Coolant change

[Z71]

I am at 48k miles (2013 Sonic Sedan, 1.8 engine, 5 speed manual) and intend to change the coolant in the radiator. Can someone give me a few quick recommendations on which engine splash shield I need to remove, and where the radiator drain plug is located (if the car has one)?

Does this engine have any special air bleed port to remove the air from the cooling system after replacing the coolant? I normally just idle the engine with the radiator cap off, and if there is no radiator cap, at least the overflow coolant tank cap off, then shut off the engine, let it cool off and add the coolant into the overflow tank as necessary.

 

[Z71]

Nobody can give me any advice on something as simple as coolant change?

 

[RMinNJ]

With so few miles I'm not sure why you would change it.

That said..worst case you take off the lower radiator hose and let it drain...

 

[mitdr774]

Why do you want to change it at 48K miles?

No clue where the drain plug is. I just pulled a hose when I had to drain my coolant. I didnt bother looking for a drain plug.

There is really only one splash shield under the car that is easily removable, and your car may or may not even have it.

Be careful what coolant you put back in. I had to get my cooling system flushed due to it sludging up. I think the old go to for me does not handle the high operating temps of this engine very well.

 

[brandon1239]

I did mine on the 1.4. There should be a drain on the lower right of the radiator when you're under the car, but it takes forever so just remove the lower radiator hose. I used an "airlift" when I put the coolant back in but you can have it jacked up and do it the old fashioned way. Try to find a spill free funnel, it makes it a lot easier because the heater core is as high as the reservoir. I didn't take any splash shields off or anything but your 1.8 may be different.

 

[allstarchris]

i believe theres a good video on youtube.search for it.ussername is Josaljo Won also.

 

[suitcasejefferson]

Yes I know this is an old thread, but I have some information I'd like to add to it. First, as a professional mechanic with 38 years experience, I believe the coolant should be changed every 24,000 miles/2 years. Second, if it still has Dexkill in it, it should be thoroughly flushed and a quality coolant like Prestone installed. By 50,000 miles, Dexkill will already started to do some damage. Prestone OAT type coolant is approved for use in the Sonic engine, and meets the GM warranty. It will not plug everything up like Dexkill. NO coolant should ever be used past 50,000 miles, and changing it at half that mileage will definitely help prevent damage to your cooling system.

There is a radiator drain plug on the bottom right side of the radiator. It can be a pain to get to, but not nearly as hard as removing the hose. The hose is attached with a one time use crimp type clamp, and there is almost no room to get to it to replace it. Once you can see the drain plug, it will be obvious how to get to it. There is an O ring on it that may need to be replaced. You will only be able to get about one gallon of coolant out through the radiator drain, and there are no block drains. Because you can only get a little more than half the coolant out, that is another reason to change it more often. If you drain and replace one gallon every 24,000 miles, it will keep the coolant fresh.

When replacing coolant, start the engine and let it run. Slowly pour new coolant into the reservoir. Don't overfill it. When the thermostat opens and coolant starts circulating throughout the engine, you will see air bubbles in the reservoir. the coolant level will start to drop. Keep pouring coolant in slowly, until the air bubbles stop. Fill it up to the seam (about half full) Take it out and drive it several miles, then park it overnight. As it cools, it will suck more coolant out of the reservoir into the engine. Before starting the engine, fill the reservoir to the seam in the tank. Check it again after several days, and add more coolant if necessary.

 

[Gimpster]

I agree with using the drain pet****, I don't get why people would want to just unclamp the hose and take a bath in coolant. The older I get, the less I want this crap on me. The pet**** is easily reached, and I mean... mine drained in like ~5 minutes. i also shoved like 8" of hose on the end to keep any mess from happening.

One point of confusion that might help some people, the drain pet**** on my '13 was on the FRONT of the passenger side radiator. I kept looking at the back side and then felt pretty stupid once I found it.

I did two flush sessions on my car since, as you stated, only about 1 gal. came out per drain.

