Engine cooling system service

[likaroc13]

I'm gonna have the water pump changed on my Tahoe, & I'm curious if there's anything else (t-stat, temp sensor, etc.) that might be recommended to replace as preventative maintenance during the process? I plan to get a new lower radiator hose, which I know it could use. I don't currently have any cooling issues, so I'm a bit hesitant to mess with much. I know some folks say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. What say you?

[iluvmy72]

has anyone here gone to the waterless cooling. I hear it's like 300 bucks a gallon but it's well worth it. No pressurization.

[54 jimmy]

did mine last summer. i just drained it, flushed itout with water. till i got it to run clear. then refilled it with the green stuff. that dexcool is junk. you can change the stat if you want i didn't.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by iluvmy72

has anyone here gone to the waterless cooling. I hear it's like 300 bucks a gallon but it's well worth it. No pressurization.

Saw a video link via another forum where Jay Leno's Garage was showing/explaining it. Pretty neat stuff.

Originally Posted by 54 jimmy

did mine last summer. i just drained it, flushed itout with water. till i got it to run clear. then refilled it with the green stuff. that dexcool is junk. you can change the stat if you want i didn't.

Thanks. Yeah, the PO already switched mine over to the green stuff.

I guess I should mention, this is my second year of ownership. I've changed other parts of the belt drive system, but I'm unaware of when/if any other parts (related to cooling) may have been replaced.

[iluvmy72]

careful gents.......switching from Dexcool will most likely blow your intake gasket if your have a 5.7 vortec. The Dexcool does work but you have to flush every 40 thousand miles. If you went to green....my condolences.

[54 jimmy]

i just did intake gaskets because they were done sometime before i bought the truck. dexcool is bad for any engine. it eats the motor from the inside out with corrosion. i know gm techs that told me to get that junk out a soon as possible. i did gaskets because whoever did them before didn't replace the manifold bolts as recomended. i went with the new steel gaskets not the problematic plastic ones. i have no regrest switching. my condolences to those of you who didn't switch. dexcool is bad stuff for any engine.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by iluvmy72

careful gents.......switching from Dexcool will most likely blow your intake gasket if your have a 5.7 vortec. The Dexcool does work but you have to flush every 40 thousand miles. If you went to green....my condolences.

The PO replaced gaskets on mine when he bought it. It's a commonly known problem. No issues with the green stuff in mine now. Also ran it in my '93 which had leaky intake gasket replaced. Green went back into it & was run for MANY thousands more miles with that engine, & it was just fine when I sold it.

[likaroc13]

For those of you who have replaced water pumps, I'm just curious what brand you replaced with? I'm looking at the OE equivalent Delco #89060527 or #251-719. It's a pricier option, but I don't want an el-cheapo.

[Mr_Rich]

I like Edelbrock water pumps. The last one lasted forever; or at least until I swapped it out to the next engine I installed. It was on there maybe twenty years before I replaced it with another Edelbrock water pump.

[Mr_Rich]

The pic above was the old water pump. This is a pic of the new water pump. It has a plug on top and uses metric threads on the pulley. I used metric studs in place of bolts to secure the wp pulley.

[likaroc13]

I have a '97 Vortec 350, & I don't see an option for those from Edelbrock.

[likaroc13]

Any of you guys tried these hose clamps?

http://www.gates.com/products/automo...grip-sb-clamps

[green_grenade]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Any of you guys tried these hose clamps?

http://www.gates.com/products/automo...grip-sb-clamps

I have used that style hose clamp before. They are cool.

[likaroc13]

I'm contemplating replacing the two small hoses that attach to the top of the water pump. From my research, I think I have determined that one hose is referred to as the bypass hose. It attaches just below the thermostat housing. Can you tell me if this is correct? If so, I have found it available at various auto parts retailers. As for the other hose, I can't seem to figure out a specific name or part #. I believe it's just a small length of heater hose. If you can help me confirm the identity & any necessary details about each hose, that would be greatly appreciated!