My curiosity is piqued

On Feb 20, 11:42 am, "Russg" <russg....TakeThisOut@MUNGEsbcglobal.net> wrote:
> "Ted" <> wrote in message news:
> > I see that some of you don't use dexcool in your cars.  Would this
> > also apply to newer cars such as 07's?  Or is the factory
> > recommendations correct?
>
> I would hope your 06 07 chevys would keep their
> coolant long enough for the waranty to expire.
> So, I'd say keep using Dexcool that long.
> The concept of 'long lasting' coolant is assuming
> there will be no leaks of coolant, which isn't really
> a certain idea.  The same goes for my '01 Malibu
> transaxel.  There is no dip stick or way to add
> trans fluid, again GM assuming that there will
> be no leaks, not a good idea to me.

I was wondering about that...the manual says that after so many miles
the fluid has to be changed. So do they just drop the pan? Or do they
pump it out?
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued 

"Ted" <the_busmaster.DeleteThis@msn.com> wrote in message
news:4335da7f-e5b3-4543-84d6-1637fee4d95b@d5g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 20, 11:42 am, "Russg" <russg....DeleteThis@MUNGEsbcglobal.net> wrote:
> "Ted" <> wrote in message news:
> > I see that some of you don't use dexcool in your cars. Would this
> > also apply to newer cars such as 07's? Or is the factory
> > recommendations correct?
>
> I would hope your 06 07 chevys would keep their
> coolant long enough for the waranty to expire.
> So, I'd say keep using Dexcool that long.
> The concept of 'long lasting' coolant is assuming
> there will be no leaks of coolant, which isn't really
> a certain idea. The same goes for my '01 Malibu
> transaxel. There is no dip stick or way to add
> trans fluid, again GM assuming that there will
> be no leaks, not a good idea to me.

I was wondering about that...the manual says that after so many miles
the fluid has to be changed. So do they just drop the pan? Or do they
pump it out?

Hi guys,
We have 3 Chevys and have used Dexcool since it was introduced, and have not
had any corrosion issues with it. We test the acidity every spring and
replace coolant if it starting to turn acidic. We have run our 3.1 V6
engines long miles, one to 300,000 and have never had any gasket leaks. The
secret is to change the coolant immediately when it has the slightest
indication of any acidity.

As for the "no dipstick" transmissions, we have changed the oil and filter
at the 160,000Km (or 100,000Mile) point and found them exceptionally clean,
and the fluid level good.

We are having some PCM issues with our 06 Malibu due to the temperatiure
extremes; it doesn't like the coolant being much warmer than the outside
air, but at -35 C that will happen. It would be "educational" if one of the
GM engineers would take his Chevy to Northern Sask. and walk at -50
windchill for a few hours when the block heater makes the PCM go whacky!

Good luck!
David
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued 

snip

> As for the "no dipstick" transmissions, we have changed the oil and filter
> at the 160,000Km (or 100,000Mile) point and found them exceptionally
clean,
> and the fluid level good.
>
snip again.

'changed the oil and filter'..... how do you do that?
I don't think the oil drain and filter access are where
the owner/user can get at. Seems like there is a fill
hole, somewhere deep on the belly, but it isn't a drain
hole.
As for 'drop the pan', I think that is an older concept
when there was an oil pan on the bottom of the engine
that served the crankcase. I don't know how the
transaxle fluid filler, drain and filter can be accessed.
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued 

"Russg" <russgilb.DeleteThis@MUNGEsbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:Ik4vj.1400$pl4.190@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...
>
> snip
>
> > As for the "no dipstick" transmissions, we have changed the oil and
filter
> > at the 160,000Km (or 100,000Mile) point and found them exceptionally
> clean,
> > and the fluid level good.
> >
> snip again.
>
> 'changed the oil and filter'..... how do you do that?
> I don't think the oil drain and filter access are where
> the owner/user can get at. Seems like there is a fill
> hole, somewhere deep on the belly, but it isn't a drain
> hole.
> As for 'drop the pan', I think that is an older concept
> when there was an oil pan on the bottom of the engine
> that served the crankcase. I don't know how the
> transaxle fluid filler, drain and filter can be accessed.
>

We remove the pan. We examine the residue in the bottom of the pan, which
is usually very little. With the pan removed, there is easy access to the
filter. We also use 2 people and remove one of the transmission cooling
tubes at the rediator. One person cranks the engine while the other
watches the open cooling tube. When the fluid flow ebbs, we quit cranking
the engine and reconnect the cooling tube. This method removes almost all
of the old fluid from the torque converter and the tansmission. We like to
measure the fluid removed and replace the same quantity, and do the "up and
down" thing to ensure the tranny is full. Add 1/2 pint at a time, warm the
engine and fluid, then test the side plug for a full tranny. Keep doing
this until fluid runs out the side plug when it is removed. These trannys
will usually operate well when slightly (up to 1/2 pint) overfilled.
Most shops will not go to this effort, but it pays off. We have never had
any GM automatic transmission failures; we put several hundred KMs on our
vehicles and drive them till someone crashes into them and they are written
off.

