Ok, my 2000 Silverado with the original coolant is coming up on 5 years and I've decided I want to drain and reinstall new Dexcool (for now) as it seems the easiest method, and I haven't had any trouble or sludge. My question concerns replacing the thermostat - where is it and how hard to replace? The second concerns bleeding air our of the system when I'm done. I've got the small V-8, Vortec 4800. Are there any bleeders on this, or will it bleed itself? I've never bled a cooling system before, but it seems critical with Dexcool.
Replacing Dexcool
- Thread starter malibu jimbo
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Hi,
I have a 2000 Silverado 4.8ltr 4x4 Truck too.
Just got done changing out the Dexcool.
I just took the lower hose off the radiator.
Then drained and refilled it a few times with distilled water.
Put a 60/40 mix of new dexcool and drove it. No need to burp it...
Take care, bill
I have a 2000 Silverado 4.8ltr 4x4 Truck too.
Just got done changing out the Dexcool.
I just took the lower hose off the radiator.
Then drained and refilled it a few times with distilled water.
Put a 60/40 mix of new dexcool and drove it. No need to burp it...
Take care, bill
On every GM engine I've seen, follow the upper radiator hose to the engine. The thermostat will be mounted right there. If there's a bleeder, it'll be there, too. Anyway, remove the two bolts and you've got it. Make sure you have replacement gaskets available, they can be hard to find for some reason.
Personally, I like Dexcool. I installed it in my 98 Contour SVT when it was a year old and have had it in there ever since. It does not have any cooling system sludge in it like the green stuff that I drained out of it. It now has 200,000 miles on it and the original hoses still look and feel like new. Of course, I still do an annual coolant change. I never did buy in on the extended life claims.
I'm not sure that it is enough better than G05 to warranty a changeover on the 03 Escape. It also geets an annual coolant change but I'll probably be staying with G05.
Why do you want to change the thermostat? If the cooling system is in otherwise good shape and the engine has never been overheated, leave it alone.
I'm not sure that it is enough better than G05 to warranty a changeover on the 03 Escape. It also geets an annual coolant change but I'll probably be staying with G05.
Why do you want to change the thermostat? If the cooling system is in otherwise good shape and the engine has never been overheated, leave it alone.
Thermostats can spontaneously fail. I had it happen to me the night before a 500 mile trip. The car wouldn't warm up. I made to AutoZone about 15 minutes before closing. Not fun.
I figured it would be easier to run a cleaner thru the system if I removed the therostat and put the system back together. That's generally what I've done for the past 40 years, reinstalling the thermostat when I'm done. Of course now I've also got the problem of no radiator cap, so where do you put the cleaner into the system?? I guess you'd have to dump it in the upper radiator hose, or hope it gets sucked out of the overflow tank.
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