 

[suitcasejefferson]

That's odd. Is yours a 1.8? On my 2013 1.4, the pet****, which is actually a plastic bolt with a O ring on it that can be removed completely, Is on the lower right corner of the radiator, facing the rear of the car. The 1.4 engine holds 7 qts., nut you can only get about a gallon out. Before putting in new coolant, I flushed it by draining a gallon of coolant and replacing it with distilled water. I did this about 10 times, until there was nothing but distilled water left in there. I drained out a gallon of it, then poured in a gallon of Prestone coolant concentrate, which mixed with the 3 qts. of distilled water still in the engine to make a slightly rich mixture. Every 24,000 miles, I will drain out a gallon, and replace it with a 50/50 mix of concentrated coolant and distilled water. That is enough to keep the coolant fresh as long as it is not Dexkill.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Yes I know this is an old thread, but I have some information I'd like to add to it. First, as a professional mechanic with 38 years experience, I believe the coolant should be changed every 24,000 miles/2 years. Second, if it still has Dexkill in it, it should be thoroughly flushed and a quality coolant like Prestone installed. By 50,000 miles, Dexkill will already started to do some damage. Prestone OAT type coolant is approved for use in the Sonic engine, and meets the GM warranty. It will not plug everything up like Dexkill. NO coolant should ever be used past 50,000 miles, and changing it at half that mileage will definitely help prevent damage to your cooling system.

There is a radiator drain plug on the bottom right side of the radiator. It can be a pain to get to, but not nearly as hard as removing the hose. The hose is attached with a one time use crimp type clamp, and there is almost no room to get to it to replace it. Once you can see the drain plug, it will be obvious how to get to it. There is an O ring on it that may need to be replaced. You will only be able to get about one gallon of coolant out through the radiator drain, and there are no block drains. Because you can only get a little more than half the coolant out, that is another reason to change it more often. If you drain and replace one gallon every 24,000 miles, it will keep the coolant fresh.

When replacing coolant, start the engine and let it run. Slowly pour new coolant into the reservoir. Don't overfill it. When the thermostat opens and coolant starts circulating throughout the engine, you will see air bubbles in the reservoir. the coolant level will start to drop. Keep pouring coolant in slowly, until the air bubbles stop. Fill it up to the seam (about half full) Take it out and drive it several miles, then park it overnight. As it cools, it will suck more coolant out of the reservoir into the engine. Before starting the engine, fill the reservoir to the seam in the tank. Check it again after several days, and add more coolant if necessary.

This is solid advice and the way I would do it too, as I've done every other car I own. I agree, taking a bath in coolant is no fun. I don't mind getting dirty, but coolant can be just foul as you get older. LOL.

With that being said, I made GM flush out the Sonic under warranty because my head and head gasket were changed a few years ago and the coolant was starting to look a little rough. They agreed and did it. I pick it up in a little while today, I sent the car on a hook with a list which they all did under the Component Campaign Letter I have on file with GM. Unfortunately, if it weren't for that letter/warranty, I would have gotten rid of the Sonic already.

 

[brainpause]

Which one? Or another?

https://prestone.com/products?detail=AFC11000

https://prestone.com/products?detail=AFC12000

First one is nitrited, the second one is not. I am currently standing in Walmart and none of the Prestone products say they are OAT technology.

There is a Prestone product that says Dexcool approved but if it is the same thing as DexCool, I don't want it.

Need help picking the product please.

Larry

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[brainpause]

Which one? Or another?

https://prestone.com/products?detail=AFC11000

https://prestone.com/products?detail=AFC12000

First one is nitrited, the second one is not. I am currently standing in Walmart and none of the Prestone products say they are OAT technology.

There is a Prestone product that says Dexcool approved but if it is the same thing as DexCool, I don't want it.

Need help picking the product please.

Larry

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

What about this one? It says DexCool, but it also says OAT at the AutoZone website.

https://m.autozone.com/antifreeze-r...eze/prestone-antifreeze-and-coolant/87934_0_0

Larry

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[Ponchoguy]

What about this one? It says DexCool, but it also says OAT at the AutoZone website.

https://m.autozone.com/antifreeze-r...eze/prestone-antifreeze-and-coolant/87934_0_0

Larry

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

You have to use coolant that meets GM specs or you may have a problem with warranty (if it's under any kind of warranty). Yes, the Prestone in WM is "Deathcool" (Dexcool) approved.

I wouldn't say that the OAT stuff is bad, but does it meet GM's specifications? If not, I would not use it. I know Chrysler for one uses OAT coolant in some of their vehicles.

 

[Z71]

I know that GM had serious problems with their Dexcool antifreeze formulation in the early 2000s (that is why people called it "Deathcool or Dexkill"). For example, just about every 2000-2005 Chevy Blazer with 4.3 liter engine had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced due to damage by the Dexcool coolant within the warranty period. GM either changed the Dexcool formulation or developed different gasket material because I never had any issue with my 2009 Impala (no oeverheating or coolant leaks or any other issue) and I used only factory Dexcool coolant in it until I got rid of the car with 215k miles. I bought the car new. I also used Dexcool coolant in my Sonic and no issue at 156K miles. Something would definitely show by now if new Dexcool formula was damaging engine gaskets or anything else. And I am sure GM would no longer use it as factory fill coolant.