David
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued 

snip
> Hi guys,
> We have 3 Chevys and have used Dexcool since it was introduced, and have
not
> had any corrosion issues with it. We test the acidity every spring and
> replace coolant if it starting to turn acidic.

How you test the pH? I've never heard of ordinary
(Prestone, Zerex, ethylene glycol, or the non-toxic
kinds) anti-freeze getting 'acidic'. Seems like I don't
see any advantage to Dexcool except I guess GM
has a patent on it.
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued 

"Russg" <russgilb.DeleteThis@MUNGEsbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:bn4vj.1401$pl4.855@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...
>
> snip
> > Hi guys,
> > We have 3 Chevys and have used Dexcool since it was introduced, and have
> not
> > had any corrosion issues with it. We test the acidity every spring and
> > replace coolant if it starting to turn acidic.
>
> How you test the pH? I've never heard of ordinary
> (Prestone, Zerex, ethylene glycol, or the non-toxic
> kinds) anti-freeze getting 'acidic'. Seems like I don't
> see any advantage to Dexcool except I guess GM
> has a patent on it.
>

We purchase litmus test strips from our local auto parts jobber. A bottle
of 50 goes for about $30.00, but that is immaterial compared to the cost of
radiators and engines.

Just follow the instructions on the bottle and the results are usually
clear.
David
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued 

"David" <> wrote in message news:
>
> "Russg" <> wrote in message
> news:
> >
> > snip
> > > Hi guys,
> > > We have 3 Chevys and have used Dexcool since it was introduced, and
have
> > not
> > > had any corrosion issues with it. We test the acidity every spring
and
> > > replace coolant if it starting to turn acidic.
> >
> > How you test the pH? I've never heard of ordinary
> > (Prestone, Zerex, ethylene glycol, or the non-toxic
> > kinds) anti-freeze getting 'acidic'. Seems like I don't
> > see any advantage to Dexcool except I guess GM
> > has a patent on it.
> >
>
> We purchase litmus test strips from our local auto parts jobber. A bottle
> of 50 goes for about $30.00, but that is immaterial compared to the cost
of
> radiators and engines.
>
> Just follow the instructions on the bottle and the results are usually
> clear.
> David
>
I see, about tranny and coolant service. You do a professional job, and it
would seem requires professional work, as the ordinary owner won't know how
or be able to do the jumps through hoops to drain, change filter and re-fill
the tranny. I'm pleased to learn that GM puts tranny cooler on, or is that
on other models than Malibu?
I believe that a tranny dipstick is a good idea, a simple way for the owner
to tell if the fluid is up to level and not yellow or off color or smelling
burnt.
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued 

"Russg" <russgilb.RemoveThis@MUNGEsbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:fzgvj.11864$J41.5186@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...
>
> "David" <> wrote in message news:
> >
> > "Russg" <> wrote in message
> > news:
> > >
> > > snip
> > > > Hi guys,
> > > > We have 3 Chevys and have used Dexcool since it was introduced, and
> have
> > > not
> > > > had any corrosion issues with it. We test the acidity every spring
> and
> > > > replace coolant if it starting to turn acidic.
> > >
> > > How you test the pH? I've never heard of ordinary
> > > (Prestone, Zerex, ethylene glycol, or the non-toxic
> > > kinds) anti-freeze getting 'acidic'. Seems like I don't
> > > see any advantage to Dexcool except I guess GM
> > > has a patent on it.
> > >
> >
> > We purchase litmus test strips from our local auto parts jobber. A
bottle
> > of 50 goes for about $30.00, but that is immaterial compared to the cost
> of
> > radiators and engines.
> >
> > Just follow the instructions on the bottle and the results are usually
> > clear.
> > David
> >
> I see, about tranny and coolant service. You do a professional job, and
it
> would seem requires professional work, as the ordinary owner won't know
how
> or be able to do the jumps through hoops to drain, change filter and
re-fill
> the tranny. I'm pleased to learn that GM puts tranny cooler on, or is
that
> on other models than Malibu?
> I believe that a tranny dipstick is a good idea, a simple way for the
owner
> to tell if the fluid is up to level and not yellow or off color or
smelling
> burnt.
>

My 1969 Buick had a tranny cooler, as has everything I have owned or seen
since. I can't remember if my 1960 Chevy had a cooler; it was the old 2
speed "Pwereglide" which never gave any trouble.
David
 >> Stay informed about: My curiosity is piqued