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Hot Tip for Coupe Maint., 5 year Dexcool change
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2,252 Posts
I thought about ordering the oil cap socket but looked in my tool box and already had an inch and a quarter socket so I was good to go. Might grab some dex cool though. Thanks.
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Your wellcome, appears Amazon has pulled the $23.79 pricing, since it seemed to good to be true. Hopefully you got order in before they changed it.
I heard normal sockets may have clearance problems fitting on Ecotec's filter canister, while the specific socket made for this are smaller.
LJ
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2,252 Posts
One change down and 1 to go. I have a normal 1 1/4 in socket and it worked fine with a long extension. however, if you try to unscrew it all the way out with the socket on then it does hit the bracket. I had to screw it in a little, remove the socket and unscrew the rest by hand. I've had that socket for 25 years and used it a couple times on the vette last year but prior to that, it's been sitting since about 20 years untouched. I was glad to finally get some use out of it.
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I will change at 5 years as GM requires, even if it looks new with very few miles on it.
LJ
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Sounds like you have a better selection of sockets then I do! I don't have a 1 1/4" or a 32 MM socket. Do they put canister filters on Vette's? My G8 LS3 has a normal type filter.
LJ
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5,171 Posts
What I was getting at is that if you have followed any of the waterpump posts, it has been decided that the coolant should be changed more frequently then recommended by GM. Over time, the coolant breaks down and turns to a gum that gets between the seals on the waterpump and causes it to fail.
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Ha, No, it fit the spindle bolt on the front wheels. My dad moved out when I was 19 ( supposed to be the other way around I know ) and he left all his tools. long story short, I got them. I don't know what the hell he needed some of these for being a cash register mechanic but I have about 15 sockets ranging from 7/8 to 2in. I've used the 1in, 1 1/4 and the 15/16 ( maybe the 13/16 ) several times and they have all come in handy for one thing or another.
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895 Posts
Can you point to posts that show this? From my reading it's waterpumps on the early Sols, the later ones don't seem to have the problem.
I plan on doing the coolant this spring, several months prior to 5 yrs. from the build date of our car.
I have seen that Dex -Cool has brought lots of conversation about issues with GM vehicles in general. But gumming specifically with the sol, unless you are putting a lot of miles on the vehicle, the coolant doesn't seem to go bad early. I have read that improper mix with water (if using full strength and diluting yourself) can cause problems, and moreso, accidental mixing with any other coolant in the system, and then not following serious flushing instructions, is certainly a problem. I think GM also doesn't want any additives in the cooling system, just like they recommend no oil additives.
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Might be referring to this one.
http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/what-technically-causes-waterpumps-fail-74909/
BTW, thought someone mentioned something about a how to refill coolant thread. When I took mine to a dealer they used a suction method so the car didn't have to go up on a lift.
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:agree: That would be the post. My WP failed at 48k and I have a late '08.
First, if you are truly waiting 5 years or your going past 50k on your 7yr/100k coolant, you are going WAAAYYYYY beyond the protection life of it. I've been in the dealer world for over 15 years, and nothing is ever what it says. Let me ask you another question. Do you have a GXP? If so, and you have over 30k, the spark plugs should be changed....even though they're 100k plugs, they're only good for about 30k....and if your tuned even less!!!
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8,910 Posts
Yep, GXP coupe. Never thought about plug replacement. Only thing I've noticed is the 2.0 exhaust tips seem to have about twice as much exhaust carbon build up as our 06 2.4. I've gotten into the habit of cleaning my 2.0 exhaust tips about as often as I hit it w/Speed Shine. Also use Shell Premium as often as possible. Planned on having coolant changed May of 2014 since technically that will be 5 yrs. I'm averaging about 2K a year.
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I read your link CT, and I actually had been following that one earlier this year. I'm going to take Ghost's suggestion though, going to err on the safe side here and go ahead and do the coolant this fall vs. next spring. At this point the coolant's a little past 4 yrs and 5300 miles, but I think I'm going you're route CT and bring it to the dealer. My nearest dealer here in Boulder is a Caddilac/Buick/GM dealer and the GM service rep. confirmed was a certified dealer for working on the Pontiacs. So I called them and spoke with the Asst. Svc. Manager who confirmed they used to be a Pontiac dealer, and that the system they use for coolant is one of those coolant exchangers with vacuum. Price was ok, so I'm changing my mind and having them do it.
Oh, and on your exhaust tips, mine get carbony quickly on the inside, I also get a fair bit of moisture out of them, so I just clean them too. We've got to take the car through Colorado emissions for the first time, so that happens next week, hopefully an easy pass. After that I'm looking for a good time to schedule the coolant exchange.
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371 Posts
2 quick questions....
is there a special procedure for flushing the coolant?
also since someone mentioned spark plugs... I'm on my phone and it's a little awkward to do searches and find the right information... which spark plug should I purchase for a gxp? I remember the stock ones being best but that there were 2 different stock plugs. autolites that end in 108?
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is there a special procedure for flushing the coolant?
also since someone mentioned spark plugs... I'm on my phone and it's a little awkward to do searches and find the right information... which spark plug should I purchase for a gxp? I remember the stock ones being best but that there were 2 different stock plugs. autolites that end in 108?
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http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/power-coolant-flush-general-cooling-67605/ : What I found that is helping me as well.
No clue about spark plugs though mate, wait until one of the gear heads replies with advice
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10,583 Posts
Stay with the Delco 41-108 and gap to .32.
However unless you have way over 70K miles the plugs should be fine.
I also had my coolant flush by the dealer as they use a special device to do it.
It has been a month since and the temps have stayed in the normal range as before.
By the way my coolant was almost 7 years old.
However unless you have way over 70K miles the plugs should be fine.
I also had my coolant flush by the dealer as they use a special device to do it.
It has been a month since and the temps have stayed in the normal range as before.
By the way my coolant was almost 7 years old.
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EDIT: Actually, I am going by what has been suggested here on this site about coolant and spark plugs.
Original Post:
If you have a GXP, plugs should be changed about every 30k, if you're tuned, about every 15k to be safe. I changed mine this past spring at 48k, and they were shot. They were all worn off. I will change them again this next spring....about 10k since last ones. I will also flush my coolant then as it's cheap compared to an $800 WP install! I'm tuned.... I bought the car a year ago and was chasing a cold start issue.
Original Post:
If you have a GXP, plugs should be changed about every 30k, if you're tuned, about every 15k to be safe. I changed mine this past spring at 48k, and they were shot. They were all worn off. I will change them again this next spring....about 10k since last ones. I will also flush my coolant then as it's cheap compared to an $800 WP install! I'm tuned.... I bought the car a year ago and was chasing a cold start issue.
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yes, special procedure due to 1) dex cool in general and making sure the proper coolant is used, and proper 50/50 mix with distilled H2o if you are actually going to blend it yourself, 2) better yet the dealer has a machine to exchange old Dex for new, pre-blended and ensuring that nearly near 100% of the coolant will be fresh Dex cool 50/50 mix. This machine also has a vacuum to help ensure no trapped air. Item 1 is harder than you think since if you flush the engine you are going to have some amount of water already in the block that is not accounted for. That's why I'm opting for the dealer machine to do the exchange and ensure a proper mix, and completely new fluid.
Plugs are AC Delco 41-108 on the GXP, gapped to .035. LV may have been stating .032 which is only .03 hundreths tighter to ensure wear keeps it right at that .035. A 'tight' .035 likely gets you to where you want to be.
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thanks. i know theres a long thread on plugs but its long lol.
how can i tell if my antifreeze needs flushing? it was a little low so i had to add some last week.
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