stupid? coolant question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rage777 · 02-02-2009, 08:50 PM

how much coolant do i need to add for total replacement? i recently replaced the radiator after an accident and i'm not sure how much it actually takes. 402 cid 3? row radiator.

LowBow · 02-02-2009, 09:12 PM

I would go buy a gallon or two of coolant and an equal amount of distilled water. Try to make the solution as close to 50/50 as possible. Just take your time and make sure it's full, as air will work it's way out of your block and radiator somewhat slowly. Then run it for a few minutes, cap off, and watch the level.

enaberif · 02-02-2009, 09:16 PM

I usually buy two jugs of the Prestone Premixed 50/50 stuff and usually have some left over.

Don't forget when you are filling up the coolant to turn the heater on full blast too.

And if you want to help with getting air out a bit faster.. lift the front end up a bit higher.

**El Jay** · 02-02-2009, 09:29 PM

I'm sorta with LowBow.
Dump in a gallon of antifreeze, followed by a gallon of distilled/purified water.
Then use the empty antifreeze jug to make a 50:50 mix....
Take another jug of antifreeze and fill the empty jug 1/2 way, put the 2 jugs side by side and get the levels roughly even. Then top them both off with more of the water.
That should be more than close enough...........

And you'll have some "premix" lying around when you need to top off your system.

sjarrett71 · 02-02-2009, 10:52 PM

I had to buy a gallon of antifreeze the other day and was thoroughly cornfuzed. A gallon of antifreeze was 10 bucks. A gallon of 50/50 was 8 bucks. Shouldn't it be only 5 bucks since you're only really getting half a gallon of antifreeze? I'm just not going to pay extra for the convenience of not having to mix it myself.

rage777 · 02-06-2009, 03:23 PM

yeah i just buy the 50/50 for $8 at walmart. so only 2 gallons? for some reason i thought it was more. what if i don't have a heater? it was removed by the PO. i'm in san diego so i don't really need it but i know it helps vent heat. thanks guys.

02-02-2009, 08:50 PM	#1
rage777 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 65	stupid? coolant question how much coolant do i need to add for total replacement? i recently replaced the radiator after an accident and i'm not sure how much it actually takes. 402 cid 3? row radiator. __________________ 1972 Chevy C10 Long Bed 454 Big Block Turbo 400 3 Speed Dual Flowmaster Edelbrock 750 Carb Power Steering Disc front brakes Drum rear brakes B&M Floor Shifter

02-02-2009, 09:12 PM	#2
LowBow Self Made Hundredaire Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tallahassee, Fl Posts: 173	Re: stupid? coolant question I would go buy a gallon or two of coolant and an equal amount of distilled water. Try to make the solution as close to 50/50 as possible. Just take your time and make sure it's full, as air will work it's way out of your block and radiator somewhat slowly. Then run it for a few minutes, cap off, and watch the level. __________________ '79 corvette - all original 49k car! '03 Z71 ECSB - gas hog '57 Belair 2 door hardtop. Love of my life!

02-02-2009, 09:16 PM	#3
enaberif Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 1,181	Re: stupid? coolant question I usually buy two jugs of the Prestone Premixed 50/50 stuff and usually have some left over. Don't forget when you are filling up the coolant to turn the heater on full blast too. And if you want to help with getting air out a bit faster.. lift the front end up a bit higher. Last edited by enaberif; 02-02-2009 at 09:16 PM.

02-02-2009, 09:29 PM	#4
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: stupid? coolant question I'm sorta with LowBow. Dump in a gallon of antifreeze, followed by a gallon of distilled/purified water. Then use the empty antifreeze jug to make a 50:50 mix.... Take another jug of antifreeze and fill the empty jug 1/2 way, put the 2 jugs side by side and get the levels roughly even. Then top them both off with more of the water. That should be more than close enough........... And you'll have some "premix" lying around when you need to top off your system. __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

02-02-2009, 10:52 PM	#5
sjarrett71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rolla, MO Posts: 2,463	Re: stupid? coolant question I had to buy a gallon of antifreeze the other day and was thoroughly cornfuzed. A gallon of antifreeze was 10 bucks. A gallon of 50/50 was 8 bucks. Shouldn't it be only 5 bucks since you're only really getting half a gallon of antifreeze? I'm just not going to pay extra for the convenience of not having to mix it myself. Last edited by sjarrett71; 02-02-2009 at 10:53 PM.

02-06-2009, 03:23 PM	#6
rage777 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 65	Re: stupid? coolant question yeah i just buy the 50/50 for $8 at walmart. so only 2 gallons? for some reason i thought it was more. what if i don't have a heater? it was removed by the PO. i'm in san diego so i don't really need it but i know it helps vent heat. thanks guys. __________________ 1972 Chevy C10 Long Bed 454 Big Block Turbo 400 3 Speed Dual Flowmaster Edelbrock 750 Carb Power Steering Disc front brakes Drum rear brakes B&M Floor Shifter

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