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Just got a new to me truck that is a 2012 Silverado with 41.6k miles. When should I flush the radiator and put in new dexcool?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Coolant flush
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Every 150,000 miles or 5 years, whichever come first. Refer to Pages 10-20 and 11-6 through 11-8 of your owners manual.
PS - The build date is on the tire pressure label, drivers door, B piller. A silver label, date is in top RH corner, month and year made (MM-YY).
PS - The build date is on the tire pressure label, drivers door, B piller. A silver label, date is in top RH corner, month and year made (MM-YY).
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Ok, thanks!
The fluid is deep red so how do you check to see if it's been done already?
The fluid is deep red so how do you check to see if it's been done already?
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Maybe they used something else then, strange
I don't know what that could be as I never seen or heard of coolant that is deep red. Deep red is the color of automatic transmission fluid. If you have a pic of the color it will help.
Its not a rusty color is it?
Its not a rusty color is it?
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Not rusty at all, just red. I'll get a better look tomorrow. Never bought used before so makes me a little nervous with a previous owner
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That may be it. Under a dark hood, it probably looks darker.
You guys take on a flush if your a newb? I've changed oil and done a ton of electrical work on cars but that's about it. I want to start doing as much as I can. Transmission filter and flush will be something I take in and differential as well but I feel I can probably do the rest.
You guys take on a flush if your a newb? I've changed oil and done a ton of electrical work on cars but that's about it. I want to start doing as much as I can. Transmission filter and flush will be something I take in and differential as well but I feel I can probably do the rest.
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I would not flush with chemicals, just do a couple of clean water garden hose flushes followed by a couple distilled water flushes. Each time you drain the radiator you exchange 2 gallons of water.
When I flush, I take off the upper radiator hose and the lower. Flush the radiator from the top for several minutes. Then go to the fill tank with your hose and make a small seal with your hands. With a light to medium water pressure flush out the motor for several minutes. You will see the water coming out of the upper radiator hose. It will turn clear when you get it all. You don't need a lot of pressure at the fill tank or a perfect seal with your hands. Once you start you will see what I mean.
When I flush, I take off the upper radiator hose and the lower. Flush the radiator from the top for several minutes. Then go to the fill tank with your hose and make a small seal with your hands. With a light to medium water pressure flush out the motor for several minutes. You will see the water coming out of the upper radiator hose. It will turn clear when you get it all. You don't need a lot of pressure at the fill tank or a perfect seal with your hands. Once you start you will see what I mean.
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Ok, so the coolant looks like the pic above but it's a mm or 2 lower than cold full. I'm planning on either doing a flush or drain and refill. Picked up prestone full strength (2 gallons) and some flush but I'm reading that usually a drain and refill is all that is needed if the fluid that is coming out looks ok. Is that what the consensus here believes as well? I'm prepared to do either but would prefer to do the drain and refill. Is the prestone ok and is a drain and refill ok?
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
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Perfect, thanks!
So with a drain, should I anticipate on 2 gallons coming out? So pour 1 gallon of pure dex and 1 of pure water? Also, do the trans cooler and the oil cooler need flushing?
Thanks again!
So with a drain, should I anticipate on 2 gallons coming out? So pour 1 gallon of pure dex and 1 of pure water? Also, do the trans cooler and the oil cooler need flushing?
Thanks again!
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Yes with just a drain and no flushing put in 50/50.
Someone else will have to chime in the trans and oil coolers.
50,000 is pretty common to do a transmission pan drop and filter change. GM says 100,000 at normal driving conditions 50,000 under heavy conditions. Most people like to change at 50,000.
Someone else will have to chime in the trans and oil coolers.
50,000 is pretty common to do a transmission pan drop and filter change. GM says 100,000 at normal driving conditions 50,000 under heavy conditions. Most people like to change at 50,000.
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To the OP, I had an old "old school" radiator guy tell me long ago to ALWAYS use distilled water with antifreeze, so do whatever you can to use as much distilled water (50:50) with AF when you refill.
