Problems/Service/Maintenance Do you have problems with your new 2.0, 2.2, or 2.4L? What kind of service did you have done?

Coolant

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-24-2006, 09:08 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rhanes216213's Avatar
 
Join Date: 01-19-06
Location: Michigan
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Coolant

My information system flashed low coolant just for a split second on Friday (09/22/06) on my way home from work. I checked the fill level on the fill tube and there is nothing there. Has this ever happened to any of you? Some one was telling me that the SS/SC took a special coolant that you could only get from GM. Does any one know if this is true? I need to fill my system.
Old 09-24-2006, 10:20 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
css9450's Avatar
 
Join Date: 05-29-06
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Your car (actually, all new GM cars) uses Dexcool coolant. You can get it from the dealer, or at any parts store. Its available full strength, meaning it has to be diluted 50% with water, or pre-diluted. I would buy the full-strength kind, and mix it with water myself, if it was my car. I would stay away from the "universal" stuff that claims to be compatible with all coolant types - seems too risky in my opinion.


Why was the coolant low? You should check for a leak somewhere; the system shouldn't need to be topped off very often.
Old 09-24-2006, 10:22 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
StinkBOMB's Avatar
 
Join Date: 07-11-06
Location: Hubert NC
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rhanes216213
My information system flashed low coolant just for a split second on Friday (09/22/06) on my way home from work. I checked the fill level on the fill tube and there is nothing there. Has this ever happened to any of you? Some one was telling me that the SS/SC took a special coolant that you could only get from GM. Does any one know if this is true? I need to fill my system.
You can get it at Advanced Auto. Prestone sells it jugs already mixed. It's not universal or off, it's exactly what GM calls for. I have already bought a jug of it and used some of it.
Old 09-24-2006, 10:43 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
beamSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: 06-22-06
Location: indiana
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it happened to me but i didnt get the light. I caught it before it was empty. My guess was when i took it to a dealership they might have opened it and didnt tighten it. I dont know why but when i checked cover was loose. I never touched it so i presumed it was the dealership. Well, no harm done so it was all good. just makes sure everything's tight. check your underhood before you leave home. and with the coolant just refer to ^^ post. thanks
Old 09-24-2006, 11:32 PM
  #5  
Member
 
SpecialK's Avatar
 
Join Date: 06-09-06
Location: Lyons
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's ok to buy that predeluted stuff cause they mix in Reverse Osmosis water. Usually that's better than the stuff you buy from a grocery store for $5 a gallon or whatever.
Old 09-25-2006, 12:31 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Tomtwtwtw's Avatar
 
Join Date: 03-30-06
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rhanes216213
I checked the fill level on the fill tube and there is nothing there.
Am I the only one that caught this? Just want to make sure you're not basing this off the tube on the front of your car - that's for the intercooler, and the fluid level in that will vary. The overflow tank is toward the rear-driver side of your engine bay. I've had my low coolant light flash for a second under hard throttle, but upon checking, it was just fine.
Old 09-25-2006, 01:02 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
rhanes216213's Avatar
 
Join Date: 01-19-06
Location: Michigan
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, it is in the front. There is a fill mark on that tube. So if it is the intercooler, should there not be coolant up to that full line? Is it the same type of coolant?
Old 09-25-2006, 05:34 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
css9450's Avatar
 
Join Date: 05-29-06
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Tomtwtwtw
Am I the only one that caught this? Just want to make sure you're not basing this off the tube on the front of your car - that's for the intercooler, and the fluid level in that will vary. The overflow tank is toward the rear-driver side of your engine bay. I've had my low coolant light flash for a second under hard throttle, but upon checking, it was just fine.
Intercooler uses Dexcool also, hence the general answer.

I'm curious - Does the intercooler have its own reservoir, or does it share a common supply with the radiator? I haven't studied the SC engine bay that close.
Old 09-25-2006, 05:38 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
patathSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: 09-15-05
Location: OP, KS
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the ic uses its own seperate system. no real reservoir except the overflow tube.
Old 09-25-2006, 05:50 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
css9450's Avatar
 
Join Date: 05-29-06
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by patathSS
the ic uses its own seperate system. no real reservoir except the overflow tube.
Makes sense to me.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
brandon04
Problems/Service/Maintenance
46
10-21-2015 07:04 AM
vjoel2011
2.0L LNF Performance Tech
26
10-02-2015 12:11 PM
grampss
Complete Cars
0
09-27-2015 08:51 PM
riceburner
Appearance
13
09-26-2015 12:57 AM
ATOMbomb
Suspension
9
09-11-2015 10:48 AM



Quick Reply: Coolant



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:18 AM.