Thread: Running Warm after Coolant flush

I've ended up filling the block with coolant via the thermostat housing a couple times. Seems easier than trying to get all the air out with the bleeder screw imo... If all the air is out and the temps still read high it could possibly be a bad temp sensor but I doubt it... maybe a bad thermostat since you said you just changed it... I always use the universal coolant so if a little dexcool is left over its not going to gunk up.

sure can, meat thermometer should work for the temp.

Just look for all makes all models or universal coolant. I've only seen it in the gold color.

Have you checked coolant level lately at the radiator cap? Pull cap off radiator and check level when cold, I bet it's low.

Does it have the aluminum LIM gaskets on it? If they are black plastic replace them with aluminum gaskets and put on aluminum elbows.

You will never get all the DEX out, there will always be some trace of it when you pull the cap.

If you buy off rock auto you can get everything for about 70 bucks. Including the aluminum coolant elbows. I got the fel-pro kit which worked fine but have heard the acdelco one is bettter. both are around the same price.

Originally Posted by tms8582

Just look for all makes all models or universal coolant. I've only seen it in the gold color.

Universal coolant is BS. It will NOT mix with dex cool. It will still create sludge. I've seen it happen first hand.

shop on line, find and add discount codes. rock auto, advance auto ect.

you need lower intake manifold gaskets, a upper plenum gasket aka supercharger gasket. new injector O rings are a good idea, and new coolant elbows.

thread sealant for the lim bolts, some rtv for the gasket corners. (flush the old coolant out before you start the lim job) one gallon of straight antifreeze, dump the whole gallon in, top off with water, its all you need, the cheap store brand green stuff is perfect. make sure you dont buy the 50/50 pre mix, its a waste of money.

you can add new tb and t stat o rings or gaskets, (what ever your car takes.)

if you take the TB off clean the living daylights out of it.

new T's and vac lines, cause your gonna break a T, its just par for the course. the only T's ive found are the ones at advance auto, its a 2 pack with 2 small white T's for 2 bucks. works perfect.

if your valve covers are leaking, theres no better time then during a lim job to change them.

Originally Posted by Lishap

Alright nice. Anything else i should do while i'm into it?

Lishap--

Take a flashlight and shine it down into your radiator with the cap off. If your Dexcool was anything like mine, it's far worse than any flush can get out - you'd need to power wash that out. If it's caked in there, it will slowly corrode the aluminum radiator until it eats a few holes in it. No matter how many times I flushed, I kept getting mud at the radiator cap and the coolant slowly got discolored.

I ended up replacing the radiator. It isn't too bad to do - Pull the dogbones off, unhook and unbolt the fans, pull hoses and trans lines, a few more 10mm bolts, it comes right out. Guarantee if you took the rad apart there's more Dexsludge in there that a flush never got out. I recommend the 1" radiator from RockAuto for ~$100 as an upgrade from the stock 3/4".

That'll put an end to 95% of your sludge problem. There may be some residue left over in the block, but the block is iron, not aluminum - Dexsludge won't corrode that, AFAIK.