're done. Run the car for about 10 minutes, then check the radiator again and make sure its full.

 

50/50 is the general recommendation, some people are probably going to say 70/30, it depends on your area and local temperature.

Top off your radiator and idle it until your thermostat opens, your fluid is going to drop as it is sucked into the system where air was, top off your fluid a couple inches from the top and make sure to fill up your reservior to the proper level. Clean everything off and check for leaks, if your all good then your ready to ROCK!!

 

okay thanks.

also, i need a lower hose. is the exact size very important or can i get a flexible hose that is about the same size and use that?

 

You can probably order a direct replacement from a local parts store. Thats what I did. They are a little flexible and if it doesn't fit exactly, it can normally bend the right way.

 

i put about a full jug of coolant in there. and its still low. i let it warm up. then it wouldnt say cool. it got above normal operating tempurature and i shut it off. and the coolant tank is empty now. how much does the radiator need to get full? the car didnt overheat, it got about half way up the meter. could this of caused any damage? also, could it be possible that the thermostat isnt working properly?

 

Probably too late, since you've already filled it, but use distilled water. Much better for the radiator.

 

Normally what I do is get a funnel that fits tightly in the neck of the rad. Fill the rad with coolant mixed in the right proportions. Next start the car. Just keep filling the rad untill it doesn't go down anymore.

 

wait, doesnt coolant mean its already mixed with water? thats what i was told

 

You can get pre-mixed or you can mix it yourself.

To answer your previous concern, my 83 gsl's manual claims that my coolant capacity is 9.5 liters (about 2.5 gallons) with heater and 8.5 (about 2.25 gallons) without.

 

do you know how much is held in the radaiator??????????

i puit about 1 gallon in it, i guess i'll buy another tomorrow

 

also, does coolant actually mean 50/50? the guy sounded pretty confident about it.

 

Coolant comes at different concentrations (coolant/water). Depending on where you are, you may want a lower concentration.

50/50 is 1:1 coolant and water. 30/70 is 3:7 coolant and water. Both are still called "coolant" or "antifreeze" or just "water".

At least I think it's coolant/water, it may be the other way around. Either way, coolent does not necessarily mean 50/50.

EDIT: I named capacites in my previous post.

 

yeah, thanks, but do you mean 2.25 gallons in the radiator? or isnt the coolant held some in other places?

 

Coolant is held threwout the engine in the water passages, water pump, and in the heater core, along with the hoses that carry it. This all adds up to your cooling system capacity.

As for premixed coolant, if it says premixed on the jug, then it is mixed in a 50:50 fashion. If it doesn't say premix, you will have to mix it with water before you put it in. If you don't, the coolant will eventually turn to a sludge.

For a mixture, I think it is 70:30 coolant to water. for cooler temps like in Canada. Its generally an accepted practice to mix 50:50 in warmer climates. I would not suggest any less antifreeze than that, because it also acts as a lubricant for the water pump and prevents rust in the water jackets in the engine and other parts.

 

so coolant, is premixed? and antifreeze you need to mix with water?

 

COOLANT AND ANTIFREEZE ARE THE SAME THING, IF IT SAYS "NO MIX" OR "READYFILL" ON THE CONTAINER YOU DONT HAVE TO MIX IT WITH WATER. IF IT DOESNT, YOU HAVE TO MIX IT WITH WATER, 1:1 .


MIX WITH WATER





DONT MIX WITH WATER (NOTE: PRE-DILUTED)



Its also handy for extinguishing truck fires...