Disclaimer, I am in no way responsable for any work done on your vehcile. Use at your own risk!
If anybody has suggestions on how to do this better, please let me know and I will update accordingly. I was doing this without a WIS
Why: Dex-cool is a 5yr 150K mi coolant. For us users with a 2003 vehicle, we are 5yrs old or fast approaching. I also like to help people save money by staying away from the dealer. You can check the cabin filter DIY, and also SAI valve DIY in the stickies.
What you need:
Jack and stands or ramps to lift car
8mm socket
Pliers
Drip pan
Rags
1 gallon of GM Approved Dex-Cool
2 Gallons of distilled water
With a cool car, remove the cap to the coolant resevoir
![Image]()
Lift up the car someway, if you use a jack, USE FRIGGIN' JACK STANDS!!!Remove lower shroud on the bottom front of the car. There are a bunch of 8mm bolts holding it on, make sure you grab the ones in the wheel well. There were some wires attached to it, i just left them on and rotated the shroud out of the way.
looks like this (i gess the previous owner decided to cut a hole in mine:roll: ):
![Image]()
Get under the car, and look on the bottom of the radiator (passenger side) for the petc*ck. looks like this:
![Image]()
(A) Place a drip pan under it, and if you have some sort of tube, attach it to the end of it to make it a little cleaner (you'll see what i mean when you open that thing). Use your pliers to rotate the petc*ck counter clockwise so the coolant starts to flow.
-Drain fully
-close petc*ck
-fill resevoir with distilled water to fill line, put resevoir cap back on
-start car
-run car untill it gets to full operating temperature, be sure to watch your temp guage. Cycle through heat, AC, cold etc. Continually watch the temp guage and water level, you may need to add more water. Run car untill fan turns on, let run a little more (B)
Turn off car, let cool down a bit, then repeat A-B
After the water has been drained for the second time, and the petc*ck is closed, add the Dex-Cool to the fill line. Place the shroud back on, and run the car much like above. Add Dex-cool as neccesary.
And your done! Its time consuming, but worth it. Now go buy a 6 pack of Sam Adams Octoberfest with the money you saved and enjoy.
If anybody has suggestions on how to do this better, please let me know and I will update accordingly. I was doing this without a WIS
Why: Dex-cool is a 5yr 150K mi coolant. For us users with a 2003 vehicle, we are 5yrs old or fast approaching. I also like to help people save money by staying away from the dealer. You can check the cabin filter DIY, and also SAI valve DIY in the stickies.
What you need:
Jack and stands or ramps to lift car
8mm socket
Pliers
Drip pan
Rags
1 gallon of GM Approved Dex-Cool
2 Gallons of distilled water
With a cool car, remove the cap to the coolant resevoir
Lift up the car someway, if you use a jack, USE FRIGGIN' JACK STANDS!!!Remove lower shroud on the bottom front of the car. There are a bunch of 8mm bolts holding it on, make sure you grab the ones in the wheel well. There were some wires attached to it, i just left them on and rotated the shroud out of the way.
looks like this (i gess the previous owner decided to cut a hole in mine:roll: ):
Get under the car, and look on the bottom of the radiator (passenger side) for the petc*ck. looks like this:
(A) Place a drip pan under it, and if you have some sort of tube, attach it to the end of it to make it a little cleaner (you'll see what i mean when you open that thing). Use your pliers to rotate the petc*ck counter clockwise so the coolant starts to flow.
-Drain fully
-close petc*ck
-fill resevoir with distilled water to fill line, put resevoir cap back on
-start car
-run car untill it gets to full operating temperature, be sure to watch your temp guage. Cycle through heat, AC, cold etc. Continually watch the temp guage and water level, you may need to add more water. Run car untill fan turns on, let run a little more (B)
Turn off car, let cool down a bit, then repeat A-B
After the water has been drained for the second time, and the petc*ck is closed, add the Dex-Cool to the fill line. Place the shroud back on, and run the car much like above. Add Dex-cool as neccesary.
And your done! Its time consuming, but worth it. Now go buy a 6 pack of Sam Adams Octoberfest with the money you saved and enjoy.
