Refilling Radiator

[TheNewLMHDesign]

I had to remove the radiator to punch out the damage done to the front of the car, and I have two questions.
1. Is the red liquid that is being dispersed from the radiator the tranmission fluid? I know the anti-freeze, but the red is unkown to me, and I want to be sure to replenish whatever it is.

2. How do I go about refilling the car with anti freeze? Rumor has it there is something about "burping" or something you need to do to it when refilling the radiator.

Thanks,
Lee.

By the way, for those that dont know, its a 1994 SE 3100.

[tenspeed]

I would think the red fluid is transmission fluid. I have a manual but I'm sure someone will correct if I'm wrong.

As for the antifreeze, I find out how much the cooling system holds. Pour in half of that amount with straight antifreeze then fill the rest of the way with straight water. If you have to add later, use water until the cooling system is completely full.

[4kQuad]

The red is trany. It came from the two metal lines you took off the bottom of the raditor. Most people don't know that the raditor not only cools the water it also cools the trany.

The rubber hoses you removed were water/antifreeze hoses, the metal line were trany. ( had to use two wrenches so the line didn't twist)

You will need to add some to the trany now. In a perfect setup you would drive the car some to heat up the trany then check the fluid, you may no longer have enough to get it into gear. So you will have to be carful not to over fill it.

Add some and test.

[rixGAphx]

Do a search for 'burb', it's pretty simple.

Look at the waterpump. At the rear (toward car center) is a vertical pipe about 3/4" diameter and 4" tall.
There's a 3/8" metal pipe running from it across the engine and under the intake.
At the top of the 3/4" vertical pipe is a double nut/screw assembly.
Hold the lower nut head stationary with one wrench, and open the other (smaller) screw.
That's the bleed screw, and it's at the top of the entire coolant system and EXACTLY at the same level as the 'FULL' mark in the reservoir.
Fill the coolant reservoir until coolant starts to weep out of the bleed screw.
Done. Tighten the screw.

Good luck.
-Rick

[Colin]

Originally posted by tenspeed


As for the antifreeze, I find out how much the cooling system holds. Pour in half of that amount with straight antifreeze then fill the rest of the way with straight water. If you have to add later, use water until the cooling system is completely full. This would only work if the system was completely empty , what about the coolant in the engine block ? Use a 50 / 50 mix of coolant and water to top off the system .

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by Colin
This would only work if the system was completely empty , what about the coolant in the engine block ? Use a 50 / 50 mix of coolant and water to top off the system .

That's the point. Before you pour new antifreeze in, you should flush out the cooling system. This will clean and leave water behind.

If you pour straight antifreeze in, you get the full amount of antifreeze needed in the system. The water left behind mixes with the water added to complete the mix.

If you pour in a 50/50 mix and there is some water left in the block, you get less than the amount needed.

[doobiess]

antifreeze dosent have to be 50/50 .. look at the label.. it will show how much water is needed .. specially for the USA climate.. and me being in Canada.. do you really need your car protected up to -100 ... well if that were the case i dont think you would be driving.... but even if you have it 40/60 its fine... you can just buy an antifreeze tester and it will tell you what your good up to.. and also from many people ive heard just pouring in antifreeze and then water.. isnt good... if you like 50/50 just get a 2L bottle of coke or something fill it wil antifreeze and fill again with water mix the 2 together and fill the rad... best way to do it.. then you know exactly how what your mixture is

[HeyDace]

A 50/50 mix will give you protection to about -32 degrees, which is sufficient for the cold climates in the states, lets not forget the wind chill factor, it also affects metal as well as flesh.

[Colin]

Originally posted by tenspeed
That's the point. Before you pour new antifreeze in, you should flush out the cooling system. This will clean and leave water behind.

If you pour straight antifreeze in, you get the full amount of antifreeze needed in the system. The water left behind mixes with the water added to complete the mix.

If you pour in a 50/50 mix and there is some water left in the block, you get less than the amount needed. This is true , but i assumed he just wanted to refill the rad only . I didn't see anything about a cooling system flush . :)

[TheNewLMHDesign]

Just wanted to thank you guys for your help. Finally got a chance to put the radiator back on today. She femal dogged (you can guess the word that it means) and knocked for a few seconds, but then settled completely. She purrs like a kitten once again, actually, this time even better than before.

I have one more question though, is there an specific type of transmission fluid i should use, or all they all the same?

[4kQuad]

Yes there is, I know FORD trany fluid don't mix well with others.

It's been sop long since I've added fluid I can't remember if you Do or DON'T want dextron II.

The guy at the parts store should know.

[whattn]

where is the burp valve or screw for the coolant system on a 2.4 over head cam 97 ga?
Thanks:)

[Kanonen80]

The owners manual for my '94 says to make sure to use DEX-COOL anti-freeze. if i rember right I found Prestone and some other brands that made a DEX-COOL anti-freeze and were labeled "GM Certified" or something to that extent.