OOPS-- miscalculated my coolant ratio :(

[dsonyay]

Ok-- yesterday I posted about doing the coolant change in my 98 S10. It holds 11.5 qts total. I thought it held about 8 qts total.

After I did a cleaning and back flush, I let everything drain back out the petcock and then proceeded to add SuperTech's 50/50 mix. I only added about 1.5 gallons before it topped off.

I didn't realize I had that much water left over in the engine area. So now my ratio is not nearly 50 percent. I have the prestone tester and my freeze temp is only 0F (way down at the bottom).

So instead of doing this all over, I drained the radiator only and added pure Prestone AMAM (same exact as Supertech's 50/50) till the radiator was topped off again. I ran the truck a while and plan to retest the strength in the morning.

I'll keep at this over the next few days till I get the proper ratio. Sound OK??

I guess what I should have done was add full strength from the start and I would have had about the right ratio with all the water left in the engine.

I drain and refill my radiator once a year to keep from doing all the above. But I picked this truck up from my dad and I wasn't exactly sure how he did the coolant changes, so I did a complete flush seeing as the truck was a 98 and was using dexcool type fluids through it's life.

 

[JHZR2]

Some of my cars say 45 antifreeze, 55 water, and these are northern-european makes, like saab.

Youre in LA, I wouldnt worry too much... But Id get a tester and sample to determine protection.

If your S10 radiator is like mine (filler neck angled at the top corner), its easy to put a siphon down there and pull coolant out. So determine your ratio currently, determine how much neat coolant you need to get to 45%, and then adjust. No big deal, and since its the summer, if you wait a few weeks before doing it, it will be like an extra mini flush.

No big deal.

 

[JC1]

Yes you should be ok. Just keep testing it until you get the reading you like. I have to admit, I hate draining Coolant cause it's suuch a pain to get everything out.

Regards, JC.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: JC1
I have to admit, I hate draining Coolant cause it's suuch a pain to get everything out.



Thats why when I can, I suck it from the radiator. Much easier and cleaner...

 

[Eddie]

One of the reasons I don't like 50/50 premix is that ~ 5% of coolent remains in the block. If you add 50/50 premix, it is diluted and you end up with 40/60? but, not he ideal 50/50.

 

[Nyquist]

On those S-10s it's easier to just drain the reservoir and refill that if you have an idea on what ratio you need to still add. Then take it out & run it some. It'll mix up.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
One of the reasons I don't like 50/50 premix is that ~ 5% of coolent remains in the block. If you add 50/50 premix, it is diluted and you end up with 40/60? but, not he ideal 50/50.


I think a lot more than 5%. My GM 5.7L is 2 gallons in the block. Which is about what is in the radiator. So maybe a typo and you meant 50%.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Never use premix unless you just do drain and fill. Even then I rather buy concentrate and mix myself, I see no reason to pay high price for 50% water.

When I flush my LS400 coolant via T-flush, there is some water left in the engine and heater core, I fill the concentrate to the T-flush(it is at the highest point of the engine) until some coolant start to drain from the radiator petcock. Close the petcock and fill concentrate until I get the right ratio, then add filtered water to radiator.

 

[dsonyay]

Thanks! Good tips. Thanks for the advise. Once I get the ratio
to a good level, I'll do yearly radiator drain and refills. It's so much easier.

 

[Boss302fan]

I think you will be close to 50/50 after adding a gl of pure coolant...

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
but, not he ideal 50/50.

Not all vehicles seem to see 50/50 as ideal. My saab, designed for near arctic climates, specs 45/55.

 

[Boss302fan]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Eddie
but, not he ideal 50/50.

Not all vehicles seem to see 50/50 as ideal. My saab, designed for near arctic climates, specs 45/55.


The guy lives in Slidell, La... Warmer climate.

 

[dsonyay]

Ok, I drained some coolant from the radiator and added about
3/4 a gallon of undiluted and ran the truck a bit in the evening yesterday and today. The tester shows about -35F now. Looking much better. I might drain a bit more later and add the rest of the pure coolant. That should get me as close to 50/50 as I'll need.

From here on out I'll do a simple drain and fill yearly. This is an easy task to do for this model truck.

 

[Donald]

I would not worry too much about the exact ratio. If a dixie cup of the mixed up coolant does not freeze in your freezer overnight, you are fine. Your freezer is roughly 0F. I mean the real test is that your coolant does not freeze when its cold as a (censored). There I censored myself. You are free to make up your own "cold as a" statement.

 

[Boss302fan]

In your warm climate, -35F is just about perfect...

 

[dsonyay]

Originally Posted By: Boss302fan
In your warm climate, -35F is just about perfect...


True. Winter temps in the 20s would be about all we'd see down here . Boil over protection would be something more significant to be concerned about.

 

[dsonyay]

My ratio is now right at 50% now. Drained bit more yesterday and added more undiluted coolant. Ran the truck some more and checked this morning. All is well. Thanks for the help.