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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(V6 Engine Only)
1 NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure could cause your engine
to overheat and be severely damaged.
1. You can remove the pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the pressure cap and upper radiator
hose,
is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise until it first stops. (Don’t press
down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
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Page 226 of 404
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as
you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
A CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn
if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
J
3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air
bleed valve.
3800 V6 (VIN Code K): There is one bleed valve. It
is located on the thermostat housing.
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Page 227 of 404
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL'
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close the
valve after the radiator
is filled.
5. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to FULL HOT.
6. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3
7. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Wdtch out for the
engine fan(
s).
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
through the filler neck
until the level reaches the
base
of the filler neck.
8. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
9. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to
flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows
on the pressure cap line up like this.
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Page 229 of 404
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(VS Engine Only)
I NOTICE:
The LT1 Engine (Code P) has a specific radiator
fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could cause your engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it
first stops. (Don't press down while turning the
pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
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Page 230 of 404
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine i
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
3. After the engine cools, open the air bleed valves on
the heater return hose and water pump inlet.
A CAUTION: I
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on
a hot engine.
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Page 231 of 404
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 8. Start the engine and allow it to run in idle for
approximately four minutes. By this time, the
coolant level inside the radiator will be lower. Add
more
of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck.
4. Fill with the proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture.
Add coolant until
you see a steady stream of coolant
coming from
the bleed valves.
5. Close the bleed valves.
I
E
6. Continue to fill the radiator up to the base of the
filler neck.
7. Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from the engine
and compartment.
9. Shut the engine off and replace the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on the cap line up like this.
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Page 232 of 404

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 10. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
For a complete drain, flush and refill,
see your Chevrolet
dealer or a Chevrolet Service Manual.
To purchase a
service manual, see “Service and Owner Publications”
in the Index. proper
level.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here
are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create
a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well
out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d
use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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