Buy the undiluted DexCool, it's not much more than the mixed stuff which is only half AF and half water. Distilled water is only about $1 a gallon and you'll probably only need two, maybe three if you spill a bunch.
I save my empty AF jugs and mix whatever AF I have left with distilled water, mark the jug, then any time you or anyone else in your household adds coolant or if you keep it in the truck, it's ready to use.
I did mine at 50K, didn't cost a lot, it's cheap insurance.
Also since you seem to be in the learning mode, I was also told many years ago to only use distilled water if you have to add any to a car battery, if you happen to have any that are serviceable.
GM says 97 or 100K for the tranny AND FILTER but that's the absolute MINIMUM maintenance you should do.
I did mine at 50K and even tho many guys say I wasted my money, I'll do it again at 100K. Again it's cheap insurance, tranny's ain't cheap!
There's some really good posts on here that give you step by step instructions.
You said you'd take your truck to someone to have the differential(s) done, why?
That's one of the simplest, easiest things you can do in your driveway.
You might need to drive it up on a couple wooden 4 x 4's (if you suffer from "largicus stomachus" like me) but the only special tool you'll need is a torque wrench. It's no tougher than doing an oil change.
There's probably some posts here on that too.
It's not all about doing it cheap and saving money, it's about knowing it's done right because you did it and you used good, quality parts, and that usually ends up being cheaper than taking it to someone who may be using whatever brand of parts is cheapest.
Buy the undiluted DexCool, it's not much more than the mixed stuff which is only half AF and half water. Distilled water is only about $1 a gallon and you'll probably only need two, maybe three if you spill a bunch.
I save my empty AF jugs and mix whatever AF I have left with distilled water, mark the jug, then any time you or anyone else in your household adds coolant or if you keep it in the truck, it's ready to use.
I did mine at 50K, didn't cost a lot, it's cheap insurance.
Also since you seem to be in the learning mode, I was also told many years ago to only use distilled water if you have to add any to a car battery, if you happen to have any that are serviceable.
GM says 97 or 100K for the tranny AND FILTER but that's the absolute MINIMUM maintenance you should do.
I did mine at 50K and even tho many guys say I wasted my money, I'll do it again at 100K. Again it's cheap insurance, tranny's ain't cheap!
There's some really good posts on here that give you step by step instructions.
You said you'd take your truck to someone to have the differential(s) done, why?
That's one of the simplest, easiest things you can do in your driveway.
You might need to drive it up on a couple wooden 4 x 4's (if you suffer from "largicus stomachus" like me) but the only special tool you'll need is a torque wrench. It's no tougher than doing an oil change.
There's probably some posts here on that too.
It's not all about doing it cheap and saving money, it's about knowing it's done right because you did it and you used good, quality parts, and that usually ends up being cheaper than taking it to someone who may be using whatever brand of parts is cheapest.
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1,212 Posts
So just do the transmission cooler (external that came with towing package) when the tranny is serviced? Is the tranny service done yourself or is that one for the shop.
One more question about the coolant, it's about an inch low of the cold full mark, should I too that off with 50/50 until I do the coolant which will be next weekend due to some fun wet and cold weather coming or just wait a week and do the coolant then? I bought 2 gallons on full strength so if I just do a drain and fill, I should have some to top off at the moment but wasn't sure if an inch low of coolant is to be concerned?
Thanks for the help guys! Really really appreciate it!
One more question about the coolant, it's about an inch low of the cold full mark, should I too that off with 50/50 until I do the coolant which will be next weekend due to some fun wet and cold weather coming or just wait a week and do the coolant then? I bought 2 gallons on full strength so if I just do a drain and fill, I should have some to top off at the moment but wasn't sure if an inch low of coolant is to be concerned?
Thanks for the help guys! Really really appreciate it!
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Gracias! I'm sure I'll have more later. Have a good evening